The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-06
BIG RUSH TO COME
Corn and Wheat Will Soon Move in
i Quantity and Much Money
NJ +. Necessary.
International Mercantile Agency
Reports Some Retrenchment
in General Trade.

New York. Nov. Especial Geographic
reports from correspondents of the Inter-
national Mercantile agency thruout the
United States and Canada regarding the
state Of trade are summarized as fol-
liws:
The intervention of election in eleven
states, with a week of mild weather, has
served to check retail sales of seasonable
goods, notably clothing and millinery but
a canvas of leading iobbers in staple lines,
at important cities indicates that the sea-
sons total business is somewhat in eX-
cess of expectations. Boston reports or
ders for cotton goods larger than year
ago, but merchants show a conservative
disposition. At Philadelphia general trade
has been Of only fair volume; ut st. Louis
q little less active; at ST. Paul it is in
creasing, but is smaller than Il year ago.
while in Texas the volume is not large for
the season. Chicago explains that buying
has been in smaller lots and that railways
operating east are carrying less tonnage
AT Buffalo elevators are nearly all full
of grain and railroads complain Of car
shortage.
Merchants as we'll as manufacturers say
the cut of 81 a ton for steel billets, with
accompanying reductions III prices of fin
iShed steel, which. it is conceded, must
follow, will hasten the industrial revival
which they say must appear when steel
quotations show "a shrinkage correspond
ing to that in iron. More mills and fac
tories have closed, and some have re-
opened. About % 900 iron and steel en-
ployes are idle temporarily. Some 10000
iron pudders will have wages reduced
Nov. 10. Unless one or the other side re-
cedes, about $4,000 coal miners In Col
orado, New Mexico, Utah and adjoining
states will strike OH Nov. 9. Stock yard
and traction labor disputes affect Chicago
interests unfavorably. Philadelphia textile
mills report orders slow.
In financial circles. features have been
the ease with which the Wall street stock
market reSists shock, the ease with which
gold was engaged for import after the
first flush of cotton export bills and the
Increased firmness of money at the west,
where, as Chicago bankers say, continued
tension is promised for the next four
weeks. At the northwest demand for crop
moving funds will not reach the maximum
until the ground freezes. Minneapolis
bankers report. The furry in st. Louis
banking circles has disappeared and col
Mctions there in most lines, as at Balti-
more, Chicago. and Cleveland, are better.
At Philadelphia. payments have been
prompt in some lines, but slow in others
AT st. Paul, too. they are less satisfactory
than looked for later
The cotton crop representing 800. 900, 900
more than that of last year. even if no
larger, points to further financial drafts
to market it. The big rush of corn and
wheat to market Is yet to come forward.
altho receipts of both are growing. Wheat
seeding at the southwest Is completed and
needed rains have fallen.
The demand for staple merchandise at
Montreal particularly shoes and leather,
has continued strong, and at Toronto dis
tribution has been active, notably, Of mer-
chandise for delivery in the northwest.
At Ottawa the results of the seasons bust
ness were considered as good, mot bet
ter, than last year, but profits were not
as large. There is a general tendency to-
ward retrenchment in trade lines and de-
preston in iron and steel In these, states
is reflected here. Railways have been econ
onizing in the matter of unnecessary ex-
penses. The grain movement is not as
rapid as expected as farmers are finan-
cially able to hold it. The years output
of cheese in the dominion has been very
heavy, exports being valued at S25, 900 900
against $21, 900, 900 last year.