The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-31
Dun's Review Says Advance Bust
ness in Spring Goods is Heavy
and Fall Contracts Are
Being Placed.

New York, Jan. 3.-H. G. Dun's Weekly
Review of Trsde tomorrow will say:
Domestic trade and industry continue to pros
per, while the fuel situation has grown less dis
turbing through special efforts OF transporters.
aided TO no small degree by mild weather. Dis
tribntion of other products has been restricted
by the discrimination I'm favor OF coal. and ship
pers arc importunate.
Clearance sales are about ended, leaving only
small stocks of winter goods. Advance business
III spring deliveries Is very heavy, and fail con-
tracts are also placed literally. At some points
inc season opens favorably. In most cases where
there is no delay on fuel account manufacturing
plants are busy. though cost OF materials and la
Dor IL very high.
Firm prices for finished products arc conse-
anently TO be expected. Favorable returns of
railway earnings are constantly issued. figures
thus far available showing an Increase of 81
per cent over last year and 11.s Fer cent over
1901.
Miles Of loaded cars and thousands Of tons
or coke piled in the yards at Connellsville tell
the story OF conditions In tho iron and steel in
dnstry. Furnaces are closing becaute OF the
fuel shortage.
BY giving coal. live stock and perishable goods
preceience over all other freight. the railroads
helped consumers everywhere, but at the ex-
pcnsc of the leading manufacturing industry.
Many plants are closed o. running only part
time. and few orders for distant delivery are
either sought or offered. owing to the uncertain
~ as to when normal conditions Will prevail.
1t Is stated Tint deliveries OF piG Iron to the
leading consumers are several months behind and
spot Besssmer has risen sharply. yet there Is
much ir-egulari,y as evidenced by the decline In
cast pipe. locomotives are being turned out or
the shops with record-break.nT rnpidity. and 9th
or railway equipment is IN equally good demand.
while structural material is still d ieniure. Many
additional contracts for bridge building are re-
corded.
Footwear is frr, with an advancing tendency.
although list prices are without charges. New
business Is light; bu, most factories have album
dant orders on, hand and there are many buy
ers in the market. Both sole and upper leather
are more active, shoe factories taking freeiy. es-
pecially OF heinlock sole. Buyers have also COW
cred their wants FOR several months as to oak
backs and calf skins are selling freely. Large
quantities of Chicago packer hides sold at I'M
changed prices and. foreig, dry hides arr: strons.
A better inquiry Is noted for cotton goods, yet
sales are not materially increased owing 10 the
indisposition OF sellers TO accept contracts. A
number OF lines have advanced in price. the up
ward movement of raw cotton having a natural
effect. Mems wesr, woolens and worsseds for fan
are now fully opened. and buyers operate more
freely. There IL no evidence of speculative ac-
tivity, which emphasizes the wholesale condition
Of the market, and many lines have been With
drawn.
Failures for the week numbered 2is In the
United States, against sol last year. and thirty
In Canada. compared with forty . year ago.