The St. Louis Republic., 1901-05-04
BUSINESS CONDITIONS
REMARKABLY HEALTHY
Failures in April the Smallest in
/ Ninety. One Months-Crop Pros
poets Very Bright.

New York. May ar. g. Dun & Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade tomorrow viii
say:
1.-THE greatest activity ever seen In Wall
street diverts attention in a measure from
progress In distribution and manufacturing
operations. But while on every hand stocl
market interests are counseling caution and
attempting to prove that prices are really
railroads warrant, the fact remains that
without brilliant crop outlook and the
great activity Of general trade. Wall street
could hold no such carnival
Labor difficulties are fewer and less
threatening than for several years before
In the first week in May and prices OF mer.
chandise hold we'll. Stability of prices and
vigorous prosecution Of work at mills indi-
cate the wholesome condition Of the IRON and
steel market. Throughout the entire range
Of products Of this industry, the current de-
mand for immediate delivery exceeds al
previous records, yet makers maintain q
conservative position. and prices are, moi
pushed Up to the danger point.
ut IL In the finishing steel plants that
there IL the greatest urgency for shipments.
and the full capacity Is assured for the next
three montha After July there is prospect
Of respite. Judging by the light engagements
Of pig iron and following the unparalleled
activity Of the past six months. q season Of
comparative quiet would not be surprising
nor unwelcome. There was a rush to get In
orders for. steel rails before the higher
prices became effective, and the erection OF
new ONCE buildings provides great demand
for structural material which II also In
considerable request on foreign contracts.
..Dullness is still reported In the textiles
A further reduction Of 2.56 cents for stand.
"a ,tot 1ofh did a.
tions. az buyers appear confident that goods
will soon, be available at 2j1a cents. This un-
satisfactory condition Of the manufacture
Il not helpful to raw cotton, nor ID there
support in better prospects for the next
crop, and port receipts far In excess on
the last year movement. stu there II
feeling that the decline has gone far enough
and this negative influence holds the marke,
fairly steady. There is no improvement In
wooiens. and Coates Bros average Of 1o'
quotations Of woolens May was N.17
against 1870 on April /, and 22.7s veal
small concessions are reported In few
GRADES OF shoes and In other cases manu-
facturers are milking slightly better goods
Ing more freely, and shipments from East.
ern shops are larger than in the previoui
week Of year ago.. Leather Is quiet, aside
SF'urther. advances were secured in the
cereal market, Chicago spectators being
forced to cover May corn contracts at Sc
ATTRACTIVE prices brought more liberal re.
ceipts at Interior cities, and also stimu.
lated operations on the farm. Traders have
forced The next crop options to what seeml
unreasonable limits. ae there II evidence OF
4 larke yield. despite delayed planting
throuRh excessive moisture. Wheat also
attained . high point advancing in sym
.Acccrdins to reports Of r. q. Dun 4
! Co. there b reason TO expect q heavy
epring wheat crop this yeaf. In the prin.