The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-21
No ROOM FOR COMPLAINT
BRADSTREET1s WEEKLY SUMMING
UP OF TRADE CONDITIONS
OF THE COUNTRY
IRON AND STEEL AT FRONT
DiscOurageing Statements Have Had
Their Effect, but General BusI-
ness Is In FIOurIshIng
Shape.

NEW YORK, April 2O-Bradstreets e
tomorrow will say:
More rather than less irregularIty in
the trade and price situation is to te
noted this week. partly the result Of
weather conditions, but partly, as in the
case Of iron and steel trade, because OF
the continuance of those missionary eff
forts In the direction of lower prices,
which have been such a feature of the
iron and steel trade Of late. That the
basic conditions Of trade remain on the
whole favorable, is, however, evidenced
by number of features. Railroad earn
ings continue heavy, and the decrease
noted in bank cleGrings is chargeabla
largely to religious and other holiday OBJ,
servances, and to restricted stock spec.
uiaticn. Heavy rains and cool weather
early in the week had a depressing ef-
feet on trade and collections. but with
the advent of warm spring tempera-
ture, improved conditions of retail de.
mand, which Is at present a most i'm
portant element in the general trade sit
uation, have been noted.
''The bear campaign in iron and steel
took on a new phase this week, when a
number OF wire mills were shut down, as
alleged, because OF an over supply Of
these goods. The announcement has had
an unsettling effect upon general demand,
as was probably expected, and new do,
mestic business is interfcred with.
1.-THE strength Of the export demand
previously noted in these columns, how
ever, Is still a feature and we have the
best of reasons for believing that very
large quantity of Southern iron, various
ly estimated at 10000 to 10000 tons, was
sold this week to go aboard at about full
prices.
price changes are mostly along lines
heretofore noted, though some sympa-
thetio weakening Of pigiron IS reported.
Wire prices apparently are unchanged.
Steel billets are weak at the decline re-
ported last week, and bar steel and
| plates are likewise lower. The other
metals have shown reactionary tone
this week, and anthracite coal remains
seasonably weak. but talk Of impending
labor troubles has hardened bftuminous
coal at most markets.
''It has been a weather market for the
| cereals and most agricultural products.
these advancing early this week, but
weakening toward the close. The
strength of pork products and the small
movement has stimulated corn, and there
| is less weakness in this than in the other
cereals.
Stormy weather and flooded water
courses at the South have checked OF
retarded cetton planting. but this feature
| and the statistical strength OF the market
| have rot been sufficient to produce any
outside bull movement, while the quiet
| ness in dry goods and the weakness noted
in cotton yarns have been additionally
diseouraging features. Wool is dull. but
there is rather more inquiry ard now as
one year ago, and relatively highest prices
| rule at points of production
Backward weather conditions have af-
| fected the lumber trade demand, but In
| this as In a number of other lines, the
advanced prices demanded are credited
| with checking businesses.
''The pressure Of heavy supplies is re-
| sponsible for the slight weakening shown
| in the price of raw sugar this week, while
| the refined market remains unchanged.
| Whether influences are again reflected in
the market for daily products, which has
weakened under large receipts.
wheat, including flour, shipments for
! the week, aggregate 9S9S,45 bu, against
| 2,8s6, ,654 bu last week, 1882, $50 bu in the
| corresponding week OF 1899; ,2S2,1O6 bu III
| 1898; 1,65466S bu in 1897 and 1,2S6,49O bu In
! 1896 Since July 1, this season, the eX-
ports Of wheat aggregate 157,SO4,5f7 bu,
against 1873, ,262, ,119 bu last year, and 19l,
| sos. $50 bu In 1SS7-'9S. Corn exports for the
week aggregate 3,15S,7F bu against 2,799,-
| 444 bu last week, 3,C91.94O bu in this week
q year ago; ,3G3, ,4S2 bu In 1898; 4.789,315 bu
in 1897, and 981, ,2O6 bu in 1896. Since July
l this season corn exports aggregate 1885,
OS1, 1886 bu against S7.O47.744 bu during the
the same period a year ago and 147, S,S2i
bu in 1S97-9S.
"Busincss failures in the United States
| for the week number 16l, as compared
with 152 last week, 1877 this week year
| ago, 224 In 1898, 216 in 1897, and 24O In
1896. Business failures in the Dominion
| of Canada for the week number 10, as
| comnared with 35 last week, 80 in this
week a year ago, Is in 1898, p in 1887 and
| 81 in 1896.