The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-11
TRADE OUTLOOK HEALTHY
HEAVY ENGAGEMENTS IN IRON AND
STEEL PRODUCTS ARE EN-
COURAGING PROPOSITIONS
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR WHEAT
Great Deal Hinges on Next Months
business in Dry Goods Circles,
in which the Attitude Is
Hopeful

NEW YORK, Aug. 1O.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: Trade conditions still
exhibit many of the Irregularities incl
dent to the transition period between mil
summer and early fall trade. Despite the
hot wave. with, its effect upon growing
distributive demand and also because re-
ports of damage to the corn crop winch
it has melted, more cheerful feeling Is
perceptible in general trade, and the
booking of fall orders for dry goods,
clothing and hardware at leading western
centers. and heavy engagements in iron
and steel products, though at law prices,
are of encouraging proportions. Prices
are not showing the precipitate declines
noted some time ago, and the really en-
couraging features are the advance in
wheat, largely based on improved export
inquiry.
"WooI is rather firmer of late because
of the better inquiry, though it is admit
ted this steadiness is somewhat at the
expense of new business. Cotton goods
partake of the strength Of the raw mate
rial due to the talk of a possible bullish
crop report, and where weakness is still
perceptible, as in brown cotton print
colths and wide sheetings, the natural
corrective of reduced production is being
increasingly sought. 1t has been a re-
markable year in cotton and cotton goods,
and, although the goods market is rela-
lively weaker than the raw material, a
great deal hinges on the next months
business in dry goods circles.
at is regarded as certain that, with a
10000, O00-bale crop, values will be main
tanned with prices lower, it is true, than
present quotation for raw material, but
still high, when compared with last or
previous years range The spring season
lightweight season-has opened, with
prices 21a to 10 per cent higher than
year ago, and much depends on the atti-
tude Of buyers in guiding manufacturers
as to purchases of raw material While
the dry goods demand, as a whole is
still classed as backward for the season,
hot weather is credited with some of the
responsibility, and the trade attitude
as whole is one of hopeful expectancy.
IAN immense business in steel products
is reported booked at Pittsburg and Chi
cago, and steel bars are really firmer
with an advance of 81 per ton announced
by Western manufacturers, who have
sold their output up to the close of the
year. Pig iron is still rather neglected
but inquiry for this material is really bet
ter at the South, largely on export ac-
count, and furnaces shut down are so
numerous as to indicate an adequate
realization of the fact that the root of the
evil is at the root Of the crude material
increased output is claimed to have been
the rule for more than a year past. A
significant fact Of trade is the strength
OF structural material. A large quantity
OF material Is reported engaged for rail-
way renewal, but steel rails are also
nominally unchanged at $35 per ton The
other metals are dull, and tin is weak
here and abroad at recession from last
weeks quota tons.
Wheat, including flour, shipments for
the week aggregate 3,318,760 bushels.
against 3,32T,003 last week; 3,616.154 in the
corresponding week of 1899, $685. Cos in
1898, 4,46O,51s in 1897, and 2,635. PIG in 1896,
From July to date this season wheat
exports are 17,SS7,629, against 22.125. O6O last
season, and 1884, 72S in 1S9S-99.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
2'SSO,f54' against 1890, 003 last week: $50 36f
IN III THIS week year ago, 3,517, 952 in 1898.
S,zf5,652 in 1897 and 1885,, 591 in 1896 Fpom
July l to date this season corn exnorte
are N,S64,O25, against &c, 1896, 1854 last season
and 17092,S4 in 1889.
Business failures in the I1ni+Ad c+o4
90 not vary much, numbering 172 for the
WEEK against ITO last week; 1855 in this q
1886. ~ LII III 1881 ana z0S In
Canadian failures number 20. against
e. g. iats week, q in this week last yea1e eSNd