The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-16
FOR
A CAR SHORTAGE
Handling of Crops Is Problem
for the Railroads.
WEEKLY REVIEW OF TRADE
Pig Iron Production Is Still Restricted
BY Scarcity of Cars Affecting
Coke Supplies and the An
thracite Strike.

New York. August 15.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
Weather conditions have been favorable
and the country is week nearer to real
izing the largest harvest in its history.
The need of larger than usual quantities
of money to move the crops is appre-
ciated and confidence In the work of han
ding the crops with a minimum of fric-
ton Is widely expressed though a fur
Their seasonable Tightening of the situa-
ton is looked for. The physical handling
of the crops by the railroads presents a
problem Ahich must also be met, and
the possibility of a car shortage looms
up second only to the necessary finance
ing of the movement itself.
The favorable trade features noted this
week are the expansion in the fall de-
mand for dry goods. hardware, grocer
les, shoes and millinery at leading mar
kets north, west, east and northwest,
the more optimistic views expressed as
to the large size of the southern cotton
crop and its effects on future business,
the strength of iron and steel caused by
the curtailment of production in July as
result of shortages in fuel supplies due
to the strikes and car shortages, the
firmness in lumber and the continuance
OF the improved export demand for CO.
reals particularly wheat. The less IA
vorable features noted are the restric-
tons of trade in summer goods, caused
by the cool weather, the continuance of
the deadlock at the anthracite coal mines,
with the growing nervousness as to sup
plies and prices of the stock continues
until cool weather, and the unfavorable
hgures Oh July export trade caused by
the projection of last years conditions
into the present season. Collections as
a whole are classed as seasonable. Pig
iron production Is still restricted by a
scarcity of cars, affecting coke supplies
and the anthracite strike Demand is no
less active, southern pig selling heavily.
Foundry iron Is active for nearby and
next year delivery at 81 advance on Bes-
semer iron Premiums for spot iron at
Chicago are high and 1t is very scarce at
Pittsburg. There is plenty of foreign
steel offered. but business is not active
at the prices demanded. Eastern iron
furnaces are buying coke for next year
at S12.75 st furnace. Plates and structural
material are largely sold ahead and west
ern rail- mills are refusing orders. Sheets
tin plate and wire are dragging" Moth
ing like the present activity in hardware
is recalled. All markets report activity
and Chicago notes large sales for spring
delivery. Tin is weaker on lower foreign
markets and copper is nearly half cent
lower on full offerings at concessions.
Cotton retains all the strength noted
toward the close'-last week. Some cot
ton goods are reported easy in tone.
Print cloths, while held at Fall River at
3 cents, are offered at 27A cents at other
markets. Ginghams are, however. strong
and some advances are announced. Wool
en- goods for mems wear (spring) are
steady at the advance of and 10 cents
noted. Wool is firm as Is raw silk Boots
and shoes show that activity at eastern
manufacturing centers and shipments
for the week are per cent larger than
last week.
Sugar is firm and a large business Is
in progress. Produce is lower on larger
receipts. Canned goods are firm despite
bountifu1 crops.
Wheat, including flour, exports for the
week ending August a. aggregate 4591,-
sos bushels, against 2.244,363 last week.
Wheat exports since July /, aggregate
&c, 990.00S bushels against 44,071, 99S last
season.
Corn exports aggregate ,46S bushels
against 70,611 last week. For the fiscal
year corn exports are 651,S44 bushels,
against 1927, 16S last season.
Business failures for the week ending
August IA number 49, as against 1863 last
week and 17S in this week last year.