The age-herald., 1901-03-16
IMPROVEMENT IN GENERAL TRADE The Weekly Reviews of Dun
 and BradStreet CASH FOR IRON AND STEEL Mills Much Behind Their Orders and Contracts for 6essemer Pis-JuIy
 Delivery Indicates That Ac-
 tivlty Is Not Temporary.
CASH FOR IRON AND STEEL

New York, March 15.-R. G. Dun 6 Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 Improving wheat crop reports pig iron production seldom exceeded, strong cash prices for all iron and steel pro- ducts that can be delivered heavy grain exports at good prices, activity in minor industries and a money market that i'm poses no hardships upon business, com prise the bright side of the picture of the week, Threatening labor troubles seem more remote. The textile markets, long backward. have again failed to re- spond to the general confidence in com mercial circles. A slight recovery in cot ton was not had, and the goods market shows decline In 6 month from 5R051s | cents in standard brown sheetinss, 22@ 21 cents in wide sheetings 5A@51A in brown drills and 5N @5h cents in staple ginghams.
 Steel mills are still much behind their orders and contracts for Bessemer pig for July delivery indicate that the activi- ty is not considered temporary. Yet the wide difference in quotation between inn mediate and distant dates suggests some fear that present high prices cannot be maintained But the various pools and associations are extremely conservative about advancing nominal list prices. ac- tual business continues to be transacted at premiums which vary according to the urgency of purchasers. Structural ma tertal is still a feature and the rapid development of newly discovered oil fields is creating an unusual demand for places, pipes and drilling machinery. Steel rail contracts have been increased and rail ways need rolling stock. Pig Iron pro iduction, according to the Iron Age, has increased to 292,S99 tons weekly, which is about 5000 tons below the high record of February l. 1900 It is surprising to find, despite an output at the rate of over Is, 900, ,0O0 tons annually, that furnace stocks decreased 2 1928 tons during Feb ruary, making the total 6S5,443 tons on March 1, against 670631 tons five months ago.
 Boot and shoe shops are well occupied, Eastern factories having their full ca pacity engaged in some cases up to Sep
 tember i and even the less fortunate makers have contracts for some months
 Leather Is active and well sustained, es
 peciaiIy for hemlock soles. Slight inn provements in special lines of textiles are
 occa asionaily noticed, but prices arc main-
 tained with difficulty. Print cloths were
 reduced another eighth without acceler.
 ating operations, and Fall River mills are preparing to curtail production. Heavy brown cottons have been depressed and
 reduced output Is probable in this divis- ion. Aside from little better recorder business in light weights, reports are not | of an encouraging nature from the wool
 ef mills. Further declines are reported | in wool making material fall since the
 month opened. At the last concession Boston holders exhibit an inclination to refuse bids and there Is more indication
 of steadiness than previously this sea- son.
 After the long continued season of sag ging prices for cotton, the market seemed ready for a reaction, and MT. Neilps cir
 cular was issued at what seemed to be | propitious moment. But 1t fell fiat in
 this country and the trifing response at Liverpool was brief. Predictions of visible supply of only z50000 bales at the
 end of the crop year and requirements ex- ceeding 10000, 900 bales are not endorsed by the course of domestic spinners, who have materially reduced their takings of
 by the heavily decreased foreign demand
 Moreover, the estimate that the current yieiu Wouiu not exceed SoVV,WO bales IS open to question in view of the amount aready in sight and the free movement at Southern ports. The decline from the
 top price of the season now amounts to
 1925 per bale. making the quotation $S.52
 below the level year ago Prospects for | good winter wheat yield are considered
 bright. Official reports of supplies on thc | farms March 1 shows the expected loss | compared with last year, but a good -afn over recent years prior to 1899
 | Failures for the week wore aaa in H#e | United States, against 1J last year ana
 S3 in Canada. againf g last year. BRADsREE1s REVIEW | New York, March l. -a6sl== str to- morrow will say:
 | The general situation Is gitr4HH frrr4=z