The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-22
RECORD HOLIDAY
TRADE RECORDED
IRON AND STEEL ORDERS ARE
PLACED FAR IN ADVANCE.
The Trade in General Will Enter the
New Year with tho Greatest Momen-
tum Ever Attained -Bradstreet' Re-
port an Encouraging One. n

New York. Dec. 22.-Bradstreet's to-day says:
Holiday buying increases as the season draws to-
close and early predictions of a record turn
over are being fully realized. Stocks have been
SO well disposed Of that jobbers have booked a
large volume Of orders. Otherwise, how
ever, general retail trade in sessonable goods
has been subjected 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, where the weather
has been too mild or too rainy.
Iron and Steel.
Industrial lines are still very active. Iron
and steel mills are well sold up and high prices
do not deter consumers from placing orders as
far in advance as the third quarter of 1907. In
finished lines specifications are very heavy. The
trade in general will enter the new wear with
the greatest momentum ever attained. ~,
Car shortages still continue to retard shin
ments and deliveries grain and coal being partic.
ularly affected. The paucity of the former is
causing much anxiety In various parts of thu
country but especially in the northwest and OH
the Pacific coast. =
The commodity markets show strikingly little
variation in prices, which, taken whole,
are steady to firm. Cotton has been rather oui.
etef than or late, following the drop of 1sc last
week.
In cotton goods the week, despite the usual
quiet preceding the holidays, has been strong.
oolen goods have been rather quiet with dress
fabrics relatively best situated. Hosiery and
Knit goods are sold far ahead for six months.
haW SILK Is tending up on the largest sales Of
the year. ~
The grain markets have been dull and fairly
steady and with little fuctuaton, continuing the
situation noted for three months past
Changes In prices have been very narrow and
really trifing. Provision 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 develop
ing at goodly rate, eastern interests being Tho
principal participants.
Car Shortage and Labor Paucity.
maps higher freight rates, curtail shipments from
southern furnaces, thus causing stocks that are
badly needed by smelters to accumulate De-
mand for steel rails keeps up with traction in
trrests figuring largely in the contracts while
steam roads are placing good additional orders,
me business of the week footing up Al, 900 tons,
standard sections.
Coal Is firm and in pood demand +ho ,
nrlns scarce in the northwest and on the Pa
enc coast, and none Of the best in any section
owing TO the car shortage Coke is being pro.
WIN premiums prevailing for prompt delivery
copper is frmer in that larger premiums are
pi'la Tor spot deliveries, but future business Is
smaller for the time being Lead and spelter
The failures in the United States for the week
ehdng Dec 20 number 227 against 22o last
week, 25o in the like week of 1905 249 In 1904
nr rs IN eo aSS5 and 166 in 1902 In Canada fail
week ago and IS IN In this week year ago,
wheat and Corn Exports,
wheat including flour. exports from the
nltea states and Canada for the week ending
Dec. 70 aggregated 3,2O3 S24 bu against asa
4'l last week, 4,4734s2 this week last vear
I'o@',o1s in 1904 and 4,332,s3 in 1901; for thu
past twenty five weeks of the fiscal year the ex-
1O ptS are .! ,lI3'402 bu, against 61 1872 O31 in
A'o, 3D. IS2lSI In 1904 and al 500 700. IN 1901
Corn exports for the week are 1,s25. 1854 In
against 3S1, ia last week. $685. e5s a wear 400
ana l,s62'S9 In 1904. For the fiscal year tn
o eaIe me exports are % 1694s1 bu against So
1t.). orI1 a