The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-14
sRApsr3EET,s REVIEW.

New York. February 1S-Bradstreets to- morrow will say
 Distributive trade and productive indus try feel the influence of springlike wealth CT. slightly better collections, steady and even strong prices for staples, some i'm provement in the railroad transportation situation and cheaper and better supplies of cold In the east. Mild weather active movements in lumber structural Iron and steel, builders hardware and a myriad of other lines lead to the belief that the present season, notwithstanding higher prices of materials, will witness immense building operations. In this connection cognizance must be taken Of the reports coming from widely separated sections fn- dlcatng q scarcity of labor In the south increased railroad building numbering operations and diverslf1caton of industry generally have drawn heavily upon the labor available for the cotton fields, and a less increase In acreage than might or dlnarily have been expected Is therefore looked for in this line. A balance to this. however, may be found in the present high prices of that staple. It might be said that manual labor the country over finds a ready market. The situation is one practically never equalled before at this time. confirming earlier predictions that the first half of the year 1905 was secure beyond peradventure.
 Perhaps the most notable feature in the entire situation is the fact that pres mt high prices do not as yet seem to check consumption In the strongest situated industries of all. those of cotton tn'.ru- featuring as of iron and steel production, is insistent in demand, eliminating in large sales and gives testimony to the increased purchasing power of the coun- try.
 The cotton goods have led the van this week, spot cotton advancing Is ot a cent and future deliveries nearly 1sc. part ly because of manipulation it is true, but ultimately because of the active spring de- mand for cotton goods eYan at higher prices dominating.
 The dry goods trade ths country over sends excellent reports.
 In iron and steel the chief trouble Is the car congestion, which limits sulIlies of coke reaching furnaces and checking deliveries Foundry iron is II good de- mand and Bessemer sells readily anl free ly where obtainable at $2l00 lo S2l.50 pcr ton. Production of pig iron still fails to meet eonsumptive requirements. lncreas- ed demand Is noted in structural iron. merC hant bars and rails.
 An additional steadyng feature in iron dlh sitti lS tiit plOSpttN iildt tii NtsAsSVa of iron ore will be advanced, he increase varys from 25c to S25 the average bemg in the neghborhood of o cents. In the i.outh and southwest the output of lumter is enormous.
 Wheat, including flour, exports for the week aggregate 2,s56. 439 bushels agairst 3,965 916 last week, 3.175,4S1 in this week a year ago and 4.ls4S7S in 1901.
 Wheat exports since July aggregate 151, ,421. .977 bushels against 17S 322,l2i last season and 125. .63S, ,337 bushels in 1900
 Corn exports aggregate LSO17O bushels against 2,400,3l6 last week, 527,36G a year ago and 4,760, 422 in 1901. For the fiscal year exports are 24, 630,1S6 bushels asa;ns; 22, 55S. .496 last season and l24S27,2l6 in 1901 Business failures in the United States for the week ending with February .2 number 2l4 against POS last week. 265 in lle like week in 19O2, 226 in 1902, 199 in 1900 ana ;Gl in 1899.
 In Canada failures for the week number 24 as against ? last week and 20 m this week a year ago.
 Hester's Statement.