The age-herald., 1902-04-19
TRADE IS HELPED
 BY GOOD WEATHER Complaints Still Heard Regard ing Slow Freight Deliveries TRAFFIC SHOWS INCREASE Dun and 5radstreet Say Quotations of Iron and Steel Cannot Yet Be
 Considered Inflated, But
 Market Is Regular.
TRAFFIC SHOWS INCREASE

New York, April 1S.-R. c. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 Weather conditions have been potent for good during the past week. Retail distribution was greatly accelerated, which in turn enlarged jobbing trade and brought more pressure on manufacturers for prompt shipment; agricultural work was facilitated and building operations made rapid progress; traffic increased at the interior as the condition of country roads improved, which made collections better. Some labor controversies were settled and others were averted. Com plaints are still heard regarding the tar dy deliveries but freight is less congested and business has increased to the extent of 6.9 per cent Larger railroad earnings for railroads are reported thus far than last year and 16.3 per cent over 1900. Quo tations of iron and steel cannot yet be considered inflated, but the market is fol- lowing natural course, despite the eff forts of leading interests to maintain a conservative position. Supply and demand
 must in the long run govern prices, and l in this industry needs are greater than available stocks although productive ca
 pacity has largely expanded. Pressure for
 pig iron is very great, but furnace men have contracted for their output far into
 the future, and consumers who want
 prompt delivery are willing to pay premi- | ums. Similarly as to steel rails, the regu- | lar price as to steel rails has become nom 1 inal on current business, an advance or | $5 a ton being readily paid for immediate | delivery. This is especially noticeable on 1 urgent trolly construction. Specified tions for new buildings promise abundant additional contracts for structural ma terial while some mills have already sold their entire output for 1902. Machinery and hardware lines share in 1le excep- tional activity and are doing a good ex- port business in spite of high prices.
 Cotton goods have not followed the fluctuations in the raw material, although it's strength contributed to the steadiness of the finished product. The feature Of the week was the increased inquiry Tor export, and mills catering to this trade are sold far into the autumn. In the do- nestle trade many lines are slightly be- low ruling prices, and it Is evident that supplies are in strong hands. Deliveries are being made more promptly, yet there is no fear of accumulation. Woolen goods are in less urgent demand, purchasers having secured most of the cloth which the American company was unable to fur nish owing to the strike. Buying of dress goods has decreased and jobbers are be- ginning to go out with fall lines. Foot wear shipments from Boston have de- creased but jobbers are placing orders for fall, and the shops are fairly well oc- cupied. Shoe manufacturers are buying leather more freely, hiding prices fairly steady, except for hemlock sole, which lost half a cent.
 Grain and oats have continued very strong. There was some logical explana- tion of the advance In corn. interior re- ceipts falling to 2S7,5O0 bushels for the
 week, while Atlantic exports rose to 3S4,- | So3 bushels, an unusually large total for | recent times although small by compari-
 son with the corresponding week in pre- | ceding years. Wheat was sustained by exports from all ports of 1852 bushels | with flour included, against 4613,S91 a year ago.
 Cotton attained a higher price, south | ern markets leading the advance on de- | creasng port receipts and good de-
 mand for spinners. Sugar and coffee have
 been notably weak by the latter falling to within a sixteenth of the bottom record. l Failures for the week numbered 261 | in the United States against 206 last year | and "A In Canada against 21 a year ago.