The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-13
TRADE EXPANDS
 SOMEWHAT SLOWLY
Crop 0isappointmentS and La
 Dor Troubles the Cause
GENERAL TONE SEEMS EASY
Reports of Cuts In Prices of Finished Steel Products Are Current, But Structural Trade Is {
 Good.

New York. August 12.-Rradstreet's to- morrow will say:
 Fall trade expands but s.owly, conserva- tism based apparently upon crop disap- pointments or uncertainties and labor troubles ruling most lines of distribution Government figures of crop conditions just issued are, in the main, favorable though Yltiatec by early date of replies. Predicted reductions in the winter wheat crop outturn are confirmed, but are coun7 terbalaneed by improvement in other crops. Early prospects of large cotton yield are not materially changed but pre- dicted lower prices render buyers Of cot ton goods cautious. Jobbing trade the country over, while perhaps up expecta- tions, Is not equal to the last year 8. Bank clearings continue to run behind but railway earnings promise rather pet ter than earlier expected
 Industrial conditions are not altogether promising in view of the continuance Of the meat strike, which by the way IS interfering with the leather and shoe trades, the Fall River difficulty and the calling out of large numbers of building hands at the metropolis. The price move- ment this week shows exceptional strength. Higher prices of farm products are regarded as possible offset to small CT yields, but it Is to be noted that ex- port trade in 1ood staples In July fell to the lowest point in many years. All In all the situation may be characterized aa eli ha general tone of the business and the outlook Is one of ease
 To the influence of the meat strike is directly traceable the demoralized mar kets for live stock and in the advanced quotations for hides, growing out of the scarcity of domestic supplies or the raw material Firmness in wool prices is still feature. Production of pig iron appar- ently reached the minimum in July, while stocks showed a slight increase Con- sumption, however, was also down to a low point, confidence In any change now occurring is enabled Reports of cuts in prices of finished steel products are cur rent but good reports come from the structural trade. The coal trade is In an interesting condition. Demand for va IipAS BIdutS Ol dHliIdCllG HdS iaiSA cili and that branch of the trade Is rather quiet but prices are firm. Bituminous coal is selling at very low prices. but stocks pressing upon the market are re- ported reduced. Among the other ma terials copper has weakened, but tin Is slightly higher
 Business failures for the week ending August Ii number 167 against 179 last week and 16O In the like week in 1903.
 Canadian failures for the week number 16 as against 25 last week
 Wheat, including flour, exports for the week ending August, II aggregate 12S4,- 399 bushels against 1,379,19S last week and 3.413, 19l this week last year. From July l to date the exports aggregate 7S46, I'll bushels against s46o, A last year. Corn exports for the week aggregate 695, 202 bushels against 273365 last week and 707.- 3S7 a year ago. From July to date the exports of corn aggregate S,27e,111 bush els against eg49, ,4S0.