The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-22

NEW YORK, March FIR c. Dun &,
90. s weekly review of trade tomorrow
VIII say: Evidences of further improve
ment are numerous Labor controversies
are less threatening, many settlements
having been effected, while others are
momentarily anticipated; wages have
Deen advanced, not only through strikes.
put In some cases voluntarily; traffic
congestion has subsidized until it is pos
sible to deliver goods according to specf-
Hcations Aside from some idle footwear
shops, the leading lines of manufacture
are very fully engaged, while jobbing
trade is OF exceptional magnitude. Retail
dealings are also very large. the Easter
stimulus Is being felt In all lines of wear
ing apparel With domestic demand so
vigorous, 1t is especially encouraging to
notice gain for the last week in for
eign trade at the principal ports
Pressure for iron and steel has not d.
mlnlshed there perceptibly, yet the inn
preston is growing that after July / the
situation Will become approximately nor
NAL, and 1t win be possible to secure de-
liveries with some degree Of promptness
This is the more probable as there has
been further stiffening of quotations
and additional importations, which would
have been much larger but for the adj
vance in foreign markets.
For some time to come 1t is probable
that foreign commerce exhibits as to this
industry will be less satisfactory, but it
is worthy Of note that imports are nna.in-
ly of pigiron, billets and Sheets while
the exports Of many lines of expensive
machinery and other finished products
are fully sustained.
Demand for Structural Material.
Large contracts are constantly under
consideration for structural material on
domestic account, including railroa
bridges, viaducts, car shops and Office
buildings In this respect, the domestic
consumption this year will far surpass
all records. Open weather has brought
out heavy tonnage of merchant pipe.
Both at the East and West there Is
little more activity in shoe shops, yet
productive capacity is not fully engaged,
and new orders come forward slowly.
Lower prices for leather and hides may
make it possible for producers to accept
recent bids, in which case sales would
increase, but thus far only two staple
grades have been shaded. Domestic
hides are dun and depressed. although
competition between the independent tan
ners and the combination caused an ad-
vance in dry hides.
Strength in Grain Markets.
Advanced wages at cotton mills mean
a higher cost of production, and the
market has hardened in consequence.
Business under the new conditions has
not yet been sufficiently large to estab-
fish quotations, yet some advances of 2
to 8 per cent are recorded. Export sales
are still checked by high prices. A help
full feature is the increased demand at
Southern jobbing centers. Woolens are
quiet, with only a fair movement of Sta
pie lines. though some fancy grades are
fully sou and out Of the market
Grain markets have begun to feel the
effects of weather reports, and for the
next few months it viii be simple mat
ter for spectators to secure. erratic fiuc-
tuations. Strength was conspicuous on
Tuesday, last years serious injury to
corn making quotations particularly SEN
sitive to indications Of drought.
Increase In Exports.
Another helpful factor was the increase
in exports Of wheat and -four to 1851, 625
bushels for the week, against only $685.
472 last week, and 3,355,O98 year ago.
Western receipts continued to make an
unfavorable comparison with the move
ment in 1901, wheat amounting to 1899 $50
bushels, against 4165. $685. and corn 1885,
$50. compared with S,04.011.
Atlantic exports of corn increased
largely over the low record Of the pre-
ceding week, to 298, 1874 bushels, and there
is still a severe loss as compared with
the 2,351, 272 bushels shipped a year ago.
Cotton showed no response to Mr.. Neilps
reiteration of his early estimate, placing
the yield at 11,25O,O0o bales. Although
400, 900 bales more cotton has come into
sight than year ago, reports from the
South are almost unanimous regarding
the exhaustion of stocks.
Failures for the week numbered 209 in
the United States, against 224 last year,
and 81 in Canada, against 80 last year.