The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-28
WEEK'STRADEHEAVY
Seasons Total Is Raised by
Rush of Holiday Buying.
MILLS WILL SOON RESUME
Dun's Review Takes Optimistic
View of Situation in Spite of Emil
grafton, Aliens Continuing TO Come
In-New York Foreign Commerce
Increases S3,5G7 ,4sO in Exports.

New York Dec. 27.-R. G. Dun < Co. s |
weekly review of trade tomorrow will
say:
Holiday trade was very heavy during
the last few days before Christmas rails
ing the total for the season above expec-
tations, although comparisons with last
years figures are unfavorable at most
points. A few interior cities report better
results than in 1906, but these are excep-
tiGnal cases.
General business has been as quiet as
is customary at this time and manufac-
turing plants have increased the percent
age of idle machinery. Dry goods jobbers
stimulated trade by special clearance
sales, retail traders attending in large
numbers because of slight stocl1s on hand
The banks furnished currency more read
fly for pay-rolls, but little Improvement IS
recorded In mercantile collections.
More wage-earners are unemployed
than at any previous time this year. vet
many factories and mills announce re-
sumption early in 1908, and consumption
OF staple commodities is not perceptibly
diminished because Of the savings or the
preceding extended period OF fun occupa-
| ton.
Aliens COntinse to Arrive.
1t Is interesting TO note. in comparison
with recent statements Of unprecedented
emigration. that immigration for Novem-
Der also establishes a record, 1l7476 aliens
| arriving in this country. or 22.S55 more
than in the same month last year For
eign commerce at this port alone, for the
latest week. shows a gain OF S3,557.4S0 in
exports, and a loss OF s. 5S9. 100 IN imports.
]
"A large percentage OF the nations iron
and steel producing capacity has closed
down until after January I. and In few
cases quotations are lower, but there IS
confidence in an early resumption Of ac-
/ tivity in 1905. Belief in the restoration OF
normal conditions is based on the knowl-
edge that stocks are low in al positions.
and the feeling that financial conditions
viii be sufficiently improved to encourage
new undertakings and the completion Of
work on abandoned extensions and i'm
prOvements.
Commercial Failures of THE Week.
Commercial failures this week in the
United States are 80, against 80 last
week. 322 the preceding week, and lS7 TIE
| corresponding week last year. Failures IN
Canada number "a against . last week,
| 81 the preceding week, and Il last year.
| or failures this week IN the United States
J 10 were In the East. IS South 30 West
and "a in the Pacific states, and lQl re-
port liabilities OF $500 or more, against
! IA last week. Liabilities Of commercial
failures thus far reported for December
are S3.39O.S65. against Sl0.3Si.22S for the
same period a year ago"
Bradstreet's View OF Trade.
Bradstreet's review OF the state of
trade tomorrow will say:
Trade as a whole has been quiet. aid
industry has slackened perceptibly bat
the financial situation has eased. except
/ where. as in the case OF New York. large
/ end-Of-the-year disbursements have TO be
provided for Previous antcipations as 10
/ the volume of holiday trade find conhr-
nation in the reports that the distribu-
ton, while fair, was not equal 70 that OF
/ 1906 or OF some earlier years.
Mild weather IS still complained OF as
| affecting retail trade in seasonable goods.
/ such as clothing, shoes, rubber footwear.
and kindred lines. At some cities the
usual January reduction sales Were held
! in December. in many instances occur
] ring before Christmas.
"Jobblng trade was quiet till after the
/ latter date. when the usual clearance
! sales Of wash and other dress fabrics
were made. arousing a fair amount Of
/ interest. Wholesale business has been
! quiet, and both this line and the jOhbing
trade note the receipt Of many requests
TO delay shipment of goods.
Industrial Lines Are Quiet.
Industrial lines are Quleter. very
general shutting down for the holidays
being noted. and the textile trades, es-
pecially, have shown tendency to fur
/ Their curtail. one item in this line has
/ been the reported agreement Of nearly 50
per cent Of the New England cotton
! spindleS 70 reduce or curtail production
in the next sixty or ninety days. The
/ iron and steel trade is rather Quieter
/ also. and the first cuts in finished steel
are noted in a reduction OF steel bars 10
| the extent of s. per ton.
! "Coincidentally, and despite a general
I slowing down OF furnace output, South
ern iron Is being offered at lower prices.
| while Bessemer iron is over 81 lower.
| There Is talk Of export trade being sought
in iron and steel, and some large lots Of
sheet and tin plate bars are reported to
have been disposed OF for shipment 10
Wales.
Weather Restricts Coal Output.
Mild weather restricts demand for BIZ
tuminus coal the country over, and coke
production IS only about one-third the
normal. Wool is easier for Upgrade and
/ low-priced lots, and buyers II goods show
! little interest in heavyweight offerings
| for the fall Of 1908.
] Collections are generally complained
| of as slow, but favorable features are
the reports that many cities are now
practically on currency basis. that the
market for mercantile paper shows more
| life. and that special holidays declared in
the time of stress in California have
ended"