Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-14
DEMAND EXCEEDS SUPPLY
Dun Explains Chief Feature Of Strength in
Business Outlook.
SHIPMENTS WAIT ON SPRING THAw
Railroads stiII Unable to Handle Con-
signments ORered and Merchants
Consequently Look A~nxiousIy
for Lake Navigation.

NEW YORK. Feb. 1S.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
Weekly Review OF Trade tomorrow will
say:
Disproportion between supply and de-
mand Is still a factor of strength in many
commodities, while similar conditions exist
as to skilled labor. retarding much work,
and in some cases postponing important
undertakings.
Wages have advanced in response to the
demands of organized labor. The relief of
the traffic congestion is still confined TO a
few favored districts sud shippers cannot
hope for prompt deliveries until lake
Earnings continue to show splendid gains
over former years, January returns thus
far exceeding 1902 by 94 per cent and 1891
by 1871 per cent.
staples All Flourish.
Orders for spring shipments are heavy
In all staple lines and the advance busi-
ness for fall is unusually large. testifying
TO the confidence of buyers in continued
prosperity.
in the iron and steel industry. with few
developments of note. Coke Is in some
what better supply. making it possible to
operate blast furnaces with less inter-
ruption than was experienced when the
month opened, but there is constant COM
plant of the scarcity and high prices com
manded by pig iron. Finished steel pro-
ducts have not risen proportionately, al
though they are in good demand. Large
ported, the movement being heaviest to
Australia, South America and Europe.
With the advancing season there Is a bet
ter movement of merchant pipe and kind
red lines, while structural material is also
In more urgent request. Che demand for
railway equipment shows no diminution
and another foreign order for steel rails
could not be accepted, because deliveries
were required in May.
Cotton Exceptionally High.
Cotton has taken the leading position of
the great staples, both as to extent of
advance and volume Of speculative trans
actions. Visible supplies are lower than
the corresponding date In any year OF
the last decade, and 1t is an unusual day
when exports do not exceed receipts. For
eign spinners are busy, domestic mills con-
sumo freely, while there is business In sight
for more cotton goods than present stocks
of law material at the mills will make.
Several grades of cotton goods have ad-
vanced In price. which, with gains In other
divisions of the market during preceding
weeks, makes the level of quotations much
higher. A large attendance Of buyers is
reported, stimulating activity with jobbers
and at first hands. Cash sales are restricted
by low supplies. Domestic consumption
supplies most of the business, as export
Export business has increased in New
England footwear factories, with good
orders for April delivery Of calfskin shoes.
In the leather market the chief event has
been an active demand, with higher prices
for betting butts. Low supplies of sole
leather give strength, and upper stock is
as the advancing season brings poorer
grades to market. sRestricted receipts of
dry hides sustain values, imports from
Central America commanding a fractional
advance.
mild weather in this vicinity brought such
a heavy movement of eggs that the. price
fell &c for the week, making a decline OF
lie a dozen within a week.
the Tinted states. against 20 last year,
and 20 in Canada. compared with 80 a year
ago.