Birmingham state herald., 1897-05-01
WEEKLY REVIEW OF TRADE Markets Not as Good as Could
 Be Desired. COTTON MM;S ON FULL TIME Decreased Export of Wheat and Corn-lron and Steel Slow in Advancing-Commer-
 cial Death Rates.

New York, April 30.-Bradstreet's to- morrow will say: The more conspicu- ous features of trade are less satisfae- tory, including moderate reactions in prices of staples, falling off in the vol tune of transactions in various lines, con- tinued slow collections and less favora- ble conditions in the iron, steel, cotton and some other industries. There is less demand for staple varieties of iron and steel, makers reporting trouble in secur- ing specifications for contracts on hand. Southern pig iron has secured lower rail rates to points west of Pittsburg and Buffalo, all of which saving has been given the purchaser. The outlook is for the shutting down of some furnaces in the Pittsburg district. Sales of wool have declined sharply, but receipts of foreign have brought up the weeks movement to a fair total. Nearly years supply has been imported during the first four months of the year. The moveme mt of cotton goods is slow and prices are l5w, buyers purchasing in large lots only where inducements are offered Woolen manufacturers are fairly sup piled with orders and are inclined to ask an advance on new business. The three months restriction of output in cotton goods has ended and mills will now run on full time. The price and movement furnished little basis for special encour- agement, the only advance on general recognized conditions being those of pork and cotton. Higher prices for woolens is an effort to anticipate the tariff
 Exports of wheat (1our included as wheaD from both coasts of the United States amount to only 1,51SSS6 bushels this week, against 1,654,000 bushels last week, 1,260, 900 bushels in the week year ago, 2555, 900 two years ago, 2.713,005 bush- els three years ago and as compared With 2,776,o00 bushels in the like week in 1S93 The current weeks export of wheat (hour included) are the smallest since the sec ond week in May, 1895.
 Exports of Indian corn have also fal- len off this week, amounting to 3,657, ,465 bushels, against 4,769,O00 bushels last week. 2,413 GOO bushels in the week a year ago, 1,016,000 bushels two years ago, SS9,- 900 bushels three years ago, and as com- pared with 100000 bushels in the like week of 1893.
 There is moderate increase in the commercial death rate, there being 244 business failures through the United States this week, compared with 216 last week, 254 in the week one year ago, 2O6 two years ago, 179 three years ago and as entrusted with PAS in the last week of April, 1893.
 -Sl from the Canadian Dominion this week, against 22 last week, 26 in the week year ago, 36 two years ago and as compared with 33 in the corresponding week of 1894.
 DUN1S REVIEW.
 New York, April 30.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say: Tn spite of moderate improvement in most of the great industries, business is disappointing. Expectations of the speedy end of the war in Europe through Turkish victory have helped to depress grain. Demands of Austria and China have caused exports of $6,700,000 gold. Mercha ndise imports are greatly in- creased, and the final outcome of congress on the revenue question seems more re- mote.
 Wheat rose last Saturday nearly cents, but has fallen since that date about cents. This is largely because the European markets did not sustain the expectation of general foreign. de- mand after the ou. break of war, and be- cause events appeared Co foIeshadow speedy peace, butt the tidings from wheat growing states, the receipts from farms and the enormous exports of corn all had an influence. Corn exports have been 13,250197 bushsls in four weeks, agains. 4.496,679 last year, while Atlantic exports of wheat in the same weeks, flour included have been only 4 ,231 PAS bushels,
 
 surprising, for if in use two bushels of corn only equal one bushel of wheat two bushels of corn would cost about 60 cents and the one bushel of wheat nearly 80 cents. Western receipts have been re- duced, perhaps in part by floods and in- tsrruption of traffic
 The cotton market has advanced Nc, owing mainly to specula tive demand from England.
 The exports of gold would not have had much influence if there were not an extraordinary increase in mercha ndise imports and some decrease in exports from New York, large for last week. and a small per cent. for April Imports have increased over 60 per cent. over the past year, and for four weeks have been 90 per cent. greater
 i. At Boston imports of wool have been greater and in Philadelphia they have amounted for the month to $1,27S,0O Though this abnormal increase may con- tinue as long as action on the revenue bill is deferred, it tends to affect ex- change, but the main influence at pres enlt is the exceptional demand for the re- construction of the Austrian mone tary system and Japan,
 Iron and steel manufactures are slow in advancing now, us it was much quicker in the winter, partly because the increase in production in pig then was too rapid, partly because enormous con- tracts were taken when the different pools were broken down, and mainly to larger concerns, and perhaps even more because possibilities of new developments remain there is greaI hesita tion now in placing orders. Reports of pending ne- gotiations between the Illinois Steel and Minnesota Iron companies point to an important change soon Prices of Me saba ore have mot yet been established though ore be'tter than Fayal has been sold at $2.45 to s2.50 and pig is weaker; Bessemer at $9.50 with one sale of 2,0O0 tons for 1925 ai. Pittsburg. and gray forge at $S.50. Nails are about cents per keg lower, and tin plates 5 cerlts per box, and eastern quotations are frequently shaded to secure business.
 A heavy sale of lake copper Is reported at Il cents, and lead is trifie weaker.
 There is mere business in cotton and wooden goods, and little better tone In prices, somo cotton and some woolen goods having slightly advanced without general change. The mills are rather becter employed and the demand is ap- parently increasing, though not enough .in wool to induce manufacturers to pur-