The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-17
TRADE OUTLOOK IS GOOD
BRADSTREET'S SUMMING UP OF
BUSINESS CONDITIONS FOR
THE WEEK
IRON AND STEEL ARE FIRM
Reports of Coming Activity I'm Rail-
road building Help the Situa-
ton acknowledgements
Market Improved.

NEW YORK, March 16-B adstreet's
tomorrow will say:
Trade adVic are, as whole, chez ful.
and the strength of values is apparently
undated, though some soft spots st II
present themselves. prominent feature
this week has been the increase in
strength of values of farm products. near
~ all the cereals, pork products and cot
ton advancing, while materials for man
ufacture and the products thereof have
generally remained steady or unchanged
The government report on the quantity of
corn in farmers hands showed smaller
than expected supply, and quite an out
break Of speculative interest occurred
sympathized in by wheat, and both re
ais reached the highest point touched on
the crop of 1899. Liquidation on the adj
vance brought about some reaction in
prices, growing wheat crop advices prov
ing rather depressing as a whole. and the
statistical position remaining az bearish
as pointed out in these columns last week
The close finds quotations above those Of
a week ago. 1t seems evident that the
weather and the growing crops will con-
stitute pricemaking features for some
time TO come
The cotton goods market has strength
ened and a number of advances are re-
ported this week, but except at Western
distributing centers the business done has
been rather smaller than for some time
past. There is a tendency to believe that
the high point has been touched, and un-
til retailers have dispose ed Of some of tn ic
supplies the outlook is for continued
quiet at second hands
Wool is fairly steady, but manufac-
turers are out~of the market, and con-
cessions can be obtained, though London
advices are better.
Manufacturers Of shoes are busy, and
weather conditions have rather favored
the retailers by enabling them to dispos =
Of some carried-over stocks. Copper has
been strong in tone. Lead, after a break,
due to enlarged receipts, is firm, but
slightly lower than a week ago. Anthra-
cite is lower, in keeping with the advanc-
ed stage of the season, while Gituminous
grades Of coal are firm
Though quiet the iron and steel stu
alton has developed rather more conf
dent tone. Less is heard about shaded
quotations, though, on the other hand
the volume of new business has not been
very large. Some low grade pig iron las
been moved at concessions. BY the taking
of orders for Bessemer pig at Pittsburg
this week. the entire production for the
first half of the year in that district has
been placed Southern iron advices are
of steady prices and of rather more in
quiry on export account Except imme-
diately in Chicago, where the idldeness
Of many thousand men has made dulness
in the machinery and kindred trades, the
Western iron situation seems a strong
one
Reports of coming activity IN railroad
building multiply, but 1t is possible that
a false construction may be put upon the
reports that $4,000 miles of new road are
projected. The heaviest mileage ever
built was in 1870, when less than 1900
miles were constructed, and it is, Of
course, safe to say that nothing like as
large a total will be built this year as IS
reported projected, more particularly as
new railroad building now Will he largely
a matter Of extensions of existing lines
rather than the building of new roads
Structural material Is in better request,
and some very large contracts will shortly
be placed.
Wheat including -four shipments fer the
week aggregate 2,727, $50 bushels, against
Apostles bushels last week, 4,114,O46 bush
els In the corresponding week of 1899. a.
679,056 in $685. 1923, 4S4 in 1897 and 1887, l23
in 1896. Since July l this season the ex-
ports of wheat aggregate 141, 30S. $50 bush
els, against 175. 225,741 last year and IT,
620570 in 1878 Corn exports for the
week aggregate S,729,291 bushels, against
2,1S7,S24 last week, 4,2l1, 1926 in this week a
year ago. 9,941, STA in 1885, 5,939, 31S in 1897
and 1S02, 1874 in 1896 Since July 1 this sea-
son corn exports aggregate 149, AZ, 129
bushels, against 121, 453 953 during the same
period a year ago and 1926, 537, $50 in 1898.
Business failures in the United States
for the week number 100, as compared
with 1S9 last week, 2O5 in this week a
year ago, 233 In 1898, 231 in 1897 and 800 In
1886. Business failures in the Dominion
of Canada for the week number %, as
compared with 80 last week, q in This
week a year ago, % in 1898. SO In 1897 and
40 in 1885,