The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-16
TRADE SITUATION
is RATHER SPOTTED
General Undertone Is Oae of
Confidence, However, and Fall
Business Seems Promising

NEW YORK. July 15.-Bradstreets
tomorrow will say: Diverse movements
IN trade, industry and speculation give
an irregular appearance to the general
BUSINESS situation. Distributive trade
ana industry is still quiet and even
ouii, awaiting clearer views of the crop
outturn. Damage to the winter wheat
crop by heavy rains is admitted, though
alleged to be exaggerated. Disorgani-
zation in the meat Strengthening in
dustry has followed a strike which, if
not settled, as now seems likely. con-
tains much power for evil. All meat
prices have been advanced and cattle
shipments checked. Railway gross
earnings for the fiscal year will show
an increase over the best previous
years, but net results are less clearly
defined, with the question whether an
increase Or decrease will be shown. still
IN doubt. The general undertone is one
of confidence, good results being look
ed Tor by the business world from an
expected large volume of fall trade
viewed geographically, the South
seems easily to have the best outlook,
the cotton crop having progressed so
lar with little or no drawbacks except
the original lateness of the spring.
The outlook is for an immense cotton
crop.
Midsummer trade conditions have
dominated diStributive markets Col
Iections the country over are claSsed as
little better than slow. Among the in
oustrleS the iron trade notes increased
quiet, production being scaled down to
meet receding consumption The only
change to note is increased firmness
among Southern producers who find
the strike of coal miners in the Bir-
mingham district a strengthening fea-
ture. FINISHED products are quiet and
even dull. The boot and shoe industry
is rather quiet, and Eastern shipments
are rs per cent behind year ago.
Manufacturers are, however, beginning
to purchase leather, which Is firmer and
tends upward.
Rather more was reported doing in
some kinds of cotton goods this week,
some heavy export orders being re-
ported at very low prices, but against
this was the report that Fall River
manufacturers would make a further
reduction in wages. The cotton goods
side of the market has unquestionably
been much improved. Wooden goods
manufacturers have been free buyers
of raw material, the result being firm
ness all along the line and fractional
advance in prices.
Foreign Trade Immense
Foreign trade totals for the fiscal
year are next to the largest ever re-
ported. Imports are S.5 per cent less
than in 1903, and the aggregate foreign
trade is 1 per cent under that of the
fiscal year 1903. Cotton was the sheet
anchor Of our export trade, while
breadstuffs fell to a low ebb. Exports
of manufactured goods have, however,
exceeded all previous years.
Business failures in the United
States for the week ending July IA
number 203, against 172 last week, 173
in the like week in 1903, ia in 1902.
208 in 1901 and 202 in 1900. In Canada
failures for the week number 10, as
against Ia last week and Is in this
week a year ago.
Wheat, including flour, exports for
the week ending July IA, aggregate L.
412,498 bushels, against 878,910 last
week, 1852, 7S4 this week last year. g.
775s222 in 1902 and 5,221,8S0 in 1901.
From July 1 to date the exports ag-
gregate 1921 ,40S bushels against $685.
1914 last year. S,1S0,337 in 1902 and TO-
23S,029 in 1901.
Corn exports for the week aggre-
gate 574 ,929, against 613,124 last week.
] ,402, 404 a year ago, 1869 in 1902 and
L714,OS1 in 1901. From July 1 to date
the exports Of corn aggregate 1.1SS,053
bushels, against 1927. 4SS in 1903, 315,-
10 in 1902 and 4,514,819 in 1901.