The Washington times., 1902-04-26
SPRING TRADING NOW
In HEAVY VOLUME
Rain and Snow Check BuSi-
ness, But Outlook Clears.
STAPLES AT RECORD PRICES
Movement of Steel Manufactures Con-
tinues in Heavy Volume-Lower Prices
for Anthracite Coal Stimulates Orders
Tho Speculative Situation.

NEW YORK. April % - Bradstreet' S
tomorrow will say:
Despite and. indeed. partly because of,
marked Irregularities in weather condi-
tions and extreme temperatures accom-
panied by deterioration in the winter
wheat crop of the South. general business
and speculation have been of very full
volume for this season of the year. Re-
tail demand was relieved from the incu-
bus of backward weather by the hot wave
which swept over large part of the
country this week.
This has resulted in fair recorder bus
iness from wholesalers and jObbers in the
East, but the talk of crop damage put
a check upon demand in the central West
and Southwest, and wholesale trade re-
ports from these sections are not as good
as earlier looked for, although showing
some improvement over n year ago.
Outlook Improved.
IN the Northwest snow and rains
checked retail trade and distribution, but
the general effect has been to rather i'm
prove the ultimate crop and business OUT
look than otherwise. although delaying
seeding somewhat. Some notable price
movements have occurred this week. and
taken as a whole. the number of staples
and of securities reporting record prices
has been very large.
''On the other hand, the advancing sea-
sens effects have teen to break prices
OF eggs and butter and some other food
products. Among the industries activity
has remained as great as heretofore. and
the labor situation has rather improved
particularly in the building and allied
trades. which report unsurpassed activity
Prevailing.
In iron and steel. anxiety to get sup
plies of crude material IS almost as great
as ever. Southern furnaces appear to
have abandoned the idea of holding down
to the s12 rate for No. 2 foundry. and
liberal sales are noted by independent
concerns at sl5 and better
From Dun's Review.
Dun's review tomorrow will say:
"As the future prosperity of the rail-
ways is more or less dependent upon the
crops. the vogaries OF the weather we.s
quickly reflected in the markets for Sc
curi,ies as we'll as in option sales of
grain and cotton. Retail distribution oil
merchandise has maintained good aver
age, losses at some points being Offset by
gains elsewhere Manufacturing plants
are well employed, except where wage
disputes interrupt. Coffee and silver
touched low record prices. but the aver
age of commodities advanced.
Transporting interests maintain their
wonderful record. railway earnings thus
far reported for April exceeding last
years by SO per cent. and those of 1900
by 15.3 per cent. Speculation still makes
the comparison with last years clearings
unfavorable at New York, where there Is
decrease OF II per cent for the week,
but compared with 1899. the largest pre-
oeding year, there is gain of 5S per cent.
The increase in legitimate trade is shown
by gains at other leading cities Of 6 per
cent over last years bank exchanges, and
26 per cent over 1899.
Movement of Steel.
Movement of partially Manufactured
and finished steel products continues on
a large scale. and there is some fear that
new enterprises may be abandoned. as the |