The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-18
COLLECTIONS ARE GOOD .
Building Is Brisk The Iron Trade
,l8$ Very Active. .33

New York, April 1s.--Bradstreet's to-day
says Wet weather has retarded retail trade
and accentuated the quiet in textiles at whole
sale usual at this season. A beneficial effect
Of the easter rush. however, is an Improvement
in collections. despite the bad roads and weather.
and activity in farming work. Export trade
Is still expanding, cotton and corn being leaders,
and manufactured products are already being
surpassed With improved transportation and
better supplies OF coke, iron production Is sur
passing all records, This has resulted III some
further weakness In pig, this, by the way, dis
couraging imports of foreign materials. On the
other hand. finished products are in unprece-
dented demand and foreign steel is arriving In
increased volume to exc out domestic neeos.
Railway earnings are the hest ever recorded for
this season, gross receipts for March exceeding
those of year ago by about IA per cent.
The high price Of cotton and the numerous
labor troubles unsettled the demand for manu-
factured goods. Mems wear and woolen goods
and raw wool has steadied slightly. Ihe theof!
advanced last week that the sugar trade was
grounding at the bottom has received support
In the increased prices of raw and refined sugar
this week. Coffee has weakened In the absence
Of support from the direction noted last week
that OF destroying low grade Brazilian supplies
| and new record low prices have been touched oy
Futures as3f ss.
Pig iron of all kinds moved lower this week:
Southern foundry pig is reported cut below re-
cent price reyisions at the east. Bessemer
pig iron is slightly easier. Premiums on
quick deliveries are disappearing. and imports
Of foreign iron are finding their field restricted.
a feature AT present Ill tue more ullIsueu
| is the large demand for light rails for electric
and street railways. Mills rolling standard Sec
| tions are crowded with ORDERS Steel billets are
| active, and demand for structural material Is
reported as passing previous records. Strength
! Of old materials is significant In view of the
softening in pig iron Copper is slightly higher
| on the week and other metals are steady. Silver
| Is strengthening and this week sold at the high.
| est point reached in several years. d.
| Manufacturing industry Is active the country
I over. Building is very brisk. entailing heavy
| movement of lumber, hardware, paints and glass
Leather is strong in sympathy with the frmnes
| in hides and with the general activity in shoe
, manufacturing thruout the country. Seasonablt
changes responsible for a slight advance II
butter { 5s.-5 ..r--
Wheat (including nour) exports for the weel
ending April 16 aggregate 2977,7T bushels
against 1858, 2S5 bushels last week. 4,l1S,1O'
bushels in this week year ago, and 5,306,4l
bushels in 1901. Wheat exports since July
aggregate 1S1 100, 551 bushels, against 2O6, 800,
IA bushels last season., and '167 200 bushel
in 1900. Corn exports aggregate L 677 GIL bush
els. against 1854, 1872 bushels last week, an
4OO733 bushels year ago. and 2,136, ,401 bushel
| in 1901. For the fiscal year exports are 81, $3.50,
$50 bushels against 25, O23, ,735 bushels last sea
son. and 152, POI ,Ss9 bushels in 1901.
Business failures in the United States for tn
! week ending with April 16 number 160 agains
| 153 last week. 1893 in the corresponding week Q
, 1902, 212 in 1901, 161 in 1900, and 1877