The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-06
GENERAL TRADE
FAIRLY ACTIVE
Warm Weather Retards Sale
of Heavy Goods
INDUSTRIES ARE ACTIVE
Coal, Iron and Steel Movements Are
More Than Encouragine-Un-
equaed Business Is Prom
ised For Coming Year.

New York, November 5-Bradstreets
tomorrow will say: Except for the fact
that unseasonably warm weather tends
to ret>Sd the fullest development of re-
tail in heavyweight and winter goods,
the general trade and Industrial report
this week is one of widespread and in
creasing activity. Jobbing trade in dry
goods, millinery, shoes, clothing, hard
ware and, in fact, most lines of distri-
button is active, increase being general
in nearly all lines.
The same is true of industrial opera
ton, iron and steel being as active as
ever, with outputs close to or in ex-
cess of the maximum. Coal is in in
creased demand and the lumber trade Is
active. All this occurs while prices OF
commodities are at high level and
while reports of stocks of raw materials
and of manufactured goods are In no
apparent way burdensome or holding
forth promise of early becoming so.
In the cotton goods trade. 1t is true,
the great advance in the raw material
at a time of nearly record movement
to market Is a source of unsettlement.
Many mills north and south have an
nounced curtailment in time run, but
the Fall River mills have not as yet
Joined In the movement and the feel
ing Is widespread that the coarse goods
trade will feel the brunt of the prom
Used curtailment- One effect of the high
price of cotton Is the report that some
East Indian cotton has been figured on
for import and that 1t can be laid down
at some southern cotton mill centers at
IL cent below the price of the Amer
lean product grown nearby.
BUSINESS failures FOR the wealr op1iu0
with November in the United States
were 22 against PIT last week. N5 in
1908 and 226 in 1907. Failures In Canada
number "a which compares with "a last
week.
Dun & Co.'s Review.
New York. November 5.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review will say:
Without exception reports of trade.
both wholesale and retail. in all parts
of the country are more than satisfac-
tory and hold out the promise for 1910
of a year of unequalled business What
this means, expressed In almost incon-
ceivable figures. is that the United States
is now increasing its wealth at rate
never before achieved. Neither the high
prevailing prices nor the discussion OF
the disputed economic policies seem In
any way to shake confidence or check the
industrial progress. In all the principal
cities the advances are of an excellent
retail distribution and the outlook for
the holiday trade is very bright The
extraordinary advance and speculation
in cotton Is the most conspicuous ad-
verse development.
The remarkable progress in iron and
steel is maintained and in October pre-
vious records as to the amount of actual
business booked were surpassed. In prac-
tically every division orders are received
in heavy volume and many mills are
falling steadily behind in deliveries.
Bookings by the steel companies are es-
pecially large and some important con-
tracts are pending
There is further large gain in the
movement of dry goods The removal
of restrictions In purchasing is particu-
larly noticeable in some of the larger
retail centers.
The cotton goods and yarn markets are
still affected by the high cost of cot
ton and production is being curtailed by
some large plants but the curtailment has
become a factor inducing larger pur-
chases. Efforts are directed In worsted
cotton and silk manufacturing centers to
prevent accumulation of high cost goods
not covered by contracts. Jobbers are
doing a must better business than usual
at this session.
The demand for footwear shows fur
tner improvement ana the price Quee-
ton is less Of disturbing factor. Sole
leather continues active in demand and
while not particularly large contracts are
made in single instances business in the
aggregate Is heavy. Prices are strong
for all lines Packer hides are very
strong and in brisk demand at extreme
quotations. with considerable quantities
sold in advance of take-ofY Dry hides
continue to advanvee with common va
rites bringing extreme figures. There is
considerable manipulation in country
hides and that market Is largely nom
inal