The age-herald., 1901-07-13
GENERAL TRADE
 CONDITIONS GOOD Demand for Iron Nominal With Decreased Production POOR CROP CONDITIONS lie Labor Situation Affects the Mar kets to Some Extent, But Settle
 ments Are Expected at an
 Early Date.

New York, July 12.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 General business continues its even l course, with all the leading industries well employed and with confidence expressed on every hand BcuntfIl crops of wheat | seem assured and the damage to corn, | while considerable in some directions, | does not promise to be sufficiently general | or serious to at all impede the progress of the country. Labor troubles are in process of settlement and speculators have been responsible for most of the unrest which has been reflected in the markets Steel mills are actively employed and there is distinct improvement In the demand for finished goods, while quota tions are without alteration. In bars for use by makers of agricultural implements there is a brisk movement, plates are taken readily and there is no sign of d. minished purchasing in structural ma terial. Rails are ordered freely, with notable pressure for trolley and other light weights. Billets are more quiet and few new transactions are recorded in pig iron. The total number of pig iron fur naces in blast on July as recorded by the Iron Age was but thirty less than a month previous, and the weekly capacity was SlO,s5o tons Although this Is a trihing de- crease of 3,575 tons compared with the production on June 1, it far exceeds all earlier records. On July l. 1900, the weekly output was 2S3, AS, and in 1899 1t was 26S- 3sS tors. The most startling and gratify- ing feature of the situation Is the decrease of 15,1@ tons in furnace stocks, notwith- standing an output at the rate of oyer 16, 100000 tons annually
 Improvement Is general in the footwear industry. although no higher prices can be obtained.
 The market for split goods is frmer in tone and advances are expected while mems satin shoes are in better request Jobbers have light stocks of summer goods. which retailers should exhaust be- fore the season ends. Leather is in good demand and firm, but without Quotable change In price. Western shoe manufactu- rers have bought glazed kid in the local market, and also taken freely of other upper feathers. The large buyers of dry hides withdrew from the market owing to the prices demanded by importers and trading became dull. Textile lines have settled in steady position that promises more lasting prosperity than If prices had been forced higher or sensational activity had followed the altered attitude. of the buyers.
 In jobbing circles 1t is thought that trade will not be prosecuted vigorously until August, but statesmen on the road send in good orders. Heavyweight woolens are se- anI r,,tlI making extensive provision for the light weight season. Manufacturers are well employed and exhibit increasing interest in raw material. Wool has not altered in price but the tone Is f1r1ner and the sales increase. Growers are said to be selling rather than consigning, while many ranchmen refuse to do any business at present prices. In the cotton goods di- vision there is nothing new, recently ad- vanced prices being fully sustained and mills keeping wheels in motion as a rule. The raw material has declined large re- ceipts of the old crop and many bright dispatches from the South having more effect than stories of dought in Texas.
 Grain crops are causing much uneasi- ness among speculators owing to the ex- tremely complicated situation. According to latest official and unofficial prognosti- cations, there is reason to anticipate the heaviest wheat yield ever harvested, and making the customary allowances for do- mestic consumption, there appears avail able for export about per cent more than went abroad in the year of greatest ship ments. Yet prices are far above the lower record and vigorous rallies follow each de- cline. Extensive needs abroad make the movement from Atlantic ports for the week amount to 3,2oS,634 busels, against g. 19S, ,433 a year ago and western receipts were 4,579, 47S busels, against 2.61S,6H last year.
 Failures for the week number 203 in the United States against 196 last year and 2 in Canada against A last year.
 BRADSTREET'S REVIEW.