The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-16
WEATHER AND LABOR RETARDING TRADE Disputes Will Work Serious Damage to All Concerned RAIL ROADS ARE DOING WELL Dun and eradstreet Say Capital Is Sought to Be Made In Weakness
 of Pig Iron and Decreases
 In Steel.
RAIL ROADS ARE DOING WELL
May 15.-Bradstreet's tomor-

New York, May 15.-Bradstreet's tomor- row will say:
 Weather and labor conditions have been far from perfect for the progress of the retail trade, planting operations and growth, and building, but the tendency to regard these drawbacks as merely temporary. Is still present The feel ing to labor disputes is that continued unsettlement will work serious damage to all interests concerned. Wholesale trade naturally quiet at this season, also re- fleets the above features, but so great is the confidence in the future outlook ex- cept that in the case of cotton manufac- turing. where the cost of raw material operation has been pushed to almost pro- hibitive heights, optimistic views still rule. Railroads now free from congestion are very profitable, fitting crown to the records of past prosperity being found in the April record of a gain of per cent in gross receipts which follows steady and increasing gains made yearly in that month since 1895.
 Capital has sought to be made In the stock of the weakness of pig iron and re- ported decreases in steel. Reliable statis- ties of stocks of iron show no accumula- tion' Steel Is coming in from abroad in enormous volume and imports for the fis- cal year are the largest with one excep- ton in the countrys history. A slight re- vision of prices would, we believe, not be unpleasing to domestic producers.
 Pig iron furnishes a notable exception to the strength of other staples, weaken ing as 1t has at all markets, thus lnduc- ing spreading of stories that steel bil- lets were lower at the west. No sign of weakness in finished steer and iron pro- ducts can be found at the leading west ern centers, but there is a feeling that heavy imports of foreign billets may shortly affect prices for that product at .seaboard markets A favoraby situated trade at present Is that of shoes, eastern shipments of which show an increase of 22 per cent over this week year ago, and Il per cent for the season, and also noting an increase over the record year of 1901. Leather prices are strong. mod crate business Is doing in hides, but firm ness Is the rule. Dress woolen goods are reported moving well, while mems wear are quiet but slight Improvement in tone Is noted. Only supplies of wool are held while new wool Is reported bringing to 2c advance over last years prices. Western prices are above parity with those at the east
 Wheat, including flour exports for the wek ending May IA, aggregate 4,097, ,596 bushels against 3201, 6SO last week, s, ,712, ,634 this week last year and 39Sl, 96S in 1901 Wheat exports since July l aggregate 1956OO, 759 bushels against 224, ,339, 362 last season and 1S4,021, ,9i1 in 1900
 Corn exports aggregate l, ,431 ,257 bushels against 1,631, ,709 last week. S2I, ,795 a year ago and 2,704,594 In 1901. For the fiscal year exports are 5S442.916 bushels against 2o,73S,15O last season and 160, ,926,S62 in 1901.
 Business failures in the United States for the week ending with May IA number lS2 against 175 last week. 190 in the like week of 1902, 192 in 1901, 155 in 1900 and 14s in 1899. In Canada for the week IS com pared with l5 last week, and % in the like week one year ago.