Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-31

business for January Is Far in Ad-
vance of Ex%pectatfonE.

vance of Expectations.
NEW YORK, Jan. 3O.-Bradstreet's to-
January confrm the sanguine expectations
and predictions made at the outset of the
month. Wholesale and jobbing trade in
spring dry goods, millinery, boots and shoes
and hats Is improving steadily, January
Jobbing business in the leading cities east
and west being the best ever recorded in
that month. =.
Shipments on orders are larger and ear
Her than in preceding years. Retail trade
reports are hardly so favorable. Unsea-
Sonable weather dulls retail distribution in
this line, and the usual January clear
ing sales are attracting less than ordinary
Among the industries no sign of tagging
activity is noted. Iron and steel produc-
ton Is at its highest point, despite fuel and
car shortages, and prices are higher. Ac-
tyity In lumber Is noted the country over.
The car shortage trouble increases rather
than grows better. Smaller. than expected
movements of grain and lumber to market.
of fuel from producing centers to consIm-
ers and OF general merchandise from whole
salers and tobbers to retailers are reported
the country over. Preference is still be-
ing given to coal shipments, and some rail-
roads are reported refusing all dead freight
outside of fuel.
The shoe trade is more or less quiet and
leather Is likewise, east and west.
The strength in cotton goods is in reality
the main reason shown for the advance
this week In the raw cotton market, though
smaller than expected receipts, better ca
bles and the strength of spot cotton in the
south are all assigned I'm support thereof.
Wooden goods for next fail are being or
dered in fair quantities, while mills are
reing pushed for spring deliveries. Raw
wool continues strong and prices are at
flood tide.
The iron trade is reported rather quiet
and conservatism is freely practiced. Buy
ers are no doubt backward. because much
or the business of last year was done at
old low quotations. A significant feature
is that pig iron prices have been marked
up 81 per ten In all leading markets, and
the lower PRICES so freely predicted are
yet to materialize, Notwithstanding the
fact that production at present is in excess
or the largest ever before reported. The
next few weeks should contain develop
ments important both to producers and
consumers. Copper Is strong and shows a
ste0dily advancing tendency.
Public building sales of structural bars
ana plates have been large. Bar iron has
advanced 81 per ton.
Wheat, including flour, exports for the
go bushels, against 1885, 5I lasf week.
3, zoe, 96S in this week a year ago and S97s !,
90 In 1901. Wheat exports since July 1
aggregate 14S, 599, 622 bushels, against is5 :
346,lS6 last season and 115, So, 646 in 1900.
Corn exports aggregate 2,145, 996 bushels.
against 2,136,6S3 last week, 427, OlS a wear
ago and 2,S47. O7 in 1901. For the fiscal
year exports are 20, 400, 500 bushels. against
Z,s6l'sS last season and IFS, 395, 1854 in 1901.
Business failures in the United States
Tor the week ending January % number
go, against 22 last week, 303 i'm the like
week in 1902, 23S in 1901, III in 1900 and 27
In 1899. In Canada for the week 80, against
% last week.