Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-29
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEW There Is No General Change for
 the Better. MERCHANTS ARE HOPEFUL Mercantile Collections in the South and West
 Have Fallen Off THE TEXTILE MARKET IS DlSAPP0INT TING Unsatisfactory Conditions Prevail in the Iron and Steel Industries and South ern Trade Is Reported Slow and
 Generally Quiet.
THE TEXTILE MARKET IS DlSAPP0INT TING

will say tomorrow in their weekly review of trade:
 Failures in the three weeks of February show liabilities of $10,SS9, 996, against $S,523 OPS last year and $11, ,420, AIS in 1894. Failures for the week have been PTS in the United States against 250 last year, and 58 in Canada, against 3S last year.
 In some quarters business gains at the west rather than at the east, but there is no general change for the better, though hopefulness still predominates. Foreign affairs grow more pacific and public opinion turns more resolutely to- wards sound money, but the want of suf- ficient demand for the products of the great industries still retards actual im- provement. Strikes of some importance in garment making and kindred lines affect trade in Chicago and Baltimore, but there are fewer labor difficulties than usual, as existing conditions warn wage earners that controversies at this time are unwise. The specula tive market shows little life.
 The volume of business does not im- prove. Exchanges through the princi- pal clearing houses show 19.7 per gain over last year, but the months compar- ison with 1893 is the only instructive one and shows a decrease of POT for Febru- ary,
 The market for textile goods is disap- pointing. Materials reductions in cottons have not brought out the needed demand, and further decline in Lawrence l.. L.. brown sheetings this week to As cents corresponds with reports that mills of some importance may prefer to arrest production for time unless the demand improves Clay worsteds are again a shade lower; the range for all woolens II ago, although wool is more than 2 per cent higher, and good many mills are closing or reducing time. The feature in iron has been the large demand for wrought and cast pipe. Large orders for structural are received at Chicago and expected at the east, as building plans are unusually large; but sheets sell slowly and rails very little, though bar iron is fairly active, with many or ders coming for cars. Iron quotations average per cent lower for the week. because of the drop in Bessemer a Pitts burg to $12.50, and in gray forge to $10.75 The demand for boots and shoes gains very little. Exports of domestic products from New York for three weeks show a gain of 16 per cent over last year, while imports in the same time scarcely in crease. But export bills are diminishing rapidly at this season, while large inn ports naturally come in succeeding months, and many security bills have to be met in the near future. It is believed by many that gold exports are not far off.
 Bradstreet's Report.
 Changeable and at times unseason- weather has continued to unfavorably influence the distribution of general mer- chapdise. Relatively, the most active movement has been of shoes, groceries, dry goods, millinery and light hardware, but on the whole the merchandise move inent has not materially improved. Job bers at larger western centers do not an- ticipate heavy spring trade, IS the out look is for retailers carrying over larger stocks than expected.
 Unsatisfactory conditions prevail in the cotton goods woolen. iron and steel industries. Jobbers in products of cot ton mills report that trade dragS, not withstanding cut rates, and that the out look is that there will be more idle cot ton mill machinery. Demand for wooden goods is slower and stocks in hands of retailers are heavier than when last re- ported
 Tn addition to renewed activity in the glass industry. large orders, spring de- livery, are being placed for boots and shoes at the more important distributing centers and manufacturers report trade active and prospects encouraging Leading money markets are easier at the close but mercantile collections south and particularly west have fallen off and are unsatisfactory.
 South, general trade Is quiet and slow In nearly all lines, there being an excep- ton as to agricultural implements at Memphis dry goods at Atlanta and in the movement of staples at New Orleans Relatively unsatisfactory reports from western merchandise markets are the rule. but Omaha reports an improvement in business with Indian corn moving more rapidly and al Duluth the prospect of good though late spring trade.
 Price movement of leading stables is more favorable. The falling off in the total number of business failures throughout the United States week ago is continued. the total being 271 comnared with 276 last week. 2a4 in the correspondine week. of 1905. 272 in the fourth week of Februarv. 1894: PIT in the like period in 1893 and 247 in 1892.
 THE soUTH's OPPORTUNITY. Hon, Patrick Walsh Has Sent an Address
 t to All Southern Governors.
 Augusta, Ga., Feb. 2S.-The address of Patrick Walsh in reference to the South ern States exposition at Chicago has been forwarded to the governors of the south