The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-22
INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY
The Notable Feature of the Business
Situation.

NEW YORK, JAM 21.7Bradstreet's
tomorrow will say: "A large measure
of activity in business and Industrial
lines with, in some instances, previ-
Gus records surpassed, and very gem
| eral steadiness in prices Of staples, is
| perhaps the most notable featue of the
trade situation this week. Quotations
of cereals show aggressive strength.
Whlle those OF some makes of pig iron
betray rather more decided weakness
than they did week ago.iMild wealth
er is frequently mentioned as an in
huence tending to check retail distri-
button of seasonable goods, chiefly be-
cause of the effect of country roads.
Spring trade opens slowly,+as usual at
this time of the year, but confidence
| is still unimpaired.
AS already intimated, the immense
current production of pig iron, amount
ing to fully 100000 tons per month.
has begun to exercise an influence up-
on the price of that staple, but de-
creases reported are still only fraction
al. The outlook in steel retail trade
is reported as a f1attering one. Large
orders for railroad contracts already
booked have been increased within the
week, an example of this being fur
nished by sales of $1,000 tons reported
from Chicago at full prices
Higher prices for wool abroad. based
partly on short yield reports, are re-
f1ected in the firmness of domestic quo
tations, although demand, while COM
pairing Well with most preceding years
is smaller than it was at this time in
1897, when tariff changes were being
anticipated. The industrial situation.
with the single exception of the cot
ton industry, is one of exceptional
strength. AS yet the strikes in this
branch of trade, however, are largely
confined to Massa chusetts
Mild weather in the Northwest af
fects trade to some extent. A poin1
OF interest, however, is the report thar
fur goods manufacturers, who usually
shut down at this season, are running
full time on Alaskan orders. Business
is active on the Pacific coast. Califor-
MIA crop prospects haveebeen improved
by the recent rains, and ship and boat
building are very active along Puget
sound and at Portland 3
Quite a shrikage inscersal exports is
indicated by reports to xBradstreet's
this week. Total shihmef4ts of wheat.
flour included, from the United States
and Canada, amounted tp. only 1885,
600 bushels. against 5,229,0OO bushels
last week, 2,916,000 bushes,in this week
year ago, 9,S4S, 009, bushels in 1896,
and 2,S4O,OOO bushels in the third week
Of January, 1895. Indian corn exports
also show heavy failing off. amount
ing to only S,4S6OOO bushels this week,
against 4,461, 600 bushels slast wweek,
$3.50, bushels last:kear4and $4,000
bushels in the corresponding week of
1896 sEs
A further falling off in the number
of business failures is reported in the
United States this week, the total be-
ing only 300 against 1923 last week, 42s
in this week a year ago, 314 in this
week of 1896, 312 in 1895, and 1913 In
1894
Failures in the Dominion of Canada
show further falling off, amounting
| this week to only IS, against So last
week, 81 in 1897 50 in 1896, and 4S in
1894, but slightly exceeding those Of
1885, which numbered SO.
TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY
| Take Laxative Bromo Quinne Tablets All
druggists refund money il 1t fails to cure. Csc.
The genuine has L. B. @. on each tablet.