The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-30
GENERALLY A GOOD WEEK
CROP AND INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS
FAVORABLE, BRADsTREET SAYS.
Reports of Railway Earnings show q
Per Cent. Increase Over This
Time Year Ago.

NEW YORK, May 29.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
The weeks developments have been
largely favorable. Crop conditions, par
ucularly those OF spring cereals and
cotton, have shown further improvement.
The labor situation. particularly that in
the coal trade, has likewise measurabiy
improved, advices toward the end of the
week pointing to the anthracite strike end
ing before the position as to supplies he
comes critical. Cool weather. it is true.
has retarded retail demand and measure
bly, checked business with jobbers. and
heavy frosts have done damage to vegeta-
bles on the northern edge of the country
but this is regarded as only a temporary
halt, and the general volume Of business
has been helped by the large amount
booked for next autumns delivery Among
the industries general activity still rules
with iron and steel, hardware, lumber. the
building trades and bituminous coal dis
playing exceptional activity.
Failures continue well down to the mini
mum, and bank clearings are beginning TO
compare better with year ago. Railway
earnings hold all the former ADVANTAGES
way earnings returns to Bradstreets for
the third week of May point to nearly 9
per cent. Increase over a year ago Large
fruit crops are indicated this year and the
same Is true of vegetables. but the latter
are backward on cold weather High prices
for tobacco indicate that a heavy acreage
Will be planted. Early predictions of a de-
crease In the cotton area are being whitfield
down, and present prices certainly favor
as large II not larger area than a year
ago. Boot and shoe leather trade advices
are rather irregular. Eastern shoe manu-
facturers are only moderately active and
shipments are, respectively. 10 per cent and
8 per cent. smaller than year ago for the
week and season. At the West however
good business is noted at most centers
Iron and steel are queter as regards new
business in the finished products, but there
are reports OF large transactions pending
in the cruder forms. The leading interest
has bought considerable Southern pig iron
at price, delivered at Pittsburg close TO
Sl9 a ton, Inquiry for pig iron for next
year is noted. Outside steel works are Re-
ported being liberal buyers OF foreign iron.
Implement manufacturers are reported or
dering literally of bars for next year The
anthracite coal strike has affected furnaces
using that fuel IN conjunction with coke
but the effect on the general pig iron sup
ply has not been considerable In finished
products new business is generally small
but the mails are still crowded with orders.
Wheat, including -four. exports for Ave
days aggregate 1890, 645 bu. against 51s4 $50
last week (six days., and Ais. $40 i'm this
week last year. Wheat exports July / 1901
to date forty-eight weeks) aggregate 2Ss-
As, 0o0 bu, against 192, Sl2, 72I last season
Corn exports aggregate HAS bu, against
20 900 last week and 2.os7.s4s last year
BUSINESS failures for the week number
1853. as against 152 last week, IA In this week
last year, l35 in 1890. l29 in 1899 and us in
1885