The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-01
TRADE LESS ACTIVE.
THIS, DOES NOT INDICATE, HOW
EVER, THAT THERE IS CAUSE
FOR APPREHENSION
BAD WEATHER A CAUSE
Strength of QuotabIe Values Fails
to Show Any Material SIaclxening
of Underlying Movements - Bad
Roads and Weather Retard Retail
Distribution In the West-In-
dustrial Conditions Flattering.


Roads and Weather Retard Retail
Distribution In the West-In-
| dustrial Conditions Flattering.
| NEW YORK. March 31.-Bradstreet' g
| tomorrow will say:
| There is a qufeter tone in several
| lines of business this week, Independent
| OF the reduction in volume of distributive
| demand resulting from continued unfa-
Vorable weather conditions In large sec
| ton Of country. The strength of Quotable
| values, however, fails to show that any
| material slackenng of underlying move
ments has as yet become apparent in
| leading lines. Trade is dull, naturally
| in Eastern textile markets, on the cur
| rent seasons account. but an encouraging
element is found in the readiness of buy
ers to place orders for fall delivery. While
| leading Western markets note that the
edge has been taken off demand, and that
bad roads and weather combined have re-.
tarded retail distribution and hence af-
fected collections in some sections results
of the first quarters trade with whole
salers have been so good that their san
guine cheerfulness as to the outlook is
especially notable.
Industrial conditions continue of a most
hatter1ng character, with advances in
wages still a prominent feature In the
iron, steel, machinery and allied trades.
In some lines Of manufacturing, it Is true,
the work of projected or possible combina-
lions has made for some uncertainty.
Notably In this respect has been the glass
trade, in which, however, plans for COM
bnation seemed to have temporarily fail
ed Of accomplishment.
Iron and steel are in less active demand
at nearly all markets, but this in some
measure appears to be the result of
scanty stocks or possible supplies offer
ing, and not 50 much of any curtailment
of needs of small consumers. Large con-
sumers, with supplies secured ahead, are
reported waiting to test the strength OF
the sellers position on later deliveries.
Prices of material are firm, with some
further advances at the West In rails.
Copper and lead show some return of
strength after the recent weakness. Lum-
Der demand, though interfered with at re-
tail, shows all the old strength of prices.
Wheat, including -four, shipments for
the week aggregate 1888, 23S bu, against
3,746.761 blu last week. 3, 550,664 blu in the
corresponding week of 1898; 2,464, 645 bu in
1897; ,927 blu In 1895, and 2S53,933 bu In
1895 Since July 1 this season the exports
of wheat aggregate 1874, $50, 800 blu, against
the week aggregate 2,411, 443 blu, against
| 3,699,629 bu last week; 4,570722 bu in this
week year ago; 4,97O,127 blu in 1897; 2,1S9.-
| 564 blu in 1895. and 7S1, 1882 bu in 1895. Since
July this season corn exports aggregate
12S,5 O2b blu, against 1854 GAS blu during
the same period year ago.
There is some shrinkage in the dry
goods demand at New York, but there Is
reported rather better outlook In wool
en- goods Talk Of combinations in the
| wooden manufacturing trade has
strengthened wool quotations at Boston.
Philadelphia reports steel plates nearly
double the price when the present move
ment began, and the strength Of quinine
| as not being impaired. Bad weather Is
| generally complained of at the West as
| hurting distribution at retail, but st.
| Louis reports little apparent damage to
| winter wheat, and that large orders for
| cars and railway equipment generally are
| being placed. Spring trade at Chicago Is
| the best since 1892, and surpasses that
| year in many lines; tanners are prepar-
| ing inventories necessary to going into
| the new combination, and iron and steel
are still active: though with less snap
than heretofore
On the Pacific coast the improved tone
advices from California is still the feat
ure. Southern adVfces are fairly cheer
| full. Wheat exports are reported liberal,
! and the outlook favors heavy future ship
ments from that port. Iron is firm at
| Birmingham. though there are reports of
| immense future increases In the Southern
fields output.
Bank clearings for the week aggregate
| 81 ,901, 357, 900, a gain of less than 1 per
| cent over last week, but Of 6S per cent
| over last year. while they are double
| those of 1894, 1896 and 1897, and the gain
over 1892 is rs per cent.
| Past reports Of prosperous trade con-
| ditions find confirmation in the smallest
number of failures for the first quarter
reported for seventeen years past, while
| liabilities are lighter than for twelve
years preceding. The percentage Of as
Isets to liabilities now is as low as that
reported in the most prosperous years.
| The total number of failures for the first
| quarter of 1899, as reported to Brad
| streets, was q per cent smaller than
| last year; 81 per cent less than In 1897,
| and 13 per cent smaller than in 1892
| while liabilities aggregated $31 POI ;65S-13
| per cent less than in 1897; so per cent less
| than in 1896 and 20 per cent smaller than
| in 1893
| Increases in failures over year ago
! are noted in New England, due mainly
| to larger number of embarrassments in
| Massachusetts, but the only increase in
| liabilities in any group of states is that
| noted in the far West.