Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-15
ITS NO LONGER 4 QUESTION Improvement in Business Has
 Come to Stay AND IRON IS THE PREMIER
The Industry Is No Doubt in Better Posi-
 ton Today Than for Years.
FAVORABLE ABylces REGARDING CROPS
Labor Troubles Are Getting Out of the Way = Monetary Conditions Also Help-Gold Is Expected to
 Come in This Direction.

New York June 14.-R. q. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade will say tomor- row:
 It is is no, longer a question whether bushes improves. Not for a long time have our reports from all parts of the country been so uniformly favorable. The daily average of bank clearings in June is PAS per cent larger than last year, though 11.4 per cent less than in 1892 The most potent influence has been the receipt of more favorable advices regarding growing crops. Even official statements helped because altogether less gloomy than previous rumors. La bor troubles are getting out of the way, wages in many establishments are ris- ing, and with the iron industry just now leading there is general improvement in manufactures.
 Monetary conditions also help. The time draws near when good crop ex- ports will bring gold hither and though foreign operations on stock and bonds have been insignificant this week, the effect of previous transactions has not been exhausted. Much diminished re- ceipts of money from the interior in- dicate better employment in business, especially at the west, and the volume of commercial 1oaps steadily rises and is now fair for this season even in good year.
 The official statement of I4S per cent decrease in cotton acreage was quickly found in view of the revised govern ment estimates for last year, to mean more than 2O,OO0,O00 acres now growing cotton, which much exceeds the best un- official estimates, and from an area no greater over 5000 900 bales were produced in 1891, so that the report gives no aid to prophets of evil That some reduc- ton would be well for the south is clear, but the heavy present surplus will cover a larger loss than seems possible. The price has not changed, but transactions have become insignificant. though the rainfall and temperature are closely watched Manufacturers abroad, ac- cording to Ellison, have stocks of 2S9,0 900 bales greater than a year ago, and com mercial stocks of American in sight are still 13,200,20S bales.
 Cotton mills arc doing well for the season, and numerous advances from Bc to Ac in brown sheetings, drills. bleached muslins, denims and ticks are still reported.
 The wool manufacturer looks for a speedy settlement of labor troubles, and finds a moderate demand for low and medium heavy weight goods, while some of the cheaper lines of spring goods have been opened with flourishing results, but as to better grades there is stil great uncertainey about prices.
 The output of pig iron June was but trfle larger than May l, 157, 224 tons. against 156,554 tons a month ago and 174,O29 tons two years ago. Stocks un- sold were reduced in May 96,597 tons by the stopping of many Mahoning. She mango, Illinois and Virginia furnaces, which afterwards resumed The ad- vance in prices continues, Bessemer pig reaching $12.40 and gray forge $l065 at Pittsburg. Changes in all iron products show an advance of 3.7 per cent this month and 13.3 per cent from the lowest point in February. For ths conserva- tive industry the rise of 26 per cent in Bessemer iron seems large, but it com pares with 35 per cent in cotton, B per cent in wheat, 50 to 70 per cent in leather, 80 per cent in refined oil and over 100 per- cent in hides. All these products were at the lowest prices ever known, and re- markable gains were to be expected when any came, but with each con sumption has yet to justify advances The coke producers about Connsllsvi.le have not yet made any declarations of their new compact, but contracts are being made at $1.35 for the last half of the year. with provision for advance if wages rise
 Failures for the past week have been 241 in the United States against 232 last year, and A in Canada, against 10 last year.