Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-30
DUN'S REVIEW OF TRADE
Retail Business in Staples and spsciAlties
surpasses All Expectations.
IRON AND STEEL ARE STILL ACTIVE
Pig Iron Slightly Lower, but No
Deliveries Can BE Made Before
July - Prices of Cotton
Goods Maintained.
ON AND STEEL ARE STILL ACTIVE

NEW YORK, March 2s-R G. Dun q
Co.'S. weekly review Of trade tomorrow
will say:
Easter retail trade surpasses expectations,
favorable weather bringing out a large
volume of business during the last week,
cialties but extended to all seasonable lines
of staple merchandise. Wholesale and
jobbing- houses received many supple
mentary orders especially for dry goods
and millinery, and further Improvement In
collections was reported.
Announcement by some railways that re-
trenohment must curtal plans for extern
sions, has had no peroepuble influence on
the iron and steel industry, owing to the
scarcity OF stocks in all positions. Prices
were held within reason during the season
of greatest pressure, when big premiums
might have been charged and the con-
servatism of the leading interests is now
bearing fruit. A few quotations of pig
iron are slightly lower but as a rule de-
llveries cannot be made before July, and
domestic furnaces are not able to satisfy
requirements during the second quarter.
This has revived imports and one shipment
from China is under consideration. Struc-
tural steel Is taking a seasonably prominent
position, specifications coming forward
freely as open weather facilitates building
operations much business coming from the
central west and the Pacific coast despite
the possibility of a strike May l. Tube
and wire mills are falling far behind with
orders and capacity of sheet and plate
plants are inadequate to handle the busi-
ness offered.
More quiet conditions prevail in the pri-
mary markets for cotton goods, but prices
are well maintained, producers having
large contracts on hand. Jobbers report
the first rush of the season as ended, many
buyers having returned home yet those
still In the market operate literally, and
reports from the west and south indicate
that early spring orders from retailers
have been most satisfactory. The only
changes Of the week were upward and the
attitude of sellers has lost none OF the
independence that has characterized opera.
lions thus far this year. Sales at second
hands deviate little from the general level
Export trade is still slow, but the manu-
facturer is securing better returns from
machinery diverted to home business thar
could have been received on foreign orders
Congestion OF stocks at Shanghai still
dominate the Chinese market and South
America supplies practically all the export
demand. Development is slow In the
wooden goods industry buyers OF mems
wear not yet having aseertained the trend
New England shoe manufacturers have
about concluded work on spring contracts
and have commenced cutting fall footwear
on orders from western wholesalers. In.
terest has suddenly appeared in russell
shoes, for which retailers have made In
adequate preparations, and jobbers are now
urging makers to forward calf and kio
coiored shoes as rapidly as possible. The
decline in leather and hides furnished hopeI
of cheaper products but thus far no con
cessions can be secured from manufac
turers and in another week liberal fall
buying by eastern wholesalers is antici
pated
A better demand for leather has ap
peared but transactions are not large be
cause buyers do not make satisfactory bids
Tanners have curtailed production In order
to maintain values and depress hides. Al
stocks OF the leather accumulate In tn,
hands OF the packers and dealers, the ton'
Is notably easier, owing to the season
Native COW hides are weakest, packers
stocks being estimated at 100000 Another
fractional decline Is reported In foreign DRY
hides, At the leading commodity exchanges
prices ruled fairly steady and option trad
ing ives restricted by the unsettled securit!
market.