The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-19
SPRING TRADE LIGHT
BUT THE INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK rs BETTERt
AND OTHER GOOD SIGNS. -

.AAAS @AS
AND OTHER GOOD SIGNS. -
New York. March 19.-Bradstreet's to-
day says:
The backwardness Of spring trade. GEM
orally attributed to almost uninterrupted-
ly bad weather, tinges most neports from
distributive centers, but several develop X
ments Of the week have been notably Ia
yorable. Chief among these might be
mentioned the arrival of much-needed
moisture in the critically situated south
western wheat belt, the continued im1Es
provement in the iron and steel trade and
the decision Of the bituminous coal miners
not to strike against proposed reductions
Of wages.
Liquidation in the cereal market and in
cotton, accompanied by sharp price breaks
is also generally construed as allowing OF
Improvement of actual consumptive #de-sI5
mand. The railway situation shows gain
The weather has been cold and stormy
in the west and northwest, and reports
from cities in those sections, and particu-
larly along the lakes are of slow and IS
backward spring trade. Very much the
same advices come from leading eastern .
cities. Southern reports continue gooda
altho the spring rush in wholesale lineaa1
is beginning to slacken and retail traders
has not yet begun to expand. The recentds
heavy rains on the Pacific coast, .whils "
damaging because Of large areas num-
dated in the San Joaquin and Sacramento ~
valleys, have done much good in Califor-25 +
mia. t. t1s.xs
The improvement noted in iron and steeEts
has progressed still further. The larga II
buying by leading interests some weeks. II
ago has induced freer purchasing by they,sg
smaller interests. Agricultural Implement
manufacturers are doing the best busi-sss
ness in years. The railroads are reported &
| still backward in taking supplies. but late ~
| reports point to some leading systems
coming into the market for steel rails. vi
| Western car works are reported to be In &c
| more active request. .s,ss
| Rather more unrest is noted in thena
i general industrial situation, but the only 4
| actual outbreaks those OF the build e
| ing laborers at New York and Of litho- q.
4 graphers. These strikes, If continued, ara,
i expected to injure the general building =.
situation at New York and the paper trade Is
thruout the country. oa#
Demand for wooden goods from manu- -
1 facturers agents Is reported Disappointing. s
and wool sells more freely, tho concessionsrs
in prices are limited by the small avail-4r
!, able stocks. $50 -
} The situation in the shoe trade is,s
rather irregular. Eastern advices are thatsty
} the advance Of the season is bringing Il
5 rather more orders to jobbers and manu-
> facturers, but no special activity Is yet,,r
noted. Leather is firm to strong In price :
y at all markets and large sales of hides :
5 have been made at the west. Weather. "a
conditions are unfavorable to the lumber 4
trade at leading eastern markets, but the !.
= prices are firm. saio
. Wheat including flour, exports for the
week ending March II. aggregates 2,eo6,-..s
! 1874 bushels against 1,S34,632 bushels last /
: week, 2,395.59S this week last year, 1926
D 3O4 in 1902 and 3,256, 644 in 1901. From July
/, 1903, to date they aggregate 112. 1913. 369 <
bushels against 1es,43s,530 last season.
1856, ,505 in 1902 and IA, 5,2s1 in 1901. /
: Corn exports for the week aggregate s
= 1873, 2S9 bushels, against 2,O26,61o last
= week, 3O72,068 a year ago, Ss9,8s1 In 1904,
= - and 2,6O5,OS4 in 1901. From July 1, 1902
L to date they aggregate 4s, 557, 451 bushels,
;, against 40,s22,26s last season, 22,50Q 1853 in :
- 1902 and 137,974,S26 in 1901.
Business failures in the United States
: for the week ending with March II number J.
> 1903, against 200 last week, 1914 in the like !
- week in 1903, 1877 in 1902, 231 in 1901 and
! 1872 in 1900. ae +-.J