Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-01
THE STATE OF TRADE.
Conditions Reported by the Mercan-
tile Agencies.

Bradstreet's review Of the week says:
Better weather and definite assurances
of large crop yields stimulate fall and
winter buying, which is apparently at or
close to its zenith. Most leading markets
report buyers present in unprecedented
numbers. and the volume Of August sales
exceeded all records for that month, ex-
cept at few markets. where weather con-
ditions have been unpropitious. Sales of
dry goods, clothing, shoes, leather, hard
ware and other iron and steel products
and lumber are very large.
The fall shipping season Is also ap-
parently at its height. shipping forces are
working overtime. and the railroads are
car famine predicted for the not distant
future. A smaller movement of winter
wheat has partly relieved the strain on
the railroads and made for little more
steadiness In price Of that cereal, which,
however. has sagged slightly as the feel
Ing grows that spring, like winter, wheat
will prove large crop. Reports from
abroad are of better than earlier antiei-
affect prices still further, but it Is to be
believed that export trade in -four has i'm
proved and exports tend to expand.
The crop situation otherwise is very
promising. The promise Of cooler weather
makes for increased activity in Industry
The iron and steel markets are a little
quieter, due mainly to scarcity of supplies
rather than to weakening of demand, which,
material, and some finished lines, is still
very heavy.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ended August 80 number 1885,
against 155 last week. r61 In the like week
of 1906, 1S9 in 1904. 1852 in 1903. and 1873 in
1902. In Canada failures for the week
number IA, against 10 last week and 25 In
this week year ago."
Dispatches to Dun's Review indicate that
the total of summer trade has made a
splendid comparison with earlier years
while similar new record seems prom
ised for fall and winter business. Clothing
manufacturers at Philadelphia report trade
quiet and collections slow. but all news
from the iron and steel and fuel markets
Is favorable, and most staple markets ac-
tive. A fair 1obbing movement Is reported
at Pittsburg. but retail trade is less salts
factory.
Weather at Baltimore has been unfayor-
able for retail trade, but wholesale bust
ness exceeds last years. but otherwise the
situation 10 encouraging. At Nashville the
outlook Is encouraging. Jobbers and manu-
facturers at New Orleans report a large
movement of merchandise. Retail trade at
Kansas City is quiet. while August has
been good month for wholesale business.
Activity continues In all lines at St Louis,
Midsummer activity at Chicago makes a
favorable comparison with last years bust
ness, and the leading industries are occu-
pied to the limit of capacity. Retail trade
at Cincinnati continues dull but the de-
mand for pig iron broadens. in the face OF
rising prices. Cleveland reports retail trade
satisfactory for the season, and q brisk fall
trade Is expected. while manufacturer
operate at full capacity and collections are
prompt. Wholesale trade at Minneapolis
continues active. st. Paul tobbing trade Il
brisk In all departments.
Bank exchanges for August record the
largest payments through the banks ever
made in that month. The total exchanges
for the week at all leading cities In the
United States are 81, los, 300, 613, an Increase
Of 281 per cent over last year and $50 per
cent over the corresponding week Of 1904,
and for the month. with the last day esti-
mated, the aggregate Is $13, 161 600 900.
against $40 $50 0z3 900 for August, 1905, and
only $500. 10000 the next highest agsre-
gate In August, 1902.