The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-01
TRADE VERY ACTIVE
FOR THIS SEASON
Only Complaint is Congestion
in Railway Traffic
PIG IRON STILL SOARING
Industry Shows Record Activity, Prices
of Most Products Holding All the
Strength Recently Noted.
Cotton Yarns High.
PIG IRON STILL SOARING

New York, November so.-Bradstreet
tomorrow will say:
Trade has been active as rarely before
at this season. despite widespread holi-
day observances, warm weather in parts
of the south and bad roads in the north
west The only source of complaint,
reflection in itself of superintendent pros
perity, is the country wide congestion in
railroad traffic.
Railway men appear awake to the sit
uation and are working theoretically, but
the near approach of the winter season
renders the outlook dubious Spot sales
in general jobbing lines are rather lighter,
as is natural under the circumstances,
but this branch of trade, as well as at
first hands, are busily engaged on BUSH
ness for spring In cotton fabrics, for
instance, the only feature hampering the
trade is the complaint of backward de-
liveries due to labor shortage or to fac
tories being oversold.
Industry still shows record activity
The prices of most products hold all the
strength heretofore noted. Interior mar
kets are reported buying more freely of
commercial paper, but collections in some
sections drag, and the money as whole
is very firm with little easing looked for
until the first of the year. The labor
situation is a very strong one.
Pig iron prices are still moving up
ward at some points Most of the business
placed called for delivery in the first
half of 1907 but inquiries for the second
half of the year are developing. Imports
of foreign iron are growing and some
grades of Scotch iron are hard to get prior
to January Is, or whereabouts. Bessemer
pig, which is very scarce, is up 90 cents
a ton at Pittsburg.. Cast iron pipe inter-
ests are booking large orders and in
auiries for next seasons requirements
are developing. Independent interests are
now quoting steel plates at " ton
higher Specifications in all finished lines
are very heavy. Demand for structuarl
material has improved and plenty of
business Is in sight, though much of 1t
will not come up until next year. Coke
is active and higher.
Copper is higher and little is available
for prompt shipment. Wool is stronger
and more active than for some time past.
Prices have an upward tendency The
strength of raw material and the eager
demand for goods makes cotton, fabrics
generally very strong and further ad-
vances are looked for.
Cotton yarns are very high and makers
are slow to sell freely. pending clearer
view as to the future Bleached goods
are strong, prints are selling freely for
next year and apparently twice as many
gnghans could be sold as are offered.
Weather conditions have been against
wooden goods but dress fabrics sell freely
for next years delivery.
Business failures during the week end
ing November 20 number ia, against
PIP last week and 1Ss in the like week of
1906 In Canada the failures for the week
number % as against q last week and %
in this week a year ago
Wheat. including flour exports from the
United States and Canada, for the week
ending November % aggregates 4,2O4,9l
bushels, against 4035,O7S last week and
3706 $50 this week last year 4 or the past
twenty-five weeks Of the fiscal year the
exports are 7S,79i,s01. against 4s,57S,224 In
1905. Corn exports for the week are 1'04o,-
$40 bushels, against 59iS61 last week and
164S.S24 n year ago. For the fiscal year
up to date the exports are 1885,, 266 BUSH
els against @, 446,SJZ in 1905.