The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-14
Dun's Review Says Demand for
Finished Goods and Skilled La
Dor Far Exceed Supply.

New York. Feb. 13.-R. G.. Dun & Co.'S
weekly Review OF Trade tomorrow will
say:
Disproportion between supply and demand is
sun 4 factor OF strength In many commodities.
while similar conditions exist as to skilled labor.
retaidlng much work and. in some cases. post
pohing Important undertakings and improve
ments.
Wages have been advanced voluntarily and
also In response to demands by organized labor.
relief 10 the traffic congestion In stiil confHed
10 a Few favored districts. and shippers cannot
nope Tor prompt deliveries until lake navigation
opens Earnings continue to show splendid gains
over FORMER years. January returns thus far ex-
ceedins 1902 by 81 per cent and 1901 by 49, per
cent.
orders for spring shipment are heavy in all
staple lines; and the advance business for fall Is
Snysss large, testifying TO the confidence OK
found conditions continue to prevail In the
OF note, Coke is in om ms1 better tsr'o supeiy'
making II possible 10 operate blast furnaces Sith
month opened. but there is constant complaint Of
me; ne scafcity and high prices commanded by pig
portionateiy. although they are eA in good 90 f demiIn m
cn Lnnge tnports o. wire and wire nails fhave &C
south America and Europe. with the advancing
s Sras there IS a better movement Of merchant
is also in more urgent request. The dmand for
railway equipment shows no diminution. and an
accepted because deliveries were requird in May.
great esi'. si,h has taken the ieadlns position of the
VI ia hAlA
nSlnme OF speculative transactions, .visibl. sup
plts are lower than the corresponding date in
any year OF the past decade. and 1t is an unusual
uay When exports do not exceed receipts. For
elsn spinneis are busy. domestic mills consume
Freely. while there IL business In sight for more
cotton goods than present stocks OF raw ma
terihl at the mills Will make.
several grades Of cotton goods have advanced
IN price, which. with gains in other divisions ct
ite market during preceding weeks. makes the
,e.si OF quotations much higher. A large at
tendance of buyers Is reported. stimulating ac-
uNity with tobbers at first hands. Cash sales
are restricted by low supplies. Domestic con-
sumption supplies most Of the business. as ey-
port inquiries are light.
New business has increased at New England
footwear factories. with coed orders for April
delivery OF calf-skin shoes. In the leather mar
ket the chief event has been an active demand.
with higher nrices for betting butts.
Low supplies OF sole leather give strength, anh
upper stock II in better request. Domestic hides
weaken. as the advancing season brings rooIer
grades to market. Restricted receipts of dry
hides sustain values. imports from Central
America commanding a fractional advance.
Little change occurred in meats. bat mild
weather In this vicinity brought such a heavy
movement OF eggs that the price fell 5 cents for
the week, making a decline OF II cents H dozen
within a week.
Failures for this week numbered go In the
United States. against 40 last year. and 20 in
(anad1 rpOnpare1 with ~ 81 year agO