Birmingham state herald., 1897-07-31
WEEKLY REVIEW IF TRADE Although the DuIIest Month of
 the Season, INCREASE IS THE ORDER
From Detroit to Seattle and the Lakes to the
 Gulf
REPORTS OF CROPS ARE ENCOURAGING
Demand for Goods Is Unusually Strong Iron and Steel Situation Quiet, With Prices at the Lowest-Marked In-
 crease in Export of Breadstuf.

New York. July s0.-Fra dstreet's tomor- row will say: The exceptional fall de- mand for staple merchandise which Bradstreets announced last week has ir- creased, although not conspicuous at soma of the larger eastern cities which 1t is approa ching, is notably 50 at points in the Mississippi and Missouri valleys and in the larger wheat growing states. A special investigation by Bradstreet's this week shows that increased purchases by country merchants in the .on sfyeet- fled, based on the prospectively large wheat crop at home, in the face of short wheat crops abroad has increased bus.- ness with western jobbers from 10 to 15 , per cent. compared with fall trade at a like period last year. lne total volume of this rew business is net large, but Ii is unusual in this, the dull month of the year, and it is growing. A number of western implement factories are unab.e to fi1 all their orders for nearby delivery, one order for shoes alone t sL Louis calling for $35,000 worth of goods.
 The depression among wooden owners is little affected by the pricas of chevio,s, arlf woolens have begun to rise, pointing to profit in handling high-prcad woois.
 The greatest relative improvement among jobbers and wholesale lines is at Chicago, Kansas City. Omaha St. Paul
 
 points. notably in Texas, there is pro- nounced feeling of confidence in an early revival of demand which is beginning to show itself
 A large number of trunk lines report that they Ire carrying more merchand SC than one, two or three years ago.
 Fewer mercantile industries than eX- pected have been compelled to close on ac- count of lack of coal on account of the Strike, the present strike causing higher prices for fuel.
 The iron and steel manufacturers are more unfavorably asitusted than any ons else Bessemer steel and ibillets con tinue at the lowest price ever known, the latter at a shade urlir $12, awaiting the demand which has begun to show itsef to staple lines of merchandise
 The shutting down of cotton mills to force reduction of stocks on hand has already stiffened prices and with existing conditions in other lines of bustrless the outlook is for better request for cotton goods and for iron and steel in the ca rIy autumn. The most favora ble feature of trade IS its slow. conservative steady exl panSlon, 1t being based on the increa ed wants arld larger consumptiVe capsc ty or the agricultural community for whom the prospect is brighter than il has b an for six years
 Practically the only decrease in uuota- lions this W elk are for iron and steel. prices of oais and print cloths are un- changed. Ths list of advances is longer, and more significant, including pricss Of wheat, flour wheat. Indian corn, lard. sugar, live stock, cotton, woolen goods lead and nails.
 Exports of what (wheat flour included as wheaD from both coasts of the United States and from Montreal this week amount Ito 2,343,021 bushels, compa red with l5tS,000 bushels last week, 2f4S 0OO bushels in the week a year ago, .460 000 bushsls two wars ago, 2,977, 900 bushels three years ago, and as contrasted with 5622,O0 bushels in the corresponding week of 1893.
 There is sharp falling off in exports of Indian corn this week. the total amounting to 1,S02,175 bushels, compared with 229S000 bushsls last week. 495. 900 bushels in the week one year ago. 594,- 900 bushels two years ago, 119 900 bushels three years ago, and as compared with 1693,000 bushels in the like week of 1893
 Thsre are 1855 business failures report ed throughout the United States this week, rather less than recent weeks. Last week the total was 22O in the week last year it was 294 and two years ago it was 221, but inthe corresponding week in 1894 1t was 220, and in the like period of 1893, 459.
 AS DUN SEES TT.
 R. G. Dun & Co. in their weekly re- view of trade will say: Dispatc tches from almost every northern city of import ance report, without exception, improve ment in business and from Detroit to Seattle and Portland splendid crop pros poets. The task of adjusting the busi- a ness and industries of the country to con- ditions created by a new tariff law has progressed with gratifying rapidity and ease. Even the strike of miners prob ably forwards the adoption of the uni formity plan which promises to remove most of the causes for such struggle. Much confusion is caused by events seemingly contradictory by closing of large cotton mills, when many other works are starting and by acline in some prices when others are advancing, but the balance is unmistakably on the right side.
 The most important event since the passage of the new tariff. which was gen. erally anticipated a week ago has been the marked increase in foreign demand and advance in price for wheat, which has risen "A cents during the week with western receipts for the first time ex- ceeding last years, with western rail- roads besieged for cars, and with At lantic exports of 1,71S.73S bushels (f1our included) for the week and 6,351 IFS bush- els in four weeks against 6,917,S65 last year. With heavy contracts for ship ment, exceeding 100000 bushels on single day, Liverpool reports of ship ment from America to Northern Bohemia and French markets excited speculative sales.
 The fact that corn exports exceeds last years, although the price has advanced to 32.S7 cents, Is further proof that for elgn demands are substantial. With crop news still favorable producers may more than last year on wheat, which probably realize Something like SS 900 GOO means great difference in purchases by agricultural states Corn also advanced f25 cents and cot ton q sixteenth, though reports as to yield are good. The industrial sky is pa .siy ciouded by coal and iron difficulties and by the clos ing of some large cotton mihs Having run for months far aheli Of consuming demand on cotton bought at comparative ly high prioss the mills see ahead a large i crop and cheap cotton, ard it is but