Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-26
TRADE rs PROSPEROUS
EXCEPTIONAL ACTIVITY Is RE-
PORTED IN ALL LINES.


In all lines of trade and industry. draws to
a close with buying showing further expan-
sion. cereal yields prospects close to the
best. railway tonnage increasing. collections
in the west. north and east reported gen.
orally better, money exceptionally easy for
this season. notwithstanding increased crop
moving requirements. and confidence on all
hands of large and prospectively profit
able fall and winter trade.
DRY goods of all kinds. but especially
cotton fabrics, are in active sale, with buy
ers eager to secure supplies, and slow de-
liveries complained of. Shoes, millinery,
hats. clothing and hardware are relatively
active, and groceries show Improvement at
most markets. House trade is in larger
volume at all larger centers west and east.
stimulated by excursions at low rates. At
eastern markets fea lures are the strength
of cotton goods the eagerncss of buyers
of these goods to obtain supplies even at
present advanced prices and the strength
of raw wool. hides and leather. Reports
are of a better demand for trwools, suit
able for wOrSted goods, which have been
and are selling well Railway returns point
to enlarged earnings, compared with year
ago.
Structural Market Active.
"In finished products rails and structural
material show marked activity. Predictions
of Il very active fall in all kinds Of steel are
supported by strong prices for billets bars,
sheets and in fact, nearly all kinds of ma
ter'al except pipes, prices for which are be-
Sng cut Other metals are strong. Coal is
quiet at most markets, but Baltimore notes
large sales to New England and the west.
Business failures for the week ending
August 81 in the United States number 116.
against 14T last week. 1855 In the like week
of 1904. 1i2 in 1903 80 in 1902 and 1SS in
1901 In Canada failures for the week ag
n n vaj inc 10 CT md
In this week a year ago.
Wheat. including flour exports for the
week ending August Of are 1.1T0.34O BUSH
els. against 1.06S,519 last week; 1.024, 333
this week last year; 3 2i5 .O56 in 1903, and
5436,53o In 1902. From July to date the
exports are 7.47T.5Oi bushels. against TO-
654.l3l last year: 2o,0Is.2s9 in 1908. and 49,,
1927 in 1902.
bushels. against 1.l77.tS9 last week, 763 $40
year ago; s6G32o in 1908. and 115. 14O In
1907 From July l to date the exports of
corn are S,O64 .447 bushels. against T. G3 $50
In 1904; So, 30 in 1908. and 154 $50 in
1902" ''
Autumn Trade is Early.
f. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade
says:
distribution of autumn merchandise Is
in progress unusually early this year, and
the volume of forward business is so heavy
that the last half of 1905 promises to estab-
lish remarkable record of commercial ac-
tivity. Current retail trade is we'll MAIN
tanned, the urgency of orders received by
5obbers indicating that dealers stocks are
becoming depleted. and there Is little COM
plant regarding collections. More labor
disputes have reached settlement, and no
serious controversies are threatened, while
in many sections the supply of wage earn
ers is inadequate. Freight blockades and
insufficient rolling stock cause delay, de-
spite widely extended facilities as compared
0Ct nd
ably Increase as the crop-moving season
advances
Special reports regarding manufacturing
conditions have been received from about
forty leading Industrial centers and there
is surprising unanimity In the statements
With scarcely an exception, plants are
working close to full capacity. with little
idle machinery, except where alterations or
improvements are in progress and con-
tracts on hand far exceed those held at
this date in 1904.
Confidence in Future.
Equally gratifying is the confidence ex-
pressed in tie future, a prominent feature
of most reports. Encouraging crop pros
poets provide a large share of the good
feeling. Railway earnings In the first half
of August surpassed last years by So per
cent. while foreign commerce at this port
for the last week exceeded the movement
a year previous by 81, 40 $40 in exports and
81 100000 in imports =
Sentiment has improved in the iron and
steel industry. Actual transactions are still
somewhat limited. but confidence In the
future Is becoming more widely dffused.
Mills making textile fabrics are enjoying
larger degree Of activity and appear to have
more business in sight than any other
branch of manufacture. This is due in part
to the low position to which stocks were
allowed to become depleted before pur-
chasing became general, and also to the
firmness Of raw material. which does not
encourage delay In providing for future re-
0uirements.
Recent conditions in hides and leather
are accumulated and it Is evidently the
policy of strong interests to sustain hides
at the best position. while neglecting leath-
er. Foreign dry hides are unchanged at the
recent advance. Shipments OF footwear
from New England factories continue
heavy. but fewer new orders are placed.
owing to the higher quotations.
Failures this week numbered 100 In the
United States. against POS last year and u