The St. Louis Republic., 1902-07-04
Bradstreet's Says Improvement Is
Imperative If Business Is to
Keep Its Pace.
EFFECT ALREADY IS NOTICED.
Strikes Continue to BE a Depfess-
ing Factor in the Iron and
Steel Industry-COrn Ex-
ports at Low Figure.

New York. July s.-Bradstreet's tO-mor-
row will say:
Weather and crop conditions have been frst
in evidence this week. divers Influences affecting
different sections 10 help OF depress trade.
ThrOughou; the northern half OF the country
from the Atlantic Cost 20 the Rocky Mountains,
EXCEPT in some parts OF the Northwest, cool. wet
weather has injured arrested crop develop
rpent. hurt retail distribution and checked re-
orders and fall business with iobbers. on the
upper South Atlantic Coast crop conditions have
been favorable and trade has been msasurabiy
helped thereby. but extremely hot weather in the
middle gulf section Is complained Of as affecting
crop and trade conditions Warmer. DRY weather
IL inperativeIy needed in the Northern and West
ern sections Of the county IL summer trade i TO
reach its full development. Eastern cities note
the check given by the weather 10 retail trade
and the summer resort business
Grain markets have been considerably excited
by the heavy and almost torrential rains report
ed in the Central West. Winter wheat harvest
ing has been interfered with. the oats crop has
been damaged ard the growth Of the corn crop
has beer arrested. To Just what extent injury
has been done remains FOX warm. fue weather 10
disclose
Labor Troubles Are Unsettled.
The situation has not changed materially in
Industrial lines Signs Of the soft coal strike IN
Virginia and West Virginia failing Increase.
and a number of mines have resumed The Ken
lucky and Illinois coal mines announce tiiat tneN
will no; strike and thus violate their contracts
In the Birmingham district the miners and op-
orators have failed 70 agree. and a suspension
Of work was inaugurated July l.
Building trade troubles not 50 noti1eahle
as previously. The glass shutdown has become
universal. but this is the usual vacation susren-
sion. a favorable development has been the VOL
untary granting q higher wages 20 le2.co men
in the iron and steel industry The anthracite
strike dTa-s on. but z change Is looked Tor next
week The slft-coal miners and coal-caEryi1E
roads are respinE n rich harvest Small supplies
OF coke operate against the fullest development
Of iron production Between the high prices Tor
material and the total absence Cs stocks. inquiries
and business in iron and steel suffer
Trade In dry goods. boots and shoes and sum
mer wear is restricted. Raw wool is in quite
active demand at the West anI f. firmeT in tone
at the East. where stocks are stns! and manu-
facturers in need OF supplies LIHbe- Is rather
uuleter at the East hut stocks II all kinds are
lOZ and prices are frrEsr there and at the West
Builders hardware stu is active.
Wheat including fJur. exports FOR the i've
days ending July aggregated a.1i.-l5 bushels.
against 5.3Ss 50I bushels last week and 5.ss..nss
bushels In this week last year Wheat exports
for the fiscal year sECrsSate 20 ssa.5s4 bushels.
against sis..9;. $50 bushels last season Corn
ports aggregate Iz7.Ses bushels. aEeinst I29 -
bushels last week and e.2tl. ea5 bushels last year.
For the fiscal year corn exports were -. a.. la
bushels. against l75.oo1,Iis bushels last ssasOn-