Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-10
FUEL FAMINE IS OFFSET
Dun Says General Prosperity Ainimisss
Coal Shortage Evil,
TRADE OPENS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL
TRrdy Deliveries Lead to Advance or.
ders, Collections Come I'm Promptly
and Everything Points to
Year of Success.

NEW YORK, Jan. Or. G. Dur & Co.'S
Weekly Review OF Trade tomorrow will
say:
collections are notably prompt at gil
leading %centers, bearing testimony to the
fine financial condition OF the nations tn
dustries at the opening of the year. Dis
tribution of merchandise is heavy and
manufacturers are pressed for prompt de-
and in some lines there is more than a
sample business in fall weights. Tar1y
deiyeries IN the past lead purchasers to
fore and orders are being placed far in
advance of actual needs.
Fuel Situation stiII serious.
The fuel situation is still the one seri-
DUSTY disturbing element, rendering alb
normally high the cost Of manufacturing
and restricting the purchasing power of al
most the entire population. Fortunately,
perity, or there would be a general con-
traction of consumption in other lines.
there is little Interruption because of the
labor disputes, but many operations are in
t%errupted by the delay in transit Of needed
materials. Railway freight rates were ad-
vancedi and one result will be a loss of
exports from eastern cities, the traffic being
DETECTED TO New Orleans.
In the iron and steel industry the most
significant event of the week was the dis
cussion regarding the profit sharing pro-
posal by the leading producer. Inadequate
supplies of coal are still restricting opera
lions. Contracts for the new year were
made at "A a ton. but prompt deliveries
often commanded IS or 81 and at Chicago
some sales were reported at SO. Pig iron
continues scarce, prices generally auvanc-
ing during the past week, and the ex-
pected advance OF 81 a ton was made in
wire products. Much new business has
come forward, especially In bars and
sheets, which had been comparatively
quiet, while there is a vigorous demand
for structural material to be used In bridge
work and car shops. Another year of un-
precedented activity in this Industry is con-
tidently anticipated. Partially because of
the published statistics of supplies, but
more on account OF London speculation,
there was a sharp advance in prices Of tin
and copper, followed by some reaction, due
to realizing sales.
Footwear is Light.
New England producers of footwear are
cries have already been made, although
shipments are ligh In these lines as yet.
Exceptional activity in rubber goods mas
reduced supplies to an unusually low point.
Some varieties of leather have advanced
slightly and tanners of hemlock sole have
sole continue heavy.
No new features have appeared In the
domestic demand for dry goods. The best
event as to cottons has been the continued
buying for export, which has exceeded eX-
pectations largely. Thu print cloth market
has ruled firm, with business restricted by
the reserve of sellers, who show no dis
position to make concessions. A. t. wooden
goods the demand for overcoatings for
next fall has not come up to expectations,
which may be attributed in part to the fact
that the season opened unusually early.
Prices are fully maintained at the opening
level of the season.
Failures for the week numbered $50 in the
United States, against 1913 last year, and "a
In Canada, compared with "a a year ago.