The age-herald., 1901-03-30
BUSINESS HAS 4
 CHEERFUL TONE General Review of Trade by
 Dun and Bradstreet IRON SCORES AN ADVANCE Long Expected Rise In Structural Ma. teria Came TnIs Week With a Good Gain-slllets Are Now
 Sold at SPA.
IRON SCORES AN ADVANCE

New York, March 2e.-Bradstreets to- morrow will say:
 A rather more cheerful tone is appar- ent in general trade. and the close of the first quarter of the year finds business contemplating an increased volume as time advances, while the future, with some exceptions Is viewed with appar- ent confidence. The advance of the spring season is partly responsible for this feel ing, allowing, as 1t does, better oppor- tunity for a wider range of operations than was possible in the winter months. First indications as to crop prospects, and outlook are in the main favorable. Bank clearings are showing steady gains and unprecedentedly large totals a year ago. Railway earnings testify to an immense volume of merchandise passing into con sumption, and, as for some time past. the active demand at advancing prices for iron and steel is regarded reliable index of good general trade to come. Building is becoming more active, and promises this spring to be the heaviest for many years past Hence. the lum- Der trade and all lines of builders. hard ware and affiliating lines note improve ment. In agricultural implements at the west marked improvement Is noted.
 Boston sales of wool this week are estimated to amount nearly 6,000,0O0 pounds bought by two large mills
 Cotton goods are weaker and the out look is for curtailment of production of finished products. Good authorities at the south, however don't think that any cur tailment of cotton acreage from last years aggregate is probable, although the recent drop will it Is thought, help to discourage planting on some land. In line with this are reports that consider able orders for fertilizers have been can celled.
 The boot and shoe trade is in good con- dition. another gain in shipments Is indi- cated this week and the total is 5000 cases ahead of this week last year. while the unfavorable balance for the season has been cut down. The situation in leather Is quite satisfactory and stocks of sole leather are quite limited
 There Is little more doing in the ce- reals this week. corn being especially &C., tive, and in the hands of a bull clique has advanced to above 50 cents Wheat
 
 strengthened slightly in sympathy with the coarser grain.
 Iron and steel have made steady prog ress alike in the volume of sales and in | the matter of price. The long-expected advance in structural material came this week, with gain of from S2 to "A in beams, channels and similar products. | Other finished products are strong. Pig | iron has been more active than for some time past, a feature being reported sales l at Pittsburg of 10000 tons of Bessemer | pig on a basis of $17. 25 delivered at Pitts l burg; 2000 tons of billets are also reported sold at s24. At least twenty Mahoning, Shenando and Cleveland district furnaces are reported in a combination to improve the situation as to Bessemer pig. The feeling grows that iron ore prices will not be far from s4 50 per ton. Current ex- port figures point to smaller shipments of goods abroad, but the strength noted in foreign markets last week may post pone and even temporarily avert the de- cline of our export business.
 Wheat dncluding four) shipments for the week aggregate 4494 635 bushels, as against 3,256 644 bushels last week, 2.962. 349 bushels in the corresponding week of 1900, 39S8 23S bushels in 1899 and 3.550. .664 bushels in 1898 From July l to date this season wheat exports are 151, 2207 735 bushels as against IA, ,1S2, $50 bushels last season and 1S4, ,96S, TAO bushels In 1S9S-9s.
 Corn exports for the week aggregate 3,5S2 943 bushels, as against 2,605 0S4 bushels last week, 3,193, ,63S bushels In this week year ago. 2.411, AS bushels In 1899 and A. BOT, ,722 bushels in 1898.
 From July l to date this season corn exports are 14554s.162 bushels, as against 155 S51, ,615 bushels last season and 127, be5 ,Ol9 in 1S9S-99.
 Failures for the week in the United States number 1S9, against 211 last week. IFS tn this week a year ago, 190 in 1899, 226 An 1898 and PIP In 1897.
 Failures for the week in Canada num- Der 2S, against A last week, 25 in this week a year ago, S3 in 1899, S9 in 1898 and 3S in 1897.