Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-04-11
BUSINESS OUTLOOK
MOST GRATIFYING
Late FrOsts Caused Some Damage
During Week,
CROP PROSPECTS ARE GOOD.
Eastern Retail Trade Heavy Less
Complaint About Lack Of
Transportation.

New York, April l0,AR. G. Dun &
Co.'s Weekly Review of Trade tomor-
row will say: Aside from the preya-
lence of strikes and possibilities of fur
Their interruption to Industrial activity
next month on this account, the busl-
ness outlook is most gratifying. Late
frosts caused some damage cary In the
week, but lower temperatures did not
continue and in most sections agrlcul-
tufal products had not advanced suiIi-
clently to suffer materially, while the
prospects are bright for large crops and
heaVy sales Of fertilizers testify to ex-
tensiye operations.
Despite some unfavorable weathers,
eastern retail trade has been heavy and
Jobbing activity In summer fabrics indl-
Gates expectation of vigorous con-
sumption as the season advances. There
is less complaint regarding deliveries,
due to better traffic facilities. Railway
earnings In March increased 1873 per
cent, compared with last year and 24.l
per cent, compared with 1891.
Undue significance has been attached
TO the recent reduction in prices Of
southern pig iron, and throughout the
country q tendency to delay placing
contracts Is noticed. No other cut In
quotations has followed and in the trade
II is believed that after the temporary
uneaslness there will be q resumption of
the buying on the former liberal scale.
Finished steel Is eagerly sought aud
there Is Increased activity In outdoo,
work Makers Of merchant pipes, tools,
agricultural implements and all kinds
OF machinery have more business than
can be handled promptly. The pig iron
output has bounded upward with the
better movement of fuel, and In a short
time production will be at the rate Of
2OO000O0 tons annually. These figures
are the better appreciated when II Is
remembered that they are more than
double the maximum years output
prior to 1899.
I'm the textile industries there were
still adverse factors, notably the labor
controversies in the cotton mills Be-
yond q probable revival of export pur-
ohases for China there Is no increase In
the sales Of cotton goods. both sellers
and buyers waiting some more definite
information as to the future. Another
rise in cotton material threatens a shut
down at several mills which have light
supplies and few contracts.
Manufacturers OF mems heavy
weight woolens and worsteds receive
few orders except for filling out sample
lines, and the situation Is practically
unchanged, Thus far fall business is
below normal, and clothlers are not
seeking large supplies Of material Wool
has been fairly steady since the month
opened, but none Of the March decline
was recovered. New business is small
at eastern factories, but this Is season
able, and no apprehension is felt. More
over. current shipments are much heav-
Ter than year ago and activity is as
sured for al least two months after
work begins on fall contracts. Quota
tons are firmly held and local jobbing
trade Is brisk.
Leather is In better demand, the
strike at Chicago tanneries stimulating
purchases. Domestic hides have lost
part OF their recent recovery and i'm
ported skins are also somewhat cheaper.
Staple products are irregular as the
season advances and speculation has
again become prominent factor.
Failures this week numbered 1877 In
the United States, against 1893 last year,
and Is In Canada, compared with IS
year ago.