The Washington herald., 1907-03-23

New YORK. March -@.-Dun REVIEW VIII
say tomorrow:
Business has responded to the infu-
enee OF settled spring weather az most
points, and the proximity of Easter has
increased retail sales OF dry goods. mil
hnery, and footwear. Many dealers had
underestimated requirements. and urgent
demands are made upon jobbing houses.
Transportation Is more satisfactory,
but at many cities there are stll com-
plants that seasonable goods do not come
forward as specified. In addition TO cur
rent trade there is a volume Of prepara-
tion for later seasons that maintains ae-
tvity at manufacturing plants, the high
prices readily paid on most of this for
ward business tesufying 10 the fact that
confidence remains mistaken.
one OF the best features Of the pres
ent situation is the steady Improvement
in mercantile payments. despite the un-
settled condition OF the money market.
Open weather has brought out much new
structural work and the movement Of
building materials is heavy. while at many
cities real estate is stiu advancing.
Congestion in the iron and steel in
duStTy. ana tardiness Of deliveries were
acecntuated by the food, which stopped
production at many plants in the Pitts
burg district for three days or more
Some mills were damaged TO an extent
that was not readily remedied, and the
record-breaking rate of pig iron output
was reduced 50 that March viii not at
tain the new monthly high-water mark
that seemed probable.
Cotton MiIIs Had Hands Full.
a lun in the volume Of new business
is welcomed by the cotton mills, as pres
sure for delivery had advanced prices TO
the limit OF safety Ia the opinion of many
manufacturers Large contracts were
placed at most profitable prices during
the period Of activity. and the approach
of Easter has checked the efforts OF job
bers to accumulate stocks, because the
rush of store trade viii be over by the
end of this month.
Footwear factories in New England
receive supplementary orders for season !
able goods, chiefly from Eastern whole
salers, for shipment in May and June.
but this class OF business comes forward
somewhat slowly. Jobbers operate con-
servatively because of high prices for
shoes, the recent reaction In raw ma
terials encouraging the hope of more at /
tractive offers.
Wheat ruled fairly steady, no definite !
information regarding damage by insects /
being available, and increased marketing /
at the interior being offset by estimates /
of larger foreign needs
Commercial failures this week in the /
United States, as reported by r. g. Dun !
< Co., are lS5, against us last week, 2l3 /
the preceding week and 2l3 the cor
responding week last year Failures in
canada number -, against 50 last week,
Il the preceding week. and 81 last year"
BrRdstreet's Review.
New York March 22-Bradstreets. +
March 3, viii say:
Spring trade is at its height, and the
turnover bios fair TO exceed even last
years, stimulus being furnished by more
favorable weather, the approach of 4
Easter, and the visits of country mer-
chants TO the larger centers. Improve
ment is reflected an around, even in the
Northwest which now appears TO be get
ting back 10 normal conditions. although
collections are still backward in North
Dakota.
In fact, doubt as 20 the future is no
where IA evidence ia the great producing
sections OF the country. Al some points
IN the West sales of dry goods on spring
account are fully 10 per cent above those
OF last year, while fail business thus far
placed is also In excess of that booked az
this time in 1896.
Retail business has opened up we'll
and stocks in general are not burdensome.
collections, while not good tend to inn /
prove IN parts Of the country. the South
west being conspicuous In this respect |
owing TO the fact that country merchants
are discouuting bills. While the car situ-
alton in the West has Improved. condi-
llons ~ the East are worse, but neverthe-
less a greater movement of cereals to !
market may now be expected
Bank clearings show marked expan-
sion, heavy gains over last week and last
year being scored, due chiefly to more &C
tive stock market operations Pig iron /
shows little more life. and the undertone
OF the market continued strong DESPITE
the wishes of consumers. Contracting
however for certain firms for distant de-
livery is not marked. Manufacturing in
general is active, and some lines refuse 10
poSS any more orders for spring shipment
Gain in Cotton Exports.
Somewhat more activity is displayed in
foundry pig iron for future delivery. and
now and then demand for spot supplies
become urgent, when premiums are OBJ
tanned. In the South where the bulk of
the business has been placed. prices have
While the floods in the Pitts
burg district caused only a temporary
stoppage OF work In the steel and iron in
dustry, the effects thereof were sufficient
To retard production. II
''The features in foreign trade are the
gains shown in exports of cotton, which
is at present the sheet anchor of foreign
trade, and in exports of manufactures.
and provision exports show
decreases Imports are gaining in greater
degree than are exports, though the ex-
cess in favor of the latter Is still heavy. I
Wool is quiet and less tendency to con
tract for new clips is shown by dealers.
The strength of foreign markets is the
sustaining feature at Boston.
AT the East coal stocks, which had !
been accumulated TO provide against pos /
sible labor troubles and consequent diff
guilty Of getting supplies, are becoming
exhausted.
The shoe and leather trades report fair
activity"