The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-17
EXPORT TRADE
 HAS EXPANDED One of the Missing Elements of Prosperity Has Been Supplied ACTIVITY IS INCREASING 5radstreet and Dun See Many Encour- aging Elements In the General
 Trade situation-Iron and
 Steel Market Strong.

New York. January 16.-Bradstreets l tomorrow will say:
 With the much needed expansion in ex- port trade now actively in evidence, one of the few important missing clements of national prosperity has been supplied. Export trade in December proved to be better than anticipated and so far in Jan uary only encouraging elements have de- veloped The domestic situation also gains rather than loses in strength. While regular spring trade can hardly be said to have opened, activity Is steadily in creasing.
 The volume of shipments of spring goods is evidence of the desire of consum- CTS and distributors to obtain possession of goods early Retail trade in wire goods has been maintained at a good volume by the very generally diffused lower temperature. In only few scat tered instances Is there any complaint of retail stocks being at all heavy. Conf dence in a heavy spring business in- creases as that season approaches All of the industries remain exceptionally dNtlNts lHe pOSSiDit tAttpliOH tO Allo bt- ing shortage in fuel, due to railroad con- gestion, limited production as in the case of soft coal and coke in the west The strength of leading agricultural staples, notable wheat, corn and oats, among the cereals; cotton among the textiles and hog products among provisions, has been the feature of the price situation. Cotton has shown little or no dimuntion of T. ,-t, heavy and the price of the manufactured material shows an upward tendency. Wool is strong and available supplies are closely held. Machinery is well employ ed on spring and summer goods for mems wear.
 Despite much semi-bearlsh talk by hold CTS and buyers, the iron and steel sit uation loses little of its old strength. It is noted also, that foreign markets are on the whole firmer.
 Structural material, bars and plates ap- pear in active demand though fancy pre- miums for the first mentioned have dis appeared. The coke situation does not bet ter much in the central west. Buyers of pig iron are reported backward in com ing forward for large future business, but are eager enough takers of current sup plies. Apparently the expectation that the spring will see lower prices Is still firm put current demand involves considerable buying from time to time. Agricultural implement manufacturers have bought freely of steel bars at Pittsburg, Higher prices on wire and wire products do not check business in this line.
 Lumber notes show considerable inter- est and activity for an ordinarily dull period. sf
 The great mass of staple prices gen. orally maintain undiminished strength notably In this respect being hides, which are quoted at a trifie higher and leather, which Is firm at prevailing quotations. Copper holds nearly all of the advance 1t recently gained, despite bearish sta tistlcal features. Eastern shoe shipments show slight gains from previous re- ports.
 Wheat exports since July aggregate 140- 640,OO0 bushels against 1850 ,139 last sea- son and 107 210,96S in 1900.
 Corn exports aggregated 2,394,612 bush els against 2,S56,9S6 last week, 3,29S, ,930 a year ago and 5.140,55O In 1901
 Failures in the United States for the week ending with January 15 number 232 as against 336 last week, 291 in the like week of 1902, 29O in 1901. 255 in 1900 and 262 in 1899.
 In Canada failures number 23 as against 30 last week and 35 In this week year ago.