The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-10
R. G. DUN'S REVIEW
JOBBING TRADE ACTIVE IN LEAD
 ING CITIES.
Mercantile Collections Show Some Im- prOvement and There is Little Interruption to Industries by
 Labor Troubles,

New York Aug. 9.-R. G. Dun and Company's weekly review of trade to-
 Jobbing trade in fall and winter goods is active at the leading cities, country merchants being in large at tendance and operating freely as a rule. Retail sales of seasonable mer- chandise are liberal. although at some points midsummer quiet Is noted.
 While payments are somewhat irreg- ular. mercantile collections show dis tinct improvement on the whole. A few labor disputes are pending but there Is little interruption in the lead ing industries, most manufacturing plants are working full time and hold ing orders that promise continued ac- tivity. Commodity prices are lower, especially in cases where speculative imitation existed, favorable weather having greatly improved the crop
 Iron and steel are quiet and some grades of iron and steel lower, though many steel mills are sold well into next year. Steel rails are in better demand, q liberal tonnage of new contracts ap- bearing this week, and material Is sought by car shops and ship yards.
 A few additional orders for cotton ties have come forward but most of the seasons requirements were purchased some time ago and are now being de- livered. Textile mills are well occu- pied except where the strike has inter rupted the silk industry in Pennsyi- vania. The cotton goods market is reatureless as might be expected after the extensive purchase of the past few months and the process of assimilation Is in order.
 Another general reduction in prices of hidea makes very severe fall from the recent high level but large receipts of cattle have added to the weakness of the statistical position. Trade 1T, m somewhat below expectations. Prices are firm. Jobbers recently in the foot wear market have not yet forwarded orders of size and wholesale buying IS restricted to current requirement.. The delay is evidently due to anticipation Of better terms. JobbinR trade Is satis- factory for the season. some city re- tailers providing for fall needs.
 Bradstreet's statement.
 New York, Aug. 9-Bradstreet's to- morrow will say:
 Cross currents in crop and trade de- velopments render generalization difh- cult. Dispatches point 70 further fav- orable progress by corn, cotton and spring wheat, but from oats reports are not favorable. Ideal weather Is re- ported for corn except in parts of the Southwest; advices from the spring wheat section are better than for some time, and hot weather benefits cotton. Winter wheat yields are also better than earlier indicated. but oats are turning out short and light.
 In the Southwest, Northwest and at large Eastern centers, sentiment as to fall trade has been helped by these de- velopments. and fall buying Is becom- ing more noticeable. In some of the large industries, however. trade Is quieter in some branches with prices easing.
 Pig iron and some finished lines are reported lower on the week. There is less activity in building.
 Demand for shoes, leather and lum- Der Is of midsummer character and Bradstreet's price index number shows a drop of 1 per cent for July.
 In textile trades the feature Is the marked activity at strengthening prices for cotton goods.
 Copper, tin and spelter are lower. All though copper has finally worked be- low 20 cents. many look for still lower prices Wool Is strong in price and active in demand. Fine clothing and worsted wools are especially called for. The clip at the West is reported well cleaned up. The clip Is estimated to be 10 per cent short of that of 1905.
 Business failures for the week in the United States number 157, against 142 last week, and 137 in the like week of QO6