Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-19
Favorable Reports For the
Week Largely Outnumber
the Adverse Influences
SPRING TRADE STILL BACKWARD
This Condition Still Tinses Most Re-
ports From Distributive centers-No
Check to Progress In Iron and Steel
Industry-More Unrest Noted In Gen.
eral Industrial Situation.

New York, March 19.-R. G. Dun &
Co. says
Improvement in trade and industry
continued, favorable reports largely
outnumbering adverse influences. The
most important event of the week was
the vote by bituminous coal miners to
accept the proposed reduction In
wages.
Complications have arisen in the
local building trades that retard struc-
tural work, but settlement is anti
cipated. Retail distribution of Easter
goods steadily expands This promises
large supplementary jobbing and
wholesale orders as the season adj.
vances. Railway earnings thus far
available for March show a decrease of
only s per cent as compared with last
years figures.
Another week has brought no check
to the progress in the iron and steel
industry. While no material increase is
re ported in sales of steel for railroad or
structural purposes, the tone OF the
market is better and there is more con-
tidence i'm the future.
Increased strength and activity is
noted in the hide market, which is sig
Inificant at this time when the quality
is least satisfactory. Leather is also in
better demand, the largest individual
transaction ever recorded in union sole
having occurred at private terms.
Shoe shops are receiving few orders
vet there is confidence regarding the
future.
Dizziness is the chief characteristic of
the primary market for dry goods and
! In some cases prices are shaded, al
| though the general position of textiles
| is unchanged. Cotton mills are slow to
accept forward business, insisting ON
higher prices.
| Failures this week numbered 229 in
the United States, compared with 220
last year and q in Canada against %
a year ago.
Developments Are Favorable.
| New York, March 19.-Bradstreet's
today says:
| The backwardness of spring trade,
generally attributed to almost inter-
ruptedly bad weather, tinges most re-
ports from distributive centers, but
several developments of the week have
been notably favorable. Chief among
these might be mentioned the arrival
Of much needed moisture in the crifi-
cally situated southwestern wheat belt,
the continued Improvement 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 mar
kets and in cotton accompanied by
sharp price breaks is also generally
construed as allowing of Improvement
Of actual consumptive demand The
railway situation shows a gain.
The Improvement noted in iron and
steel has progressed still further. The
large buying by leading interests some
weeks ago has induced freer ptlrchas-
! ing by smaller interests. Agricultural
implement manufacturers are doing
| the best business in years. The rail-
roads are reported still backward in
taking supplies but late reports point
to some leading systems coming into
| the market for steel rails. Western car
works are reported actively en-
| ployed.
Rather more unrest DIS noted In the
general industrial situation but the
only actual outbreaks are those of the
building laborers of New York and OF
HrhogiupherS