New-York tribune., 1903-01-17
CONDITION OF TRADE.
"Dun's Review" says (:

''Dun's Review says:
Fuel shortage is stll the one seriously disturb
ing facilities have been diverted from @ otner "rr t
iron furnaces unable to secure sufficient sup
plies of coke and many other manufactures t1 da
lveries. Mines are more fully operated but tnere
Extremeiy ne low temperat,ire during the last week
stimulated distribution of heavy clothing i ana
Grated by the customary clearance sales especiIan
IN ssnng apq ars orders or spring goods
volume of advance business SURPRISING the Gus
A ket operations have exceeded the corresponding
week last year to witch may De YORK Of
2f5 per cent 1902. but there also appears a
striking reduction in speculation. AT other Leading
cities where the speculative element is less OF
trade. Railway earnings thus, far available for
last year and 1913 per cent over 1901. Currency IS
returning to this centre and rates for money nave
resumed more normal position -, -,.-,,a,s
Quiet conditions in the IRON and steel
but merely the oversod condition of furnaces and
ing plants active on a day to day supply of fuel
Inquiries are numerous especially IN ti m a.
the future appears more definite. That business
being being dom done on @ an @ 1 Ton output The
weekly capacity of furnaces in blast on January
furnace Stocks SS waTe sH iess than 10000 and
meanwhile imports have been at fne come for
ward for large office buildings. notably at tLs ~
which
structural steel and the demand from car build
is phenomenal Billets still arrive IRON e'e If
this Industry the prospective purchaser has d GIN
69y ed date an PraecSIy the entire capacity of the
leading plants is already booked tof S SA @ J
bring no ideness unless orders are cancetled-
"Bradstreets' says:
With the much needed expansion in export IIatI @
actively in evidence one OF the IgT R been
supplied. Export trade in December proved 70 oI. o.
fn eeens have developed The domes
tic situation also gains rather than loses S.I u,
Ie saT Tb % vone Of Shipments of spring goods is
Evidence of the desire of consumers and dis
tributers to obtain possession Of goods carry.
a good volume by the very generally diffused lower
temperature In only few scattered instthce9 n
heavy. Confidence in a heavy spring business IN,
is true note some IRREGULAR rity. and ia king the
country whole. they can hardIy Oe c!dSSeu u, -
rency from the countfiy mas mas tbfs source Of pos
strongly Money rs eaSlet. aiu It,n ,i corrnnitT is
concerned. is out Of the way Failures too are aIs
year rather less than the usual crop or end OF me
year suspensions coming 20 hand RaIiWdy earn earn
FinaI 2eturns for December show that month TO
have had the the Largest gain in 6s ns
for 1902 cannot as yet be compiled all signs favor
fuIv per cent. Bank clearings. despite depresSed
stock specua tion. evidently reflect large counlrr
of money. and continue OF very
heavy volume for this period of the year All OIL
The industrie remain exceptionally active the pos
sible exception TO this being where shortages; III
mel due to railway congestion. limit productlon
as in the case OF soft coal and coke in the West
In anthracite coal at the East the situation does
not Improve although milder weather renders the
suffering rather less acute The situation as r.
cards production and prices seems to nave GOT
ont of the hands respectively. of the mine opera
tors and of the leaders of the unions Efforts 10
ohtain an Increased output to meet public neces-
sitfes though made apparently in good talth oy
The union leaders. have failed of accomplishment
With the tariff removed. large Importation Oh
foreign coal is looked for.