The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-21
RAINS 4 DRAWBACK
TO GENERAL TRADE
Jo0biag Business In Western
Centers, however, IS Better
TEST CONES IN TWO WEEKS WEEKS
Notwithstanding the Troubles over
pistrlhutive Trade, Dun and Brad
street Say All VIII Be Well
In the Long Run.

New york. March 2o.-Bradstreet TO-
morrow will say: -,
Excessive moisture in the form oil heaVs
rims and foods, or of bad roads Is an
,,,,nortant drawback to distributive trade'
Against this, however. Is. to De p'heeo a"
imnrovement in jobbing trade at sumo
leading western centers, shaue pe1'ei
than heretofore reported collections
,s.aa,+,hla easing of the car shortage
+ro,bIe and increased strength In the
,ao,, a,d steel trades. There is even some
;,,,nrovement in the labor situation, pue
,a,or disturbances are still possible I'M
sat+line feature, particularly in the build
10 trades The Easter season is one OF
the largest on record, but actual spring
weather conditions are operative. Inc
next two weeks will see applied the test
of demand in retail lines. Gross railroad
earnings for the first half of March show
an aggregate gain over last year OF fully
y per cent. In prices the feature Is the
further slight strengthening of cotton.
Cotton goods have displayed exceptional
strength, though a waiting tendency as
regards new business Is noted at first
hands No effect of the higher level oil
prices in the shape of checked demand IS
announced by jobbers, who almost uni
versally report the dry goods business
this spring as the largest ON record. Inc
sature In the cereal markets has been
ae very general easing of prices, sympa-
.hized in by pork and lard. Hides are
slightly weaker, while leather and fin-
ished products continue strong. Tin ana
COPPER, among the metals, after quite
steady advance, have weakened signify
Strength of prices is a leading feature
In iron and steel at all markets, both at
home and abroad Domestic production IS
still uneaual to demand. Foreign markets
for pig iron and steel billets are report
ed higher Eastern seaboard prices are
also firmer and steel billets are higher at
leading western producing centers. Rather
more is doing in iron ore in the central
west. Finished materials are still active
the country over. Western mills are sold
far ahead. Wire and wire products are
especially active and tin plate mills are
running fun time. Hardware is active at
all markets. Rather more inquiry is noted
for pig iron at Birmingham, though buy
ers and sellers are still reported apart.
Material for pipe manufacturing has been
advanced in price. Lead is higher on the
week, 0ut copper and tin are lower.
Wheat, Including flour exports for the
week ending March l, aggregate 2,S95.59S
bushels against 1906, 1916 last week, 4,S26,9O4
In this week a year ago and S256,644 in
1901.
Wheat exports since July aggregate
10, D46, 52S bushels against 1871, 1851, last
season and 146 49, 063 in 1900.
Corn exports aggregate 3, 06S bushels
oeairat 957 a ct week 800 Sgl year
ago and 26f5. 0S1 in 1901. For the fiscal year
exports are 40,sS7, 25S bushels against 49,,
1874. 701 last season and al ,5SS, 100 in 1901.
Business failures for the week ending
with March 10 number 1911 against lI6 last
week, 1877 in the like week of 1902, 231 In
1871. 1872 in 1900 and 1872 In 1899
In Canada for the week failures num-
Der IA as against 20 last week and 26 in
this week year ago.