The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-19
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEW
WEATHER CONDITIONS POTENT
 FOR GOOD.
Pig Iron, Steel Rails and Building Materials Show Great Strength. Cotton Makes Gain Dur
 ing the Week.


 New York. April 1s.-R. G. Du.i X Co. ( weekly review of trade tomorrow VIII say:
 Weather conditions have been potent for good during the past week. Hetai' distribution was greatly accelerated, which in turn enlarged jobbing trade and brought more pressure on manufacfir. CTS for prompt shipment: agricultural work was facilitated and building opera tions made rapid progress; traffic increas- ed at the interior as the condition of country roads improved, which made col lections better. Some labor troubles were settled and others were averted. com plaints are still heard regarding the tar dy deliveries but freight is less congest- cd and business has increased to the ex- tent of 69 per cent. Larger railway earnings for April are reported thus far than last year and 16.3 per cent. over 1900.
 Quotations of iron and steel cannot yet be considered inflated but the market is following a natural course. despite tho efforts of leading interests to maintain a conservative position. Supply and de- nrand must in the long run govern prices and, in this industry, needs are greater than available stocks. although product i've capacity has largely expanded. Pres- sure for pig iron is very great but fur- nace men have contracted Tor thelr out put far into the future and consumers who want prompt deliveries are willing to pay premiums. Similarly as to steel rails, the regular price of $2S has become nominal on current business. an advance of s a ton being readily paid Tor immc- diate delivery. This is especially notice- able on urgent trolley construction. Spe- cfcations fol new buildings promise abundant additional contracts for struc- tural material while some mills have al ready sold their entire output for l9o2 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 fiuc- tuations in the raw material, Hlthough it's strength has contributed to tho stead- mess of the finished product. 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 bidsi 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 accumulation.
 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. Jobbers are beginning to go out with fall lines.
 Footwear shipments from Boston have decreased but jobbers are placing orders for fall and the shops are fairly well oc- cupied. Shoe manufacturers are buying leather more freely. holding prices fairly steady. except for hemlock sole.- which lost half a cent.
 Grain and meats have continued very strong. There was soma logical explana- tion of the advance in corn, interior re- ceipts failing to ST7.500 bushels for the week. while Atlantic exports rose to 3Si.S03 bushels, an unusually largo total for recent times. although small by com parison with the corresponding week in preceding years. Wheat was sustained by exports from all ports of 4.4S5,352 bushels, flour included. against 4,61s,s91 a year ago.
 Cotton attained a higher price, South ern markets leading the advance on de- creasing port receipts and a good de- mand from spinners.
 Sugar and coffee have been notably weak, the latter falling to within six teeGth of the bottom record.
 Failures for tho week numbered 251 in the United States. against 2e6 last year, and 2i in Canada. against 2i d year ago.