The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-12
WARMER WEATHER
HAS HELPED TRADE
Bradstreet and Dun's Weekly
Review of Trade
COAL AND COKE SCARCE
Railway Earnings for June Except the
Anthracite Roads Show an Az
greeate Gain of per Cent
On Last Year.

New York, July n.-Bradstreet's tomor-
row will say:
Warmer and more settled weather in
many sections has helped seasonable
trade and made It possible to ascertain
that the early reports of grain crop
damage from rains were rather exagger-
ated. Among the industries iron and steel
still rank first in activity. The chief
source OF complaint is the scarcity of
coal and cohe, limiting pig iron pr odue-
ton at critical period. The labor situa-
ton has rather improved If anything.
Railway earnings thus far reported for
June dhe anthracite roads excepted
show an aggregate gain of 5 per cent on
last year, and all reports as to probable
crops and trade point to the maintenance
of heavy tonnage. The strength of food
prices, particularly of cereals ana
meats, are based on small immediate
available supplies rather. than fears of
possible future shortage. Except for
wheat, higher prices are paid than for
ten to twenty years past at this time
are being paid Textiles and other man
ufactured goods tend lower, and thus af-
feet the general level OF values. the abii-
ity TO pay the prices ruling in the past
year is one of the best evidences of the
prosperity prevailing among all classes.
A further light on this matter is shed by
the reports from all parts of the country
of enormous passenger traffic by rail and
water during the first week OF July. Fail
ures are down to a low summer mini
mum.
1t is a significant fact. in view of the
recent crop damage talk, that the gov
eminent report for July shows that win
ter wheat, oats, barley rye and hay all
improved in condition during June, AID
spring wheat alone lost trihe. The
bumper crop of corn Indicated in these
columns) for some time past, due to
large acreage and good condition. seems
measurably within sight, in view of the
agricultural department report that most
of the leading states are above ninety.
This report Is taken to indicate not far
from 1900, 600 bushels crop, a total new
er hitherto reliably estimated The wheat
crop, despite drawbacks, promises still
to be one-ffth above the ten year average
| and the indicated oats production has
| never yet been equalled. The barley, rye,
| potatoes and fruit crops all promise bet
| ter than a year ago.
Trade in seasonable goods at wholesale
has been restricted but warmer season
| able weather has helped retail business
| Fall, business has been of good proper.
| lions at the west and the clothing anc
| shoes have done especially well at st
Louis. Shutdowns of Schuylkill. Lehigh
Mahoning and Shenango furnaces because
/ of lack of fuel reduce the volume oil
| iron production when their full production
could be adyantageously handled. Rails
| are in unprecedented demand and so per
| cent of the oountry's production for next
| year has already been arranged for. Ii
| structural iron and other heavy forms
| also demand Is eager and six months
| production Is easily on the order books
| Import arrivals of iron and billets are
| large In some lines. however. notably
| tin plates, wire. sheets and bars, new
business is slack. Hardware is in very
| active sale, a feature being the large
business in fall lines already booked.
| Cotton goods are quiet at the east af-