The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-02
TRADE is HARDLY
SATISFACTORY
Record Thus Far Is Reported
Not Up to That of Last
Year.

NEW YORK, April 1.-R. G. Dun's
weekly review of trade tomorrow will
say: Much deferred Eastern business
was transacted during the last few
days, and some sections report salts
factory results, but at many points the
weather is not yet normal, and on the
whole the seasons trade thus far cons
pares unfavorably with last years vol
ume. Manufacturing returns continue
conflicting, iron and steel plants gain
ing ground, footwear exhibiting the
natural reaction from an unprecedented
production in 1908, while textile mills
have much idle machinery and little
forward business to encourage opera
ton.
Lumber and building materials are
in better demand, although floods at the
West and labor troubles at the East
retard structural work to some extent
AT Baltimore the general situation is
satisfactory, despite the fact that re-
building of the devastated district is
hampered by efforts to secure Iegis-
lative enactments regarding the ar
rangement of streets. Transportation
is still interrupted by scarcity Of cars,
although in the coke region there is
less congestion, and railway earnings
thus far reported for March are but
1.2 per cent smaller than last year.
Agricultural prospects are unchanged,
better weather conditions at some
points being offset by less favorable
news from other regions and the price
situation is extremely irregular.
Further progress in the right direc-
ton is reported in the iron and steel
in0nStrV Pig iron iS in hpttAY de-
mand, quotations for Bessemer advanc-
ing slightly, and the outlook for suf-
fcient supplies of coke has improved
owing to less traffic congestion and
more prompt transportation from the
ovens to the furnaces. The most dis
turbing factor at present is the atti-
tude of tin plate workers; those who
have been idle apparently favoFing
the acceptance of proposed wage re-
ductiOn, while others recently employ
ed are favOring resistance. Large con-
tracts for castings and pipe are under
consideration, and the work On the
Pennsylvania tunnel will do much to
restore normal conditions at many
plants. Western inquiries for cast iron
pipe promise much activity in that line,
and implement manufacturers are bus
Ter than at any recent date. Agri-
cultural needs are expected to be very
heavy, including wagons tools, and all
kinds of modern machinery, while there
is evidence of increased business for
car shops and locomotive works after
a long season Of Indifference on the
part of railroads.
Increased activity and somewhat
firmer quotations in Western hide mar
kets resulted from more interest on
the part of tanners, one concern alone
taking $4,000 hides. On the other hand,
leather is dull and is neglected, with
notable ease in betting butts, while
the recent activity in harness leather
has subsidized. Wholesale trade in boots
and shoes has expanded and New Eng
land shops are receiving urgent calls
for quick delivery Better weather
stimulates retail distribution and in
spires confidence in the future Manu-
facturers are extremely conservative,
however, despite larger orders, for the
labor outlook is by no means settled.
Sellers of cotton have counted on a
liberal supplementary business owing
to small initial purchases, but thus far
buyers have been able to cOnf1ne Oper-
atoms within narrow limits. In so
far as any change is perceptible in the
market the tone is slightly weaker, and
little forward business is reported.
Trade in woolens continues dull
Commercial failures this week in the
United States are 20S against 226 last
week, 229 the preceding week and 173
the corresponding week last year. Fail
ures in Canada number Is against Is
last week, q the preceding week and
IS last year.