The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-14
DEMAND is ACTIVE
DESPITE BAD NEWS
Dun and BradStreet See Bright
Side of Trade
STAPLE PRICES STRONG
Traffic Congestion, Though Improved,
Still Affects transportation of Coke,
Lumber, Flour and Grain-RaiI-
road Earnings Magnificent.

New York March 13.-Bradsteerts to-
morrow will say:
Demand is active with staple 2rices
strong at close to record levels despite
drawbacks In the shape of bad roads. la
Dor troubles east and west, and heavy
rains, overlooking rivers and backward
farm preparations at the south. The con-
tnued reports of slow and even poor col
lections noted for some time past are ac-
centuated by perhaps partly the result
CT the bad condition of the country roads
consequent upon the change IN the season.
Labor troubles present and prospective,
especially harass building trades CONSUME
ing iron and steel in the metropolis. The
traffic congestion, though improved, still
affects the transportation of coke, lum-
Der, flour and grain. Railroad earnings
are simply magnificent for this time of
the year, the country's railroads for Feb
ruary showing gains or IA per cent in
gross receipts and the March returns are
FULLY as favorable. Export trade showed a
/ very notable gain in February in many
lines, but particularly in the shipment of
corn and cotton. Retail business generally
| has been checked by weather conditions
/
ness with jobbers The lumber trade con-
tinues active the country over Prices are
hrmer at close to the top quotations. The
only complaint Is that congested rail-
roads rendered quick deliveries inpos-
sible.
The present level of commodity prices
IS at the highest point reached in three
years. February movement was very zen
orally upward, forty staples advancing
while only fifteen declined, and what IS
perhaps more impressive, hfty-two pro-
ducts remained steady and unchanged
compared with year ago, one-half of all
the staples are higher while only one
third are lower
New features are the expansion noted
III aeinand Tor crude and finished iron
ana Steel a very heavy advance in the
price of copper, claimed to he dna 70
alleged increased consumption and OK
port takings higher quotations for lend.
hIiher cotton accompanied by great ex-
cltement and wide fluctuations and quite
STEADY cereal prices astonisHngly little
weakness shown in this latter line de-
spite numerous bearish features
The unsettlement in raw cotton ear1v
tended to discourage demand for cotton
goods at wholesale however, well sold
ahead.
Wool is fairly steady with rather more
inquiry in New England.
considerable GALES of Bee-ener pig iron
are reported in Pittsburg, while Chicago
tels of liberal business doing in mail
cable and foundry grades. Structural ma
teriaL bars, plates, wire and wire prod
ucts have all been active. The steel rail
market looks very much similar to that
OF a year ago when a heavy business
was booked early in the season Copper
lead and tin are all firmer largely in
sympathy with notable advances in aon-
don.
Orders for shoes at eastern markets
are quite liberal, shipments for the week
being per cent larger than In this week
year ago, and for the season an excess
or nearly the same percentage.
Wheat including flour, exports for the
week ending March y aggregated 1885,
JAG bushels, against 3.491, 1856 last week
Corn exports aggregated 3,257, 999 BUSH
els, against 3,S17609 last week. 1873 Ala a
year ago and 9,246.575 in 1901. For the fis-
cal year, exports are 37,S15,19S bushels,
against 23,654,810 last season, and 1885,
1888, 036 In 1901.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ending March IL number
176, against III last week, 224 in the like
week of 1902, POI in 1901 and 100 in 1900
and 205 in 1899