The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-08
TRADE CONDITIONS.
Bradstreet's Weekly Summing Up of
the Situation Favorable.


NEW YORK, July 7.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
Holiday observances and semi-annual
stock takings have worked toward quiet
general trade and industry, but it is sig
nificant of the favorable conditions rul-
ing in this, as compared with previous
years, that trade advices point to a rath-
er more than the average business being
done, Notwithstanding the checks to de-
mand and shipment above mentioned.
Additional results of the seasons work
brought to light are fully as favorable
as those indicated in Bradstreets re-
port last week, and furnish an adequate
basis for the general air of confidence
with which the business world faces the
latter half of the year. Bank cIearings
returns fully bear out estimates given
last week pointing to unprecedented to-
tails and enormous gains for the six
months period over the preceding years,
while Bradstreet's report as to the prices
points to steady strengthening Of quo
tatiOns of staples and exceptionally few
decreases in prices registered in June
All indications favor a total of export
trade little below that of last years phe-
nomenal total what little falling off there
has been shown being due to reduced
European takings of American food prod
ucts. Preliminary reports as to railroad
gross earnings indicate exceptionally good
showings for the month and the half
yearly period, the gains, in fact being
the heaviest reported this year.
''Distributive business on seasonable
account is naturally on a small scale
but orders for fall delivery are reported
particularly liberal and making favor
able comparisons with last year. In the
iron trade the strength Of prices and de-
mand is still the most notable feature,
further advances in pig iron being notable
this week, quotations for Bessemer iron
going well above the $40 mark. The ques-
ton Of supplies of raw and partly manu-
featured material IS receiving increased
attention, and delays growing out of in
adequate supplies are becoming incress-
irgly numerous. Side lights on this con-
dition are furnished by reports that
stocks of Southern pig iron are the low
est on record and that all furnaces in
the Pittsburg district are heavily sold
ahead, while for the first time in five
years every coke oven in the ConneIIs-
vile district is at work.
Another strong situation Is found in
the WOODEN trade. Prices Of the better
grades have been advanced this week on
active demand from dealers and manu-
facturers and in sympathy with the adj
vance at London. The manufactured
product is strong and the new season
opens well. Cotton has strengthened
quite considerably owing to very heavy
rains eliminating in disastrous floods in
Texas.
1.-The wheat market has moved within
a narrow range this week. weather con-
ditions furnishing the basis for most of
the changes shown, the closing days of
the week witnessing considerable firm
ness on short covering due to less salts
factory crop reports from the North
west, which are, however, not confirmed
by continued heavy receipts at primary
markets by the rather better than ex-
pected outturn Of winter wheat and by