The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-02
THERE IS LITTLE
IDLE MACHINERY
Dun'S Review Shows Activity in
All Manufacturing Lines
IRON AND STEEL ARE ACTIVE
BilIets Are Prominent Feature and Ger
man Sellers Have Accepted Large
contracts-Domestic Stocks
Fall to Meet Demands.

New York. May 1.-R G. Dun & Co. s
weekly review of trade tomorrow will
say:
At the leading cities high temperature
has stimulated the distribution of sea-
sonable merchandise at retail, but dry
goods jobbers and commission houses re-
port only a fair trade. Leading manu-
featuring lines are active except for
some hesitancy at textile mills. In iron
and steel. footwear, furniture, harness
and clothing there is little idle ma
chinery Structural work is vigorously
prosecuted and supplies of building ma
terial are not allowed to accumulate. A
special canvass of the white pine situa-
tion by correspondents of this paper
shows low stocks and high prices al
though the seasons cut was large.
Mercantile payments are fairly prompt,
yet there is less disposition to anticipate
payments for a cash discount as fire.
quently occurred last year. Railway earn
ings for April were 1872 per cent larger
than last year and 276 per cent in excess
of 1901. Deliveries of coke on old con-
tracts are now SO large that re-selling
frequently occurs, and insofar as the fuel
question is concerned there appears no
prospect of interruption, while 1t Is diff
ficult to maintain quotations of Con-
nellsvlle coke An unusually heavy ore
tonnage has been arranged to lower lake
ports, preparations indicating that no
diminution in iron and steel activity Is
anticipated.
Disparity continues between current
prices and quotations on deliveries dur
ing the closing months of the year, sales
of Bessemer pig iron for late shipment
being recorded at $19 valley furnace. Bill
lets remain the prominent feature, do
nestle stocks failing to meet demands,
and efforts to secure imports have met
with success, German sellers accepting
large contracts. In addition to urgent
railroad demands for heavy steel, there
is a steady inquiry for structural shapes
to be used in erection Of new buildings,
while pipe mills report much new BUSH
ness and in agricultural implements
there is no lack of orders.
Tin plate and wire mills enjoy season.
able activity. Machinery and hardware
lines are we'll employed, and aside from
pending labor controversies, the condi-
ton of the steel industry as a whole Is
most satisfactory.
Textile mills have not yet felt any slim
ulance from better thermal conditions,
although Improvement in retail trade VIII
ultimately accelerate jobbing sales, which
in turn will increase purchases from the
manufacturers. Owing to the inadequate
supply of orders. idle machinery is no
longer exceptional at wooden mills, yet
western holders of raw wool refuse to
make any concessions and the future
course of prices is becoming uncertain. Ex-
ceptionally favorable conditions exist in
the foot wear industry.
Failures are 203 against 1856 last week,
PIP the previous week and 225 the corre-
spending week last year, and in Canada
thirteen against fifteen last week. sixteen
the preceding week and seventeen last
year.