Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-29
BRADsTREET's REVIEW OF TRADE.
Approach of Easter and Spring
weather Activates DistributIon.


NEW YORK. March 2s.-Bradstreet' to-
Trade activities have shifted from first
to second hands this week. Wholesale and
hats and caps, millinery and shoes has
been rather queer, as was only natural in
mand before Easter. Retail distribution.
favored by spring weather, has been very
active east and west, with q fair business
demand for steel has on the whole been ac-
tive and production and shipment have
building trades ave taken a decided squirt
In activity. Lumber is active at all mar
The edge has rather been taken off cotton
and cotton goods prices by the reaction In
the raw material and the talk or further
Aggressive strength in prices is chiefly
manifested by hog roducts, which 1t is
declared have been manipulated. by pack
ers. A more reasonable explanation, how
mutton have largely diverted consumption
to hog products. Milder weather has re-
Leved the strain on the GOAL trade some
Rather less activity in iron and steel is
served. The peculiar situation of the foun-
dry pig iron market is shown by the fact
ton for Bessemer. Finished iron and steel
have been active, implement and wagon
manufacturer buying OF steel bars, which
are nominally 81 per ton higher. Despite
the fact that tinpiate mills are booked for
Ave months ahead the leading interest CON
mony TO the activity. in hardware is we'll
nigh unanimous. Chicago reports demand
cutlery and builders hardware at New
York report inability to secure supplies
fast enough.
a week ago, to the effect that the market
was on a dead center and that the position
appeared to be overbought was confirmed
this week by the sharp break of nearly
, one-third of a cent In futures and OF one
tone developed at the decline, however. and
covering in anticipation OF the holidays re-
covered a portion of the loss.
Wool is quiet. Mills are busy on pre-
vious orders. Mems wear clothing. is dull.
IS smaller Shipments for the season are
4 trihe smaller than last year. Leather Is
quiet and hides are dull ana easy.
The leading cereals are irregularly lower
after an apparently futile effort at bulling
prices. Last weeks decline brought in
some advance and some advance was re-
ported I'm turn. Some talk of a squeeze in
corn was reflected sympathetically in
was aided by the small supplies OF con-
tract grades, but the tendency to take
profits In anticipation of the holidays weak
ened prices, which closed generally lower
than a year ago.
Wheat crop adyices have on the whole
been very good. though isolated cases Of
damage in Kansas and Oklahoma have
been received. These. however, do not
rains in the southwest and improved feel
Ing IN business circles generally in that
section. Wheat, including flour, exports
for the week aggregate 2,S04.1l0 bushels.
against 4.326, 800 bushels last week and A.
I9teS5 bushels in this week last year. Wheat
exports July !, 1901, to date thirty-nine
weeks aggregate lg4,3s9,O4l bushels, against
i4s, 923. 424 bushels last season. Corn ex-
ports aggregate 139, 200 bushels, against 839,-
sol bushels last week and assess bushels
last year; July ! 1901 to date corn exports
were 2~4,1S4.l7O bushels, against las, $780, 81
bushels last season,
Business failures In the United States for
the last week number 1S7, against l3 last
week. 100 this week last year, l7S in 1900. $50
In 1899 and 226 In 1898.
Failures In Canada for the week number
%, as against 20 last week and Is last year.