Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02
BUSINESS CONFIDENCE.
Bradstreet Reports Indicate an Active
Spring Trade.

NEW YORK, April 1.-Bradstreet's trade
reports today show as follows:
Excellent weather, favorable grain crop
reports, expansion in industry well-maln-
tanned spring trade, particularly at the
west; charging retail trade in the lead
ing cities, and unimpared confidence in
the future are sextet of conspicuously
satisfactory features demanding notice
this week. Special reports to Bradstreet
from all leading winter and spring wheat
sections point to the winter-sown crop
having Weathered the cold weather In ex-
cellent condition.
Special reports to Bradstreets from 10s
cities and towns of the United States point
to an expenditure for houses, offices, facto-
ries and other edifices of S450,000,O00 dur
ing the present calendar year. Allowances
for cities not yet reported would indicate
that the total expenditures for edlilces
this year would run well up to 5000, 00o, 090.
In addition to this marked activity in rail-
road building and heavy orders for equi p
ment foreshadow an expenditure or PROB
ably $500, 100000 by the railroads, this ali
pointing to an aggregate expenditure for
material and labor of close to $500, GOA, 900.
"Rela lively, the most activity in trade
is still noted at the west. Signs of I'M
provement are noted at the south, though
here the cotton situation is still draw
back, and comparisons are with excellent
trade year ago.
"Milder weather, allowing prompter ship
ments of soft coal and coke, is favorable
feature reflected with free grain and mer-
chandise shipments in an enormous car
movement on all railroads. Labor condl-
tons in the coal industry are not alto
gether favorable, owing to the prospect
of trouble over the wage scale In certain
districts of Pennsylvania. Coke is easier
but freer shipments are eagerly taken by
iron furnaces.
"All the usual lines of distributive trade.
such as dry goods, clothing, shoes and
millinery, feel the stimulus of spring de-
mand, while charging building activity is
reflected in better inquiry for lumber, hard
ware paints and oils. Prospects favor
very early opening of water navigation
particularly on the great lakes, where
an enormous ore trade downward and a
heavy coal business up is foreshadowed.
Prices of commodities, aside from those
affected by weather. note marked firmness.
Particular strength is shown in iron and
steel in all it's forms.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ended March 80 numbered
90 against PIG last week and PIP in the
ike week of 1904. 146 in 1903. In Canada
failures for the week ended March 80 num-
Der 90 against IS last week and II in this
week a year ago.
Wheat, including flour, exports for the
week ended March 30 are 9SS,6S0 bushels,
against 1,O44, 800 last week, 1857, 430 this
week last year, 3,13O,974 in 1903 and 4,446,-
OFT in 1902. From July l to date the ex-
ports are 47627,329 bushels, against u.s.,
099714 last year, 1882, 4S9 in 1868 and
1914, 800, $50 in 1902
Corn exports for the week are 2, 43o,652
bushels against 1876 $50 last week, ABS, :
In 1902 From July to date the exports
of corn are 81, 47S.S37 bushels, against a.
SOC 26S in 1904, Al, 272, 44S in 1903. and o.
oiO,49S in 1902"