The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-21

collections, a perceptible easing of the
car shortage trouble and increased
strength in the iron and steel trades.
There is even some, though, perhaps
more apparent than real, Improvement
IN the labor situation, some strikes
having been avoided or settled, but la
Dor disturbance is still a possible I'M
settling feature, particularly in the
building trades.
Actual spring weather conditions are
operative, as may be judged from the
fact that lower lake navigation is al
ready pretty well opened. The next
two weeks will see applied the test Of
demand in retail lines. Gross railway
earnings for the first half of March
show an aggregate gain over last year
of fully II per cent.
Activity in Cotton Goods.
Cotton goods have displayed excep-
t1onal strength, though a waiting ten
dency as regards new business is noted
at first hands. No effect of the higher
level OF prices in the shape of checked
demand is announced by jobbers, how
ever, who almost universally report the
dry goods business this spring as the
largest on record. The feature in the
cereal markets has been the very gen.
eral easing of prices, sympathized in
by pork and lard among hog products.
mainly the result of increased pressure
OF supplies and smaller export bust
ness, though at the decline the tenden-
cy of foreigners to come in is noted.
Hides are slightly weaker, while leath-
er and finished products continue
strong. Tin and copper, among the
metals, after quite steady advances
have weakened slightly
Strength of prices is a leading fea-
ture IN iron and steel at all markets,
ooth at home and abroad. Domestic
production is still unequal to demand.
Foreign markets for pig iron and steel
billets are reported higher. Eastern
seaooard prices are also firmer, and
steel billets are higher at leading
Western producing centers.
Higher Prices Defect Trade.
Rather more is doing in iron ore in
the Central West, but higher prices
seem to have DETECTED consumers from
lake to imported ones on the Eastern
seaboard. Finished materials are still
active the country over. Western mills
are sold far ahead.
wire and wire products are especial.
~ actlVe, ana tin plate mills are run
nlng full time. Hardware is inactive at
all markets. Rather more inquiry is
noted Tor pig iron at Birmingham.
though buyers and sellers are still re-
ported apart. Material for pipe manu-
factur1ng has been advanced in price.
anu III structural material, the only un-
favorable feature is the continuance of
labor trouble in construction lines.
Lead is higher on the week, but copper
! and tin are lower.
wheat, including flour, exports for
the week ending March 10 aggregate
2,Ss5, 59S bushels. against 1856, 796 last
week, 326,3O4 in this week year ago,
and 3,256,644 in 1901. Wheat exports
since July 1 aggregate 170.O46. 528
bushels. against 191, 1857 last season
and 146,473,O63 in 1900 Corn exports
| aggregate 9,407,O6S bushels, against
SOC ss last week, 339,S91 a year ago,
and 2,6O5,O80 in 1901. For the fiscal
year exports are 4O,887,25S bushels
! against 23,994,701 last season, and III
5SS,120 In 1901
Business failures for the week end
Ing with March 10 number 1874. against
| l96 last week, 1877 in the like week of
| 1902. 231 in 1901. 1872 in 1900 and 1872 in
1899. In Canada for the week failures
number Ia, as against 20 last week and
| 26 in this week a year ago.