The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-15
THE CONDITION OF TRADE
Spring Weather Has Improved
the Tone.
CROP REPORT FAVORABLE
Continued Good Railway Earnings
Widespread Industrial Activity.
Improved Distribution Of
Wool Reported.

New York April 14.--Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: Spring weather has i'm
proved the tone of trade, particularly re-
TAIL and correspondingly helped jobbng
distribution. but at the same time brought
last winters injury to the wheat crop
more in evidence. The regular monthly
crop report proved rather more favorable
than expected, foreshadowing, on the ba-
sis of last falls largely increased acreage,
a yield little below that of last season.
The unanimity of later damage reports
would seem to point to full information
regarding the crop not being obtainable
at the date when the government advces
which the government crop report was
received has apparently been shaded into
the belief that damage has been done and
wheat prices for the first time this sea-
son may be said this week to have ac-
tually reflected crop damage reports.
Other cereals are but little changed,
while the movement of our breadstuffs
abroad at present seems to be on lessen
ing scale. Among the favorable features
coming to light this week might be mem
tlOneu the receipt VI CuHtliiueu SOou
road earnings reports, advices of wide
spread industrial activity, accompanea
by rather less than usual friction as re-
fiected in strikes for higher wages, and a
largely improved distribution of wool,
which appears to have Weakened at last
from it's long sleep. Sales of this staple
indeed are the heaviest reported for many
years past, both inside and outside of the
commissions having bought freely of ter
nit nd ot
quantities of wool, however, have been
bought for re-export, English buyers bid
ding freely for high grade Australian
sorts.
The strength of raw sugar has finally
been reflected in higher rates for refined
hard grades of which are firm at the adj
vance white soft grades have been shaded
Indications are that the Cuban crop will
be smaller than last year and the weather
in Louisiana is reported still unfavorable
to plant growth.
Advices from the manufacturing jewelry
trade are in a high degree favorable, some
estimates pointing to % per cent. more
business being done this spring than u
year ago, while the retail trade is of COOL
tone and collections improved.
The iron and steel industry remains
firm, though the tone of the market in
general is quieter. Pig iron production is
increasing. but consump.iVe requirements
are still urgent
The lumber market is active at whole
sale Stocks are small and prices mani
fest aggressive strength.
There is a fair demand for coal but
milder weather tends to discourage large
| sales.
| Current demand for dry goods at the
| East is ouieter, though fall orders are re-
ported notably good and dress woolens
are in satisfactory demand.
| Boots and shoes are firm at the ad-
vance made over the seasons opening
| quotations. The strength of prices in
| March renders comparisons with earlier
| periods interesting.
Compared with a year ago, the general
| level of values is per cent higher, while
| there is an advance shown of nearly 40
per cent. from the low water level of Oc-
| tober, 1896.
| Wheat (including four. shipments fol
| the week aggregate 1.9S6619 bushels
| against 1884 800 bushels last week, 4.425,
| 3O2 bushels in the corresponding week OF
1898, 1,344,012 bushels in 1896, 2.0l1,579 bush
els in 1896 and 3,l65,2Sl bushels in 1885
| Since July this season the exports OF
wheat aggregate 100 329, 100 bushels aga'ns:
| 1888, $50 bushels last year.
| Business failures for the week number
| 24S as against 1870 last week, 90 in this
| week year ago, 195 in 1897, pa in 1896 and
| 219 in 1895
| Business failures in the Dominion OF
| Canada number Is against q last week
| 81 in this week year ago, SO in 1897, "a ir
| 1896 and % in 1895.