Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-06
WEEKLY REVIEW OF TRADE Slow and Gradual Improvement
 Continues. BETTER DEMAND FOR GOODS Because of Expected Revision of the Tariff Demand for Bessemer Pig Holds
 the Price Up-FaiIures.

will say tomorrow in their weekly re view of trade: The slow and gradual im- provement observed for sometime has continued during the past week and without material check There is a bet ter demand for most products on the whole, with continuance of speculative buying in some, notably wool, because of expected duties. Meanwhile, money markets continue as easy and undisturb- ed as if there had never had been anxiety about the gold reserve, and fairly large sales of stocks on London account during the week, possibly because of interna- tional anxieties, have made no perceptl- ble difference in American markets. Cot ton has declined an eighth, and with good reason, for although receipts from plantations fall the decrease is not great CT than the decrease in consumption, oW- ing to stoppage of mills. As there IS comparatively little cotton available In the country, the market is very conve- nient one for spectators to manipulate.
 While many of the mills have stopped production of cotton goods for time, the general outlook is on the whole un- changed and the demand for goods does not improve, while cloths are shade lower. The demand for wool has dimi1- ished, though only for little, and sales are quite a third more than the full for consumption of all mills if all were at work, but the speculative buying con tinues.
 Although some mills have gone into operation, the course of the market has not favored great activity, but it may be said that for goods of the highest grades there is a better demand than hereto fore.
 The boot and shoe industry can reckon a good many more shops at work, and shipments have been as large for the past four weeks as in any previous year. The market for materials has not changed to any important extent.
 While the demand for Bessemer pig has sustained the recent advance to $10.75 per ton at Pittsburg, and grey forge is still quoted at $40 there and there Is also less cutting of prices to get more business in finished products, the general range of prices still continues very low Wire nails have been advanced by heavy buy ing to $1. per keg, without change in cut nails, which are dull, and there Is less evidence of eastern mills selling rails below $2O. except for export, some sales or that character having been made at $1S00. Western makers are said to be firm at $21.00 per ton. But the demands of the most important railways have been supplied for the present the consumeta of billets are not inth market just now and with somewhat larger production of pig iron it may be doubted whether out side Of rails the demand for finished pro ducts equals the capacity of works
 Failures for the week have been 246 in the United States against 2S5 last year and 59 in Canada against 6S last year.
 .F' BRADSTREET'S REPORT.
 New York, March 5.-Bradstreet's will say tomorrow: The new administration, the certainty of an extra session of con gress within fortnight and the promise of a new tariff at an early day which shall provide adequate revenue and pro- lection. have done much to stimulate a better feeling in trade circles and in- crease confidence in the near approach of improvement in business.
 Total elearings at seventy-four cities for February aggregated 8, ,668, ,716 266, a decrease of 178 per cent from the Janu- ary total and 10.2 per cent. from that for February a year ago.
 The merchandise movement is equal to expectations.
 At Chicago and St. Louis there is a marked increase in the volume of pur- chases from jobbers, both by interior merchants in person and by mail orders, yet 1t is probable that the total trade at neither city equals that at correspond ing period a year ago.
 The stock market was raided by the bears on the antitrust feature of the presidents inaugural address. London has been weak and sold stocks for the past two days on the unfavora ble east ern political outlook. The coal stocks have been weak on publications unfavor- able to the Jersey Central. In spite of it's irregularity the market has very strong tone. the sustaining feature be- ing the refunding plan announced by the Lake Shore company in conjunction with bankers syndicate.
 There were 262 business failures throughout the United States this week, compared with 25S last week and 370 in the week year ago.