The age-herald., 1902-05-03
 LABOR TROUBLE THE ONLY BAD FACTOR Otherwise the Industrial Situa- ton is Considered Good PIG IRON HAS WORKED UP Warmer Weather Has Stimulated Dealings, While Outdoor Work Is Prosecuted Vigorously.
 Traffic Congested.
PIG IRON HAS WORKED UP


 weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 Two large strikes scheduled to com mence on May 1 were averted' at least temporarily, and number of smaller ones were settled but many new con troversies have begun. This labor factor is the only serious unfavorable one in the industrial situation, exerting considerable influence over the volume of transactions and also tending to unsettle confidence in reasonable merchandise, especially dry goods and clothing Warmer weather has stimulated dealings, while outdoor work is prosecuted vigorously. Collections are more prompt as rule, fewer extensions being asked Shipments are delayed by traffic congestion, and railway earnings thus far reported for April exceed last years by 7.2 per cent. Consumers or finished steel products are compelled to place orders subject to the convenience of manufacturers An unprecedented amount of railway work is being done. while the erection of new buildings would be much more expensive if material were available.
 Pig iron has worked up to higher point Bessemer commanding S2o al Pittsburg on deliveries within six months owing to the full contracts held by the furnaces. A better volume of orders are taken by New England shippers, ana Is one of the most encouraging signs or the week. Slight concessions were made on a few grades, but the general level of quotations is fairly well maintained. Jobbers are still slow to place fall or ders, hoping that better terms may be possible next month
 Steadiness in the leather market does not tend to encourage expectations or cheaper shoes, and especially ln view of the firmness of domestic hides With another rise in imported grades. bA- ports of leather continue larger than year ago. Jobbers in dry goods have felt the effects of good weather and prisk trade has been done at steady prices ai- though no general advance has followed the rise in raw cotton are the restricted operations at woolen mills. Weak silver has continued to initiate against ex- ports to China. Cereal prices have been less inflated by speculation than they were last week yet high level was main tained and only slight reactions occurred. The general tenor of crop news was much more encouraging, aside from Kan sas dispatches which indicate that wheat needs moisture, although corn and oats have good prospects
 Good foreign crop conditions were cal culated to weaken the tone. yet exports of wheat from the United States, flour in- cluded, amounted to 5,579037 bushels, against 4,132,377 a year ago. Recent at tractive prices have brought corn to mar ket more freely than in preceding weeks, but receipts of 1,6S607O bushels for the week fall far short of 2.n8,564 in this same week last year The comparison as to Atlantic exports Is still more striking only 154, 754 bushels going out during the week against 2.560,211 year ago. Cotton continued advancing until there was a gain of $S.10 a bale over last years fig ure when a trifiing reaction occurred, but the tone continued strong.
 Failures in the United States this week were 225 against 215 last week, 261 the preceding week and 226 the correspond ing week last year, and in Canada + against IS last week.