The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-31
sRApsr7EET,s REVIEW.

New York January 90.-Bradstreets to- morrow will say:
 Trade developments in January confirm the sanguine expectations and predictions made at the outset of the month. Whole sale and jobbing trade in spring dry goods, millinery, boots, shoes and hats are improving steadily, January jobbing business at the leading cities east and
 west being the best ever recorded in that month Shipments on orders are larger and earlier than in preceding years Re- tail trade reports are hardly favorable. 1 Unreasonable weather retards retail dis | tribution in this line and the usual Janu- ary clearing sales are attracting less | than ordinary attention.
 Among the industries no sign of tagging activity Is noted. Iron and steel produc- ton is at It's highest point despite fuel and car shortage. and prices are higher. Activity in lumber is also noted the coun- try over The general price situation re- mains strong, chiefly amongst the cereals and textiles. The car shortage trouble in- creases rather than grows better. Smaller than expected movements of grain and lumber to market of fuel from producing eenters to consumers and of general mer- | chandise from wholesalers and jobbers to retailers are reported the country over. Preference Is still being given to coal shipments and some railroads are report ed as refusing all dead freight outside of | fuel.
 The shoe trade is more or less quiet and | leather is likewise, east and west. The strength in cotton goods is in reality the | main means of this weeks advance in the raw cotton grades. though better ca | bes and the strength of spot cotton at l the south are all assigned in support | thereof. Woolen goods for next fall are being ordered in fair quantities. while mills are being pushed for spring deliver | les. Raw wool continues strong and prices are at flood tide.
 The iron trade Is reported rather quiet and conservatism Is being freely prac- tced. Buyers are no doubt backward be- cause business of last year was done at low quotations. A significant feature is that pig iron prices have been marked up $1 per ton at all leading markets, and the lower prices predicted freely are yet to materalize, notwithstanding that the production at present is In excess of the largest ever reported. Next week should contain developments important both to producers and consumers. Copper is strong and shows a steadily advancing tendency. At Pittsburg sales of structural marketable bars and plate have been large. Bar iron has advanced $1 per ton. Wheat, including hour exports for the week ending January 29 aggregate 4, ,49o,- O67 bushels against 3,53 ,757 last week, B. 702, 36S in this week year ago and s. ZIG. 900 in 1901.
 Wheat exports since July l aggregate 14S, ,599,622 bushels against 165, ,3461S6 last season and 115,s25, 646 in 1900. Corn exports aggregate 2.045999 bushels against 2,376.- 6S3 last week, 42501S year ago. and B. 4s7, 707 in 1901 For the fiscal year exports are 20, 4o0.5 800 bushels against 21, ,S61 9S5 last season. and 115, 395354 in 1907.
 Business failures in the United States for the week ending January 20 number 230 against 263 last week. 303 in the same week in 1902, 23S in 1901, I'll in 1900 and POT in 1899.
 In Canada for the week they were 30 against P last week.