The age-herald., 1901-06-08
WEEKLY REVIEW OF
 TRADE CONDITIONS
Labor Situation Still Unsettled
 and Causes Hesitation
SOME IMPROVEMENT NOTED
Labor Troubles Are Expected To Be Settled Soon-Trade Showed Some Activity During Week,
 Especially In Steel Rails.

New York, June 7.-R. G. Dun & Co., s weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 The labor situation in parts of the coun- try is still seriously unsettled and consti- tutes a reason for hesitation in some in- dustries discouraging new operations which satisfactory conditions would otherwise stimulate.
 But quick decision is to be expected in some of these controversies, and in the meantime trade is encouraged by reports of a satisfactory condition of winter wheat over 8 large portion of the coun- try. As for spring wheat, the crop was put in under very favorable conditions, and there have been no unsatisfactory reports. Railroad earnings for May were s.6 per cent. in excess of 1900 ana 2S.2 per cent. over 1S99 reflecting continued ac- tivity. New York bank clearings for the week were 83 per cent. over 1900 and 59.l per cent. over 1899, with gains at the lead ing cities outside of New York of 27.1 per cent. over 1900 and 715 per cent. over 1s99
 The cessation of manipulation in corn contributed to decline of per cent. on breadstuffs
 Labor controversies have become the factor of greatest importance in the lead ing manufacturing industries. Counting perhaps, upon the urgency of orders and heavy losses which would be sustained by employers in case of suspension, the ma chinists made what were considered un- reasonable demands by employers at many points who have taken a determined stand and announced that the strikers places will be filled by non-union men on Monday if they fail to resume work. More quiet conditions in the market and few contracts made this action possible
 Large contracts for rails sustain bil- lets and finished steel deliveries continue strong. Shipments of farm machinery at attract much attention, while bridge building, new vessels and track elevation. prevent dullness in structural markets Efforts to secure advances in grain by ex- aggerated reports of damage to the grow ing crop have given place to more con- servative statements and the outlook is generally conceded to be full of promise Speculative operations for a decline, how ever, are far from aggressive; the severe setback to schemes of the short interest calling halt in this argument. s
 Shipments of boots and shoes from Bos- ton continue very large. for the last week exceeding the same week of 1900 by 10000 cases, and since the year opened forward fngs have been over 2000, 900 cases, which far surpasses any previous record
 Retailers are offering black goods for summer wear at reduced prices, and it is evident that the production of these shoes was excessive, while tans have been in much greater demand. Manufacturers are pushed to fill contracts of this kind Prices are steady ana jobbers report that much better qualities are sought Local distribution Is facilitated by warm wealth. er and this is even more potent in the market for cotton goods. which exhib- ited greater animation than at any pre- vious time this season. Other textile lines were helped though less extensively. Bet ter movement of domestic goods and the consequent expectation that mills would need raw material, together with increas- ed activity abroad, sustained cotton.