The age-herald., 1902-04-05
TRADE OUTLOOK
 STILL FAVORABLE Great Underlying Feature of h. dustry as Good as Heretofore STEEL IS VERY SCARCE There Are No Signs of Weakness In Either Iron or steeI-Pig Is Sell
 ing for $17.5o and $17.75.
 The Demand Is Good.
STEEL IS VERY SCARCE

New York, April 4.-Bradstreet's will say tomorrow:
 The great underlying feature of trade and industry remains as favorable as heretofore. Bradstreet's quarterly re- turns of failures, bank clearings and prices all point to a heavy business hav- ing been done in the first three months of the year at fair profits, while most indications as to crop prospects favor a weather and the natural reaction from the before-Easter activity has quieted retail trade east and west while heavy rains and floods have interfered with de- mand and movement in the south.
 Jobbing distribution Is naturally less active than earlier In the season, but is still of liberal volume. Practically unani- mously good reports come from the win ter wheat crop, which has improved in stead of deteriorated from it's autumn promise. Especially good reports come from the central west and the southwest. Oats are coming up well and spring wheat planting, though backward, will shortly become general. Wet, stormy weather in the eastern half of the cotton belt has unquestionably interfered with farming preparations High water in the Mississippi valley has checked trade, and the movement of cotton in this respect acted as stimulus to the price of the staple which has also been favorably af- fected 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 yellow pine, hardwood and hardware A countrywide activity in this latter trade is reported, the only difficulty be- ing the obtaining of supplies fast enough.
 Price changes for the week are unim- portant, cotton figuring most largely in the matter of advances, partly because of light receipts caused by bad weather and the continued heavy exports It has been a weather market for wheat with the tendency slightly downward on the gen. orally conceded improved crop reports. Outside interest is small in this cereal and in corn, which Is still reported the center of speculative contest. The abnormal situation in this cereal discour- ages outside interests. Hog products, though helped by light receipts of hogs on some days, are rather easier, lard be- ing lower on the week.
 Business failures in the United States for the week number 17e as against 1S3 last week. 1SS in this week last year, 1S2 In 1900, 190 in 1899 and 20 in 1894 Cana dian failures number IS against g last week.
 No signs of weakness are to be found in iron and steel The largest interest Is about to place contract for 100000 tons of Bessemer pig for delivery in the fourth quarter for which the price will be at least SIT per ton Valley furnaces. What sales have been made this week have been made at $17.50 to $17.75 Valley fur mace. Steel Is very scarce and billets are quoted at $32. $10 more than a year ago. Heavy orders for bar iron and steel are reported at Pittsburg and Chicago for i'm plement, wagon and carriage man. ufacturers, and business continues good even at the advance of 8. The demand for finished material seems to be sti.- in excess of the supply.
 Bradstreet's compilation of hog and beef prices points to the highest prices reach ed this season of the year for more than ten years past. Hog products have ad- vanced more than beef, probably because of wider speculative interest.