The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-01-03
BRADsT3EET's REVIEW.

New York, January 2.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
Holiday observances and stock-tal king
limit new business, but do not decrease
satisfaction and confidence, Wholesale
distribution having been down to a MIMI
mum, while retail buying, although salts
factory, feels reaction from previous ac-
tivity. Additional returns as to 1902 trade
confirm earlier estimates of increase in
nearly all lines of distribution and indus
try Aside from this Developments are
scarce. Perhaps the most notable features
are the strength of prices of staples as
the year opens. and the noperulness as to
the outlook for next spring and summer
trade. One unfavorable feature Is the con-
tinued shortage of anthracite coal in the
east.
Reports of increased trade in 1902 over
1901 continue to come from nearly all
northern, western, southwestern and Pa
cifc coast points. Examples of this are
given in the cases of st: Louis and Kan
sas City, which show net gain In all
trade over 1901. Chicago reports jobbers
having more orders on their books than
In previous years: that three million tons
of pig iron was made or handled in that
district during the year, and that Chicago
banks hold per cent more of deposits.
while loans are 145 per cent more than
at the beginning of 1902
At New Orleans the outlook is classed as
fairly good, but Montgomery reports 1902
not as satisfactory as 1901, owing to the
short cotton yield In Alabama. Atlanta
reports that manufacturers are dolnx well
on a. increased output, and banks are
making good profits. At eastern points II
Is noted by Philadelphia that the textile
trades We're generally prosperous, and the
outlook In the dry goods trade is bright.
There Is little new in the iron trade.
Merchant furnaces are sold ahead for
six to eight months. but independent iron
men say that high raw materials
and low priced finished products leave
little or no margin for profits.
Nearly all lines of trade show gains
for 1902 over 1901 at New York, the ma
jority ranging from to 10 per cent.
The most important feature in the east
ern dry goods markets this week Is the
increased buying for export to China of
brown cottons by which all floating sup
plies of this commodity have been clean
ed up and the mills have secured orders
ahead. Wooden goods retain their good
conditions and raw and manufactured
materials have closed the year at the
highest prices with machinery well en-
ployed. Wool tends upward. shipments
to mills continuing heavy and inquiries
numerous.
Eastern shoe manufacturers have still
something to do to fill winter orders,
and already some are being importuned
for prompter delivery of spring goods.
The leather trades are quiet but there is
some talk of further advances in sole
leather
Wheat. including -four, exports for the
week ending January l, aggregated q 1885,
206 bushels against $500, 4S0 last week, A.
S1S,4n in this week year ago and 3.s14,-
3Ol in 1901.
Wheat exports since July I aggregate
1870, 6GO. 225 bushels. against 149. 1927 last
season and 97,913S19 in 1900.
Corn exports aggregate 2.537.542 bushels
against 1.502.5 51 last week. 270. 236 a year
ago and 4.470.b2 in 1901.
For the fiscal year exports are TO- 726 420
bushels against 2,S2O.4sl last season, and
$685. COO In 1901.