The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-28
TWO SIDES 70 BUSINESS
TRADE HAVING BECOME SETTLED,
COMPARISONS ARE NOT FA-
VORABLE
FURRY IN STEEL AND WIRE
Another Factor That Operated
Against the Showing for the
Week-ImprOveme in the
Shoe Industry.

NEW YORK. April 27.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
Evidences of the fact that there are
two sides to the general trade situation,
where for year past there was but one,
come to sight each week Different sec
tions of the country and lines of business
return differing reports but that the situ-
alton as whole is a favorable one and
suffers merely by comparison with the
enormous and almost feverish activity of
some time ago is also evident. Excluding
the great speculative centers, the aggre-
gate Of business is undoubtedly larger
than year ago, and the business done,
even in several Industries reporting re-
dueed activity. would seem very large,
even to those bearishly inclined, had it
not been for the enormous aggregate
done some short time ago. Crop pros
poets, except in the wheat area of the
Central West, and in some flooded Sec
tions of the South, remain all that might
be wished for. Retail demand is improv-
ing, and nothing Of definitely depressing
character has yet developed
BY abrupt readjustment of steel and
wire prices the iron and steel industries
the ordeal well, confirming the earlier
opinions. Evidences of new export de-
mand In pig iron have constituted one
of the foremost supports to that industry
Last weeks reports of heavy sales of
Southern iron for export are amply con-
ffrmed, and enormous enlarged tonnage
could be placed If freight rates and room
were favorable. Hardware has increased
distribution in the West, but is rather
quiet in Eastern markets. Among other
metals, copper is firm, while tin is rather
weaker
Zone of the most favorably situated in
dustries is that Of shoes. Manufacturers
are reported active, jobbers are busy, and
seasonable weather Is inducing a good
distribution from retail hands. Paints,
oils and drugs are also in good distribu-
ton, while the strength of bituminous
COAL partly owing to the strike, but also
to the increased demand for this product,
is sympathetically reflected in the large
demand for some grades of anthracite,
which are expected to be advanced on
May /. In agricultural products the stu
alton is generally one of sustained
strength.
Some slight shading in wheat prices
is largely the result Of the favorable win
ter wheat crop prospects in the sections
west of the Mississippi. Spring wheat
seeding is reported almost completed In
the Northwest, much ahead Of the ave-
rage. Corn has been quite strong, partly
on continued good export demand and
partly in sympathy with provisions, which
are stronger, more because OF the steady
consumptive requirements than because
Of the lighter receipts of hogs.
The sharp advance in prices OF lum-
Der last year and the unsettled position of
the labor situation in the building trades
are Jointly held responsible for the rather
disappointing decrease reported this
spring Hemlock lumber is lower. and
white pine is also weaker, but the hard
woods maintain much of their old
strength. Other lines reporting special
quietness are the wholesale dry goods,
the jewelry business. particularly the
manufacturers, who report business
rather dull, and the grocery trades.
wheat, including -four, shipments for
the week, aggregate 3.6S3,863 bushels,
against 3.S9S,451 last week, 3,O2S, 4OS in the
corresponding week of 1899, 4,449 0o9 in 1888.
I, ,155, 1886 in 1897 and 1,260494 In 1896 since
July / this season the exports OF wheat
aggregated 161 ASS, no. against 196,29O,5 81
last year, and 1876, ,952, ,6SS bushels in 1S97-9S.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
3,620,664 bushels, against 2,615,079 in TINS
week a year ago, 4,216,066 bushels in 1898,
3.651, ,465 in 1897 and 2,142,595 in 1886. Since
July 1 this season corn exports aggre-
gate 169 702, $50 against 1S9. ,S2S during the
same period year ago and 15l, 3Sl
bushels in 1898.
ssJFailIlres for the week in the United
States are well down to the minimum,
numbering only 1872, an increase of Il over
last week, but less than in this week
a year ago, and comparing with 24o In
this week of 1898, 244 in 1897 and S54 IN
1896. Canadian failures for the week
number 1S, as compared with 19 last Week,
q in this week a year ago. 22 IN 1885, 81
In 1897 and Is in 1896.