New-York tribune., 1911-01-14
CONDITION OF TRADE.
Duns Review says:

Business conditions remain substantially
unchanged. IndustTIally the most lmpoI,, !,
tant event of the week was the meeting or
ahe iron and steel men, at which no acuon
looking to lower prices was taken; but, bar
ring g. better outlook for the export ousl-
ness tho trade continues at about the same
reduced percentage Of producing capacity.
The report of the leading producer showed
s. falling of Of $3.50 tons In untitled orders
during December, which is a much smaller
decrease. however, than in recent preceding
months. There is more inquiry for certain
lines of cotton goods, but the high cost OF
production leads 70 measures for curtai-
rnent of supply. Advanced prices have been
named cn some products, although in fine
fplain goods an easier tendency Is noted
owing 10 the pressure on the part or mllis
10 secure business. An increased attend
-ance OF buyers IS reported in the shoe mar
ket and in practically all quarters Senti-
rnent is optimistic concerning the spring and
summer trade. Hides have boen depressed
kby reports Of the closing down OF numerous
'tanneries. although no material change has
as yet occurred in quotations. From differ
ent leading cities come reports which indi-
cate diversity of conditions. with on the
whole fair degree OF activity. While at
most centres the lull usual after the hOli-
days Is still In evidence 10 greater or less
extent, Il is no more pronounced than in
previous years and at many points there
are signs OF reyiving activity. In some lines
the receipt OF satisfactory volume Of
spring orders Is already reported and fire.
-quent requests are made for prompt ship
1nent. which is thought to indicate depleted
stocks of merchandise on the shelves Of re-
tail merchants, particularly In drygOOds
and footwear in the West and South Bank
ClearingS. while showing heavy declines in
New York, are slightly larger in the rest Of
the country, while railroad earnings in De
Cember increased rs per cent At the port
OF New York foreign commerce aggregated
$34,463,9Sl, against S25,Oa2662 a year ago, the
imports being SlS305,01l. or $21Iel7S in ex-
cess of the exports.
Bradstreet's says
Trade shows an increasing disposition 70
throw OF the quiet of the post-honday
period. and the business world is setting
its face with a fair degree OF optimism
toward the approaching spring season.
Wholesale branches Of trade are seeking
with fair success for spring business, and
statesmen on the road are beginning to send
I'm orders. In retail lines. which as yet
show more activity than do wholesale or
iObbng houses, the clearance sale is widely
in evidence. Except where, az I'm parts OF
erations, retailers are meeting with fail
success I'm dispOsing OF excess stocks
Wholesale and Jobbing trade as a whole IS
however, quiet. Conservatism governs and
the disposition Is apparently to scrutinize
goods and prices closely. Indeed, as q
whole, the situation is apparently one OF
careful buying for absolute needs and there
is no disposition TO load up speculatively
This feeling. governing as IL has for q
long time past, has resulted in a careful
keeping down Of stocks. and reports OF
leading Eastern and Western jobbers OF
drygoods point to stocks being exceptional
Iy low Very much the same feeling ap
parently aniinates cotton manufacturers
Who. finding margins between raw and
manufactured goods narrow, If not actual
ly disappearing. are conSiderIng curta!
stimulating effect upon prices of higf
grade cotton goods, which are many o
them being dealt IN only at value IL
Atier lines conservatism is also patent.