The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-05
~BRADsTREET ON TRADE.


NEW YORK, April 4.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
The great underlying features of trade
and industry remain as favorable as here
tofore. Bradstreet's quarterly returns of
failures, bank clearings and prices all point
TO a heavy business having been done in
the first three months of the year at fair
profits, while most indications as to crop
prospects favor a good summer and fall
business. Cooler weather and the natural
reaction from the before-Easter activity
has quieted retail trade East and West,
while heavy rains and floods have inter
fered with demand and movement in the
South. Jobbing distribution is naturally
less active than earlier in the season but is
still of liberal volume. Practically unan-
imous good reports come from the winter
wheat crop, which has improved instead of
deteriorating from its autumn promise.
Especially good reports come from the cen
trail West and the Southwest. Oats are
coming UP we'll and spring wheat planting.
though backward, will soon become gen
eral. Wet, stormy weather in the Eastern
half Of the cotton belt unquestionably has
interfered with farming preparations.
Zig water in the Mississippi valley has
checked trade, and the movement Of cotton
in this respect is acting as a stimulus to
the price of that staple, which also has
been favorably affected by the improved
outlook in the New England mills. where
increases in wages have been conceded at
many points. Special promise of activity is
held out this year in the building trades,
which are active buyers of white and yell
low pine, hard woods and hardware. A
countrywide activity in this latter trade is
reported. the only difficulty being the OBJ
tanning of supplies fast enough.
Price changes for the week are unimpor-
tant, cotton figuring most largely in the
matter of advances, partly because of light
receipts, caused by bad weather and con-
tinued heavy exports. II has been a
weather market for wheat. with the tend
ency slightly downward on the generally
conceded improved crop reports. outside
interest is small in the cereal and in corn,
which is still reported the center of a spec
ulative contest. The abnormal situation in
this cereal discourages outside interest.
Hog products, though helped by light re-
ceipts or hogs on some days, are rather
easier. lard being lower on the week.
Business failures In the United States for
the week number 176, against l7S last week,
1SS in this week last year and 1S2 in 1900.
Wheat Including four exports for the
week aggregate 4.446, 917 bu. against 2,O04. ITO
bu last week and 4.G9S. 693 bu in this week
last year. Wheat exports from July l to
GO, III blu last season. Corn exports aggre-
gate S9O.531 bu, against 139. 200 bu last week
and 2 1890. Sal bu last year. From July 1. 1901,
to date corn exports were "a, AGA, 701 bu,
against lac, $50, SIS bu last season.
No signs OF are TO be found in
iron and steel. The larger interests are re-
ported about 10 place contracts for 10, 600,
900 tons of bessemer pig for delivery in the
fourth quarter. for which the price will be
at least ST. per ton at valley furnaces
What sales have been made this week have
been made at $3.50 TO SITS at valley fur
naces. Steel is very scarce and billets are
quoted at &2, SO more than a year ago.
Heavy orders for bar iron and steel are re-
ported at Pittsburg and Chicago from i'm
plement, wagon and carriage manufacture
ers and business continued good even al
the advance of s.. The demand for finished
material seems to be still in excess OF the
supply.
Bradstreet's compilation Of hog and beet
prices points 10 the highest prices reached
at this season OF the year for more thar
ten years past. Hog products nave adj
vanced more than beef.