Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-10
NO SIGNS OF REACTION YET The Business Outlook Is Better
 if Anything. MORE HAPPY WORKlNGMEN Increased Confidence in Larger Volume ot
 Business-in the Fall. IRONS GREAT STRENGTH CONTINUES The Trade Wind Is Beginning to Fan the Brow of the South-Business Fail ures Less in Number-A Good
 Week All Round.
MORE HAPPY W0RKINGMEN
IRONS GREAT STRENGTH CONTINUES

New York, Aug. 9.-R. G. Dun. x Co., in their weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 R,1siness continues unusually active for midsummer, and though there is per ceptible relaxation there are no signs of reaction. The one change of great inn portance which the past week has brought is eminently helpful-the amica- ble settlement between coal miners ana employers in western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. It is said that about 100000 men will have their wages in- creased after October 1 by this adjust ment. and while the enlargement of pur- chasing power is of consequence, 1t seems even more important that chrome cause of controversy has been removed by the new agreement as to company stores There is no important change in crop prospects, and at this time no news is eminently good news Taken altogether the crops of the year promlse so much better than was expected a month ago that the effect is highly en- couraging, although the other crops eN- cept corn will not be full
 The outgo of gold continues to excite some comment, because it is felt that the bond syndicate could arrest the move ment at once if it pleased by reducing the rate of exchange.
 Speculation has been more successful in cotton than in any other production during the past week, and has influenced the price x. although it cannot be said that the prospect as to yield has def- nitely changed. Some injury has evil dentiy been sustained from excessive rains, and the government report com mands a little more attention.
 The industries continue to make prog, ress. and higher prices for iron and steel products prove that the supply has not vet outrun the demand. Bessemer iron is a shade weaker, but gray forge mas advanced about 50 cents and hnlsneu products are remarkably hrm, With a further advance in steel beams to 16 and in angles to 1.5c and in bar iron to 1.3c. The Carnegie works at Homestead broke the record by turning out Tn Juiy 43. 900 tons of steel, of which 17,l5o were of beams. Sales of wool are not as much inna.eo Inv speculation as they were during the first half of July, but they still consid- erably exceed the actual consumption in the manufacture. Prices are very firm and holders who bought enormous quah- titles month ago in expectation or rise appear to be looking for further ad- vance. but woolen goods show signs or weakening, and there is much complaint of foreign competition and underValua- tions, especially in medium and lower qualities while in worsteds the tenden- cy of prices is upward.
 Some staple cotton goods have again advanced in price and the market is un- usually strong for the season. The ship ments of boots and shoes continue larger than in any other previous year. but there is very little business and most of the manufacturers are getting very near the end of their orders, while many nave discharged part of their hands. Prices are firmly maintained and there IS no welding in leather, though 1t is reported in hides prices at the west show little weakness.
 The failures in July show liabilities amounting to $11 1.7SS, 510, of which $2, 549, . 075 were of manufacturing and SS,zSS,i if5 of trading concerns. Failures Tor the week were 225 in the United States, against 264 last year, and 43 Ill Cailada' against 54 last year.
 Bradstreet's Review
 New York, Aug. 9.-Bradstreets to- morrow, August 9, will say:
 The features of the business week are n continuance of the remarkable strength in demand for the increase in the pro- duction of and the advance in prices of iron and steel, practically all first-class nroducing plants having been put into service. with not few of the cripples.
 Prices have shown nor great change this week, cotton. leather and prints De- ing noteworthy for advances, and cop neY for it's strength after it's sudden up- ward rush in price. Business failures reported to Bradstrcets numbered 2o9 throughout the United States this week, against o21 last week, 1a7 in the week one year ago and 4Ii tive years ago.
 At larger eassern cc1tcrs the only note- worthy change is in increased confidence in a large volume of business in the fall, thoueh as yet no particular change has been made in that direction. Improve rnent in sales of commercial travellers is reported from most cities covered. The strike of nearly 15,00O clothing oper- utors at New York appears to have been success and nearly all are again at work.
 There have been moderate changes in general trade in the southern states, the most striking being at Dallas and gen orally throughout Texas. Crops of cot ton and corn there are large and coun- try merchants are buying more freely.
 Building is quite active in Texas and has had the usual effect on lumber and building materials trades At Memphis there has been slight gain in the vol ume of merchandise distributed. and at Nashville business is quite active, with an improvement in collections, owing to the marketing of wheat Jacksonville and Savannah merchants announce a moderate gain, but at most other cities only the usual midsummer trade is re- ported. Continued delay of the payment of the sugar bounties continues to act las drag on general trade in sugar west Of New Orleans. Sales at New Orleans are small and prices unsatisfactory. With the free movement of the cotton crop southern merchants are confident that the general trade will respond.
 The resumption of commercial activ- ity at the west follows a line down from St. Louis through Chicago, St. Paul and Minneapolis, with an improving demand also shown along the Ohio river valley Reports of large crops of Indian corn and spring wheat continue feature, and although corn will not be beyond danger for more than month many interior points are beginning to'discount the outlook by purchasine freely fdr fall