The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-12
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEW
COLD WEATHER BARS OPENING
 OF SPRING BUSINESS.
Outbreaks of Hostilities in the Far East and the Baltimore Disaster Not Widespread in Their
 Influence.

New York, Feb. 11.-Bradstreets tomor- row will say: Cold weather is still bar to expansion in spring trade throughout the West. but Southern distribution con tinued notably active and signs of life are found in leading Eastern markets The Baltimore disaster and the beginning fecting speculative markets to some ex- tent, have as yet no notable results on trade out of sections immediately con- cerned, though some of the present great strength of prices of most commodities may be attributed to the later develop ment Trade and industrial operations be- tray effects of conservatism some time ago predicted, but 1t is yet too early to measure the possible extent to which the sea sons turnover will contrast with the exceptionally large business done in ali lines one year ago. Railway operations, owing to severe weather in January. are resulting in decreased gross earnings fol- lowing reduced not returns in December
 Outside of the diversion of some i'm mediate distribution business from the burned city to other markets, the effects of the Baltimore fire have been striklnglJ
 in contrast with corresponding events Tn the distant past Good management or the insurance business is illustrated in the fact that with a possible total losAot $6o,- OOG000. no real embarrassment in meeting obligations is expected and the restoiE;,s ir;1 5 swift progress: Baltimore buyers are in other markets looking for new stocks ana the effort to hold that city's spring trade JA creasing in number in ChicaS,', St; Lotus and Kansas City, but conservatism III buying is noted. Cold weather prevents outside activities In building and llml .S $ buying of material. On the Pacific coast trade is improving and special activity In war supplies, coal, fodder. dried and can ned fish and flour is noted: so, SouIneIn ,IIs ing for an immense cotton acrage Ill good reports from fertilizer, Supplement- provisions and mule markets. -ND n | delivery Is rather backward yet. Raw
 wool is quietly firm with coarse wools dis playing most strength. ,
 The iron trade is irregular. Big iron sales are not large and prices display ease despite of talk of large transactions
 in the Central West Western trade Is in | Chicago and Pittsburg. Wire goods
 pla tes. hars and structural note improve
 ment. and the pipe business is better situ-
 ated than a year ago.. Steel hillets are re- ported being shaded through the exchange l of scrap and pig iron; therefore. other
 metals are dull but copper is rather l hrmer while lead is strong.
 The Eastern shoe trade is rather quietcI | in actual demands. but manufacturers are
 firm in insisting on better prices, claimed
 to be necessary to dsfray higher cost ol 1 Wheat. including flour, exports for five
 days ending February 10, aggregate 1,746,
 255 bushels against 2,6O4,226 last week
 1902 and 4Sl4,s7S in 1891. From July 1, 1903
 to date they aggregate 1O3, ,OSO, ,519 bushels
 against 153Sl3,Sl9 last season, 16S, 7S7, ,032 1T 1909 and 121 .620. .050 in 1901.
 Corn exports for five days aggregate
 5s9 362 bushels, against 1.441 .1s6 last week
 1891 TO year ago; 527. 366 in 1902 anC 1 4670 422 in 1901. From July l. 1903. t1 date thev aggregate 35.4sS921 bushels against 24,566 196 last season, 21, ,O6654S 1T 1902. and 120 713. .92 in 1901
 Business failunres in the United State
 for hye days ending with February 10 humber 2O2 against 216 last week, H7 il
 the like week in 19O3; 65 in 1902; 226 II 1901, and 199 in 1900.