The age-herald., 1902-01-25
TRADE
 SHOWS STRENGTH Dun and Bradstreet Both Make
 Favorable Reports IRON MARKET THE FEATURE Strength Remains Unchanged, Though On the Surface Demand Is More !, ouiet--Improvement, Car
 Service Is Encouraging.
IRON MARKET THE FEATURE

New York January 24-Bradstreets will say tomorrow:
 Events of the week have been largely continued steadsness of general prices though cereals have weakened slightly as a reflection of continued liquidation accelerated this week by the. arrival of much-needed snow in the western half of the winter-wheat belt, 8 further ex- pansion in spring trade at leading, job ping centers. renewed interest by ex- porters in wheat. though irregularity in prices still tends to discourage heavy trading. while the slight strengthening in cotton prices-is based largely on con- tinued confidence in future values and the very heavy export movement now i going on shipments for the season being nearly 50O,0O0 bales larger than a year ago.
 Railroad earnings still fail to confirm bearish predictions. and the improvement in the car situation in January does not seem to have been at the expense of re- ceipts Clearlngs are lower than year ago because speculation is at very low ebb, but distrbutve trade is probably larger than even that of year ago.
 Iron Market Still Strong.
 The strength of the iron and steel mar kets remain unchanged, though on the surface demand is quieter and the im- provement in the car shortage situation makes for larger production. The large business booked renders eonsum- CTS and producers alike easy as to the outlook. Efforts of the conservatives to prevent prices from reaching heights which might discourage consumption are not altogether successful, as evidenced by the sale of 14,000 tons of pig iron at Birm- ingham at advanced prices More is do- ing than usual at this time in iron and steel. and the mills never had so many advanced orders booked Bar iron is s2 higher at Chicago and all other finished products are active and strong A feature there is the sale of 3O,000 tons of malleable iron for delivery in the second half of 1902 at full prices. In other merals irreR- uarities are still feature, weakness be- ing manifested in copper. which fails to deyelope consumptive demand though quotations for it Aave again declined. and sheet copper has likewise been reduced.
 Complains of a small margin of profit in print cloths and similar goods continue to come from New England. Finished goods are said to be selling below parity with the cost of gray cloth and business in staple cottons is reported indifferent. Jobbers however, are reported busy open- ing spring styles of prints and ginghams and meeting with satisfactory recogni- tion. Dress woolens continue in good de- mand and the mems wear market Is in excellent shaps, large quantity of new business having been booked Raw wool is fairly active and the tone is firm Territory wools are scarce in supply at the East while a fair business has been done in Australian grades and London wool sale prices are higher.
 Large Leather Shipments.
 Eastern shipments of boots and shoes on orders continue in excess of a wear ago, the gain so far in January being II per cent The feeling is that jobbers may hold off in the hope of affecting the price of leather As intimated a week ago the decline in sugar appears to have been over done. Immediate requirements of cane sugar for refiners use have been in excess of receipts and prices have been marked up K of a cent for raw, with the market strong at the advance. while re- fined grades have improved ten points in sympathy. A severe break in coffee prices occurred this week as result primarily of continued heavy movement
 Lumber stocks are reported small and prices firm. That disadvanges are con- neeted with the open winter Is proved by the reports of dullness In rubber goods and advices from Providence are that products may be further curtailed.
 Wheat including flour. exports for the week. aggregated 3,s39,679 bushels as