The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-22
HOLIDAY BUYING
IS TRADE FEATURE
Freight BIockades Very Serious
at Western Points
INDUSTRIAlS AT MAXIMUM
Prices of Iron haneed-Strenath of
Cotton of lnterest-Two-third of
Next Years Rail Out
put Sold.
INDUSTRIALS AT MAXIMUM

New York, December 21-Bradstreet's
tomorrow will say:
Holiday buying. easily the pre-eminent
trade feature increases as the season
draws to a close and early predictions of
"a record turnover are being fully realized,
Stocks have been SO well disposed of that
jobbers have booked large volume of re-
orders. Otherwise however, general retail
trade in seasonable goods has been sub
jected to vagaries of the weather being
excellent where low temperatures have
prevailed. but backward in the east parts
of the south and in the northwest. In
the larger dstributive lines wholesale and
jobbing business is comparatively quiet
in consonance with the season.
; Iron and steel mills are well sold up
and high prices do not better consumers
from placing orders as far in advance
as the third quarter of 1907. Car short
ages still continue to retard shipments
and deliveries, grain and coal being par
ticulary affected
The commodity markets show strikingy
little variation in prices, which taken as a
whole are steady to firm. Cotton has
been quieter than of late. following the
drop of zee last week. Larger receipts
have been the leading feature supplement-
ing complaints of tight money. some scat
tered liquidation and future prices gradu-
ally sunk until a decline of 10 to Is points
has been shown.
In the cotton goods the week, despite
The usual quiet preceding holidays, has
been strong, some bleached goods have
been advanced, print cloths have been
firm at 4 cents, and prints and ginghams
have been in demand for next years late
delivery. Wooden goods have been rather
quiet with dress fabrics relatively best
situated. Hosiery and knit goods are sold
far ahead for six months.
Raw silk is tending up on the largest
sales of the year The 10 per cent larger
worlds crop is apparently being taken
care of.
Raw wool is quiet, but very firm and
higher quotations are predicted.
The grain markets have been dull, fairly
steady. and with little huctuation, con-
tinuing the situation noted for over three
months past.
Provisions also show no changes on
the week in cash prices.
Demand for pig iron for delivery in the
second third and even fourth quarter of
1907 is developing at a goodly rate, eastern
Interests being the principal participants.
Paucity of labor. the ear shortage and
perhaps higher freight rates curtail ship
ments from southern furnaces, thus caus-
Ing stocks that are badly needed to ac-
emulate Foreign foundry irons are less
active and early in the week Middles-
boro's declined somewhat. only to recover
lated. Demand for steel rails keeps up,
the business OF the week footing up 41,00
tons. standard sections.
All in all. the iron and steel trade never
ended a year to enter "A new one with
better prospects, and products so we'll sold
ahead. Coal is firm and in good demand
the supply being scarce in the northwest
and on the Pacific coast. and none of the
best in any section owing to the ear short
age. Coke is being produced at a rapid
rate, but supplies are small with premiums
prevailing for prompt deliveries Copper
is firmer.
The failures in the United States for
the week ending December 20 number 227
against 900 last week and 235 in the like
week of 1905 In Canada failures for the
week number %. against 81 a week ago
and So in this week year ago.