The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEW
SITUATION SUMMARIZED BY
 DUN AND BRADSTREET.
Vigorous Vitality Conspicuous in Trade and Industry Despite Over strined and Inadequate
 TrauSportatiou Facilities.

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 New York, Feb. S.--R. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 Vigorous vitality is conspicuous in trade and industry, despite the handicap of ovetstrained and lamentably made
 centrated efforts to reduce the conges-
 ton at few favored points apparently
 intensified the blockades elsewhere and
 indictment weather added new disturb ation. Every possible method is being
 adopted to improve conditions. enormous
 sums are appropriated for extensions. yet
 accidental losses are frequent. Trans Atlantic vessels failed to leave on sched-
 ule time and many manufacturing plants
 are closed in at part of wholly. Labor disputes are more numerous, although not prevalent to any extent in the leading inc
 dustries. As the season advances there
 Is notable activity in building trades. with
 the customary acceleration of inquiry for materials. Retail dealings in most staples are fully sustained especially of
 seasonable wearing apparel. but distribu-
 ton at many points has suffered through
 weather conditions. Wholesale and job- ping trade Is steadily improving. although deliveries cannot be guaranteed, foreign
 commerce is keeping pace with domectic trade.
 In the face of inflated clements the con-
 sumer was peculiarly fortunate, as shown
 by Duns Index. Number of prices of
 pl oportioned to consumption. which was
 $100,s20 on February 1, against n00356 a
 month previous, an advance of only one half of one per cent.
 Cotton Is strong. uoeral exports ana domestic competition more than neutral izing the depressing influence of heavy port receipts. Coffee aroused from its lethargy and advanced a small fraction, because the world stocks decreased much
 more than anticipated.
 Conditions in the iron and steel industry
 are without essential alteration. Far
 from catching up with its orders, the leading producer now reports over i've
 and half million tons of contracts on
 hand. and similar statements on a some what smaller scale are made by other concerns. Traffic difficulties increased de-
 liveries of fuel and pig iron are uncertain and at Chicago coke is nominally $10 a
 ton. while Connellsville ovens produce freely but Pittsburg supplies are made quate. A very large quantity Is en route and there Is growing confidence in the trade. that the worst congestion is over for this season. Purchasers in some di- visions of the market still show an incli- nation to postpone placing contracts in expectation of better terms, but the gen. eTaf level of quotations does not recede. Numerous contracts are taken abroad be- cause domestic plants cannot make the shipments within the specified time and a result of the excessive activity here has been a decided improvement fin the for eign industry. This has initiated against
  markets, yet engagements continue on a moderate scale. Plans for railroad exten- sion assure much new business, while car riage and implement makers are con- stantly in the market for material. Little new business has been placed with tho shoe fact tories, although there Is sufficient work on hand to assure activity until late in March. Distinct improve ment Is noted In domestic buying of cot ton: even at the highest prices buyers found difficulty in securing print cloths. Tn woolen goods there is steady ahsorp- ton, with no speculative activity. Sta pie lines of dress goods are firm and moving briskly. Large consumption of
 raw material by the mills holds wool
 steady at the recent advance despite a
 somewhat weaker closing at the London
 auction sale Failures in the United
 States, 264. this week against 26S last
 week, 265 the preceding week and 261 the corresponding week last year, and in
 Canada g against 90 last week, 2 the
 preceding week and 25 last year.