Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-20
CONDITIONS OF TRADE
REHARKABLE ACTIVITY IN
BUILDING INDUSTRY.

BUILDING INDUSTRY.
r. g. Dun & Co.'s weekly review Of trade
for the past week says:
Trade reports are more Irregular, chief
iy because Of the vaSaries OF the weather.
At some points results are all that could
be desired. the new year starting with much
heavier transactions than In 1905. but high
temperature and excessive rains In oths'
localities retard retail distribution OF VIA
ter goods. and It IL become necessary to
reduce stocks BY clearing sales.
Nothing disturbs the vigorous prepare
tons for spring business. which promises
to make most gratifying exhibit. Open
weather Is facilitating outdoor work. build
Ing operations progressing at an unprece-
denied pace for the season, and the Con-
struction News reports permits issued in
1905 to q value OF $52S. 1S6. Az. which Ia ~
per cent in excess of the preceding year.
"Oficiai returns Of foreign commerce also
tell OF q new record established last year.
the total for December exports alone rising
about 81. 100000 beyond any other month
In the nations history. To some extent
this is attributed to the approaching tariff
regulations in Germany. For the last
week at this port exports showed an In
crease of $4,102. GS3. and imports gained
81 .299,057, as compared with the same week
last year.
More advances in wages are announced.
and an agreement as to coal mining Is
more probable, but some friction Is noted
in the building trades. Manufacturing plants
make favorable reports, especially those OF
the leading industries. and another new
record has been established in the security
market. Railway earnings thus far re-
ported for January were TT larger than
year ago.
.'Closing of large contracts for pig iron oy
fhn loading ipfaroSf nrnyfdad q m
strength in the iron and steel industry that
improves the tone and makes the outlook
for the first quarter most satisfactory.
Buyers are more numerous in the pri-
the increased interest thus far is confined
almost entirely to purchases at second
hand.
Increased supplies have somewhat de-
pressed the tone Of country hides. but
packer lines are fairly steady. and no d.
vision OF the market has shown q normal
decline In proportion to the seasonable de-
terioratfon in quality.
ding samples indicates that original orders
for fall shoes win be placed much earlier
than in previous seasons.
Failures for the week numbered 2S6 In
the United States, against 335 last year, and
81 In Canada, compared with "A a year
ago."
Trade Review.
Bradstreet's review of the week says:
Mild weather continues a source OF COM
plant by affecting retail trade, collections
and some recorder business from whole
salers, but compensations are found in con-
tinued activity in outdoor industries, prac-
tically unchecked building operations. bet
ter than ordinary midwinter transportation
conditions and uninterrupted progress in all
manufacturing lines, particularly iron and
steel. Spring trade prospects continue as
favorable as heretofore; there is consider
able looking around; shipments on earlier
orders are heavy, and the feeling favors an
earlier than ordinary opening OF wholesale
operations in dry goods, millinery, shoes
and kindred lines.
Building materials were apparently new
err SO active before at this stage Of the sea-
below the market by leading interests as
sure consumption Of all supplies for the
first quarter and most OF the second quar-
ter, while demand for rails, structural ma
assures work for the mills for six months to
come. Most staple products display notable
strength for midwinter season, cotton be-
ing especially strong, but adequate supplies
favor ease In coal and coke.
Increasing productions and resales OF
earlier purchases Of copper make for weak
ness in that metal, with declines noted also
In lead, and mild weather tends to declines
country produce. Bank clearings again
break all records for the week. Money Is
easier at nearly all markets. Summed up,
there is undininished confidence In an i'm
mense, IL not, indeed, record business for
six months at least, but there is a per-
ceptible increase in the stress laid upon the
need Of conservatism In speculation.
Business failures In the United States
for the week ended January 49, 1906. num-
Der 214, against 2S6 last week, 3O4 In the
like week OF 1905, 266 In 1904, 253 in 1908
and 292 in 1902. In Canada failures for
the week number SO. as against 46 last week
and 81 in this week year ago.
Wheat, including flour. exports for the
week ended January Is are 3,44S,S62 bush
els, against 4, 76S772 last week. 1, 1YS y74 this
week last year, 3,53s. 1872 in 1904 and 1888,
757 in 1893. From July ] to date the ex-
ports are n, 237,854 bushels, against 49,
OILS, 1913 last year, IS. S29, SIC in 1904 and 142
81 ,557 in 1903. Corn exports for the week
are 5.044,574 bushels, against 5.342 569 last
week. 3.1S6,529 a year ago. 1,150, BOP In 1904
and 2,316.6S3 in 1903. From July 1 to date
the exports of corn are 545O5. as bushels,
against "a, SOC, 429 in 1908, 81 0O1 .OO6 in ly0i