The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-19
Dun's Finds That Weather
Conditions Have Been
Potent for Good"
BUSINESS ON INCREASE
Reports stiIl Heard of Tardy Deliy-
cries, bat Freight Is Less Con-
gested and Railway Earn
ings show Increase.

NEW YORK, April 1S.-R. G. Dun &
Co. s weekly review of trade tomorrow will
say: Weather conditions have been potent
Tor good during the week. Retail Gistrlbu-
ton was greatly accelerated, which in
turn enlarged jObbing trade and brought
more pressure on manufacturers Tor
prompt shipment, agricultural work was
Facilitated and building operations made
rapid progress; traffic Increased al the
interior as the condition of country roads
improved which made collections better.
Some labor controversies were settled
and others We're averted. Complaints ere
stilI heard regarding tardy deliveries, but
freight is less congested and busine- S his
increased to the extent of 6.J per cent,
larger railway earnings for April thus far
than last year, and 1873 per cent over
1900. Quotations of iron and steel cannot
yet be considered inflated, but the market
IS following natural course, despite the
efforts Of leading interests to maintain a
conservative position. Supply and &C.
mand must in the long run govern prices,
and in this industry needs are greater
than available stocks, although productive
capacity has largely expanded.
Pressure for pig iron is very great, but
furnace men have contracted for their
output far into the future, and COLI
sumers who want prompt delivery are
willing to pay premiums.
Exceptional Activity Noted.
Similarly as to steel rails, the regular
price of SIS has become nominal on cur
rent business, an advance of s. a ton be-
ing readily paid for immediate delivery.
This IS especially noticeable on urgent
trolley construction. Specifications for
new buildings promise abundant addition
al contracts for structural material, while
some mills have already sold their entire
output for 1902. Machinery and hardware
lines share in the exceptional activity,
and are doing a brisk export business in
spite of high prices.
Cotton goods have not followed the
fluctuations in the raw material, although
its strength has contributed to the steadi-
ness of the finished pI oduct. The feature
of the week was the increased inquiry for
export, and mills catering to this trade
are sold far into the autumn. In the
domestic trade many bids slightly below
ruling prices were not considered, and It
IS evident that supplies are in strong
hands. Deliveries are being made more
promptly, yet there is no fear of &C
emulation.
Wooden goods are in less urgent de-
mand, purchasers having secured most Of
the cloth which the American company
was unable to furnish owing to the strike.
Buying of dress goods has decreased and
Jobbers are beginning to go out with fail
lines
Footwear shipments from Boston have
decreased but jobbers are placing orders
for fall and the shops are fairly well
occupied.
Grain md Meats Strong.
Grain and meats have costinued very
strong. There was some logical explana-
ton Of the advance in corn, interior re-
ceipts falling to $751; 500 bushels for the
week, while Atlantic exports rose to 38l,-
$50 bushels, an unusually large total for
recent times, although small by compar-
lson with the corresponding week in pre-
cedlng years. What was sustained by ex-
ports from all ports of 4,4S5,S52 bushels.
Hour included, against 4,613,S91 a year
ago.
Cotton attained a higher price. Southern
markets leading the advance on decreas-
ing port receipts and a coed demand from
splnners. Sugar and coffee have been
notably weak, the latter falling to with
III sixteenth of the bottom record.
FAILURES for the week numbered 2s1 in
the United States, against 2O6 last wear
and "A in Canada, against q a year ago