The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-30
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEW
HOLIDAY BUSINESS WAS UNPRECE-
 DENTEDLY LARGE.
UnseasonabIy Mild Weather Prevents uistxibution of Heavy Wearing Apparel While Being An Aid
 To Building Operations.

New York, Dec. 2e--Bradstreets to- morrow will say:
 Following an unprecedentedly active holiday business in all parts of the country, distributive trade seems quiet by contrast. more particularly as un- reasonably mild weather effects retail operations in seasonable heavy wear ing apparel. What Is bad for the re- tail business is, however, good for out door industries. particularly building, which remains very active and nlanu- featuring operations are likewise facii- itated by uninterrupted passage of raw materials to consuming centers. In wholesale clearing sales and stock talk ing operations absorb attention, but it is noted that operations for shipping account are larger than ordinary.
 Staples generally maintain all their old strength. Iron and steel lead in the industries of strength of demand and prices. finished steel being particu- Iarly active for this season, though pig iron sales are fair at the west and open weather favors unprecedented product ion. Labor is exceptionally well ern- p1oyed for this season, and the weather conditions favor less than ordinary shut d0wnA a~s
 January is likely to see some strikes fin the printing trades and some lines of building employees at the metropolis Additional reports as to the trade in the year now closing point to 1905 as h.v- ing been record breaker alike in fl. nancial. speculative and industrial cir cles. The future outlook seems full of promise and the advent of 1906 is awaited with confidence unsurpassed In recent years.
 Business failures in the United States for the week ending Dec. 2s number 2IH against 235 last week and 21S in the like week of 1904.
 Tn Canada failures for the week num- her 3l as against 3s last week and 20 in this week year ago.
 Dun's Trade Review.
 New York. Dec. 29.-R. c. Dun and Eompany's weekly review of trade to-
 Unseasonabiy mild weather aecen- duliness in distribution of staple mer- candiss, but gratifying results of tone and confidence regarded the fut- ure Is more pronounced. Outdoor work Is facilitated by the high temperature total of building operations even great pr than the most sanguine expectations. Trade in furs and heavy clothing is unfavorably affected by the open win ter but the net result is most satisfac- tory. Despite inventories and repairs, output of manufacturing plants has pprinE sfipments indicate that advance orders were heavy.
 IL fs gratifying to manufacturers to find that no burdeusome accumulation of stocks has occurred despite recent record breaking production State merts of railway earnings continue sat lsfactory, figures thus far available for December showing an average gain of g9 per cent over 1904 and foreign com n1erce at this port was remarkably fav- orable, exports gaining S2.063,129 and Imports increasing $4,361.s97 as com pared with the same week last year.
 Actual new business in the iron and steel Industry was light during the past week but a large tonnage was under speculation and consumers continued lmportunate for early delivery on old contracts. Nothing new was develop ed in the primary markets of the tex tile industries. jobbers and retailers having devoted the week to stocktak- Ing and showing no interest in offer lngs of merchandise. Light trading in hides has not weakened quotations. Leather is as dull as might be eXpec- ted when shoe factories are taking in- yentories and tanneries are not forcing business.
 New England footwear manufactur- ers have devoted most of the week to stock taking and the market is devoid of special feature.
 Failures this week numbered 221 in the United States against 252 last year and 27 in Canada compared with Il year ago