The Washington herald., 1907-10-05
TRADE OUTLOOK GOOD
Dun's Review Sees Nothing
to Be Desired.
BRADsTREET'S NOT OPTIMISTIC
Trade Reports Disagree to Some Ex-
tent as TO Markets COnditfOn-GOod
Increase in Railway EarniHgs-Un-
seasOnabie Weather "A Drawback.
Money Rates Are Higher.


weekly review Of trade tomorrow VIII
say.
Interest centers in fall retail trade,
and results are all that could be desired.
There IS no sectional difference on this
point, all leading cities reporting a liberal
distribution Of seasouable wearing ap-
pareL Supplementary orders are coming
70 wholesale and jobbing houses, and sat-
isfactOry results with autumn goods en-
courage manufacturers 10 extend prepara-
tions for the next season.
Mercantile collections have also i'm
proved. October payments being fairly
well met thus far. although rates for
commercial paper are abnormaliy high.
Among the manufacturers the most nOt2-
bic increase in orders is reported by New
England shoe shops, while there is 10
idleness at cotton mills. and the reduc-
ton Of steel output is not significant.
In some lines there is a sentiment of
conservatism that eliminates much Of the
customary speculative business. and this
is regarded with satisfaction by those
who appreciate the Importance Of mOder-
alton until the financial pressure is re-
duced.
Crop news Of the week was encourag-
ing. all the great staples, except corn and
cotton. being beyond danger from frost
Another week viii secure the former crop,
with It's farm value Of E,2500J0. while
there is little fear Of killing frost in the
cotton States this month.
Railway Earnings Grow.
Railway earnings thus far reported for
September exceeded similar figures Tor
1876 by rs per cent. and foreign commerce
al this port for the latest week showed q
gain Of 81. As. .353 IN exports, and a loss q
81 ,S3I, ,l55 in imports. Failures for nine
months were fewer than in nine OF the
twelve preceding years, but liabilities were
unusually heavy because of a few very
large suspensions, due 10 monetary str-n-
gcuCy.
Bank exchanges at New York for the
week were % per cent less than last
year, but at other leading cities there
was a gain OF : per cent.
big Rise in BessemeF.
mo change has occurred in the cons
dition Of the iron and steel industry
Few sales Of pig are recorded. and some
sections Of the market are slightly
weaker, but as a rule steadiness pre-
walls. and Bessemer is $3.50 per ton
higher than a year ago. Expert trads
has broadened in several sections Of the
market. q large tonnage OF wire going
70 Canada, cast-ir0n pipe being sought
by Cuba, and rails are wanted in Man
churia.
Pronounced Improvement is noted n
/ the footwear industry. New England
I manufacturers receiving many supple
mentary orders for staple goods at fuu
/ prices.
Commercial failures this week IN the
United states are -. against ls4 last
week, I95 IN the preceding week, and
/ IS2 the corresponding week last year.
Trade Conditions Irregular.
/ Bradstreets review tomorrow viii sayi
Trade reports are irregular, some
lines noting a relatively larger volume ot
! business than at this tine last year.
while others indicate an opposite ten
/ dency. The disposition in many lines,
particularly industrial. is % get back
/ to an average good condition. allowing
/ for the growth Of the country and with
/ out marked unsettlema1t. At the mo-
ment however. business is on a flling-in-
order character although some sections
report an enlarged heavy trade owing 70
/ fan carnivals
Retail trade. on the whole. has been
I hampered by unreasonable weather, tenn
/ peratures being too high for the freest
movement Of staples The country mer-
/ chant appears to be having a sood sea-
! son. high prices for all kinds Of farm
products being the apparent stimuli IT.
| deed, one OF the noteworthy features OF
the general situation is the firm DISPOSE
/ ton OF the farmer 10 sell only when
prices meet hts views.
/ Collections. while still dragging. in
| Iconsonaace with the tghJuess in money.
appear 20 have improved AT q number
Of centers. Some orders for early spring
are being placed. but the volume OF bus.-
ness done as yet is rather light.
Industrial Situation Poor.
Many industrial lines axe less active
on new business. and working forces in
such lines as iron, steel car mauufac-
turing. electrical goods, shoe manufac-
turing, and copper mining, are being re
duced
Lumber Is less active and new build
ing IS lighter, due, in part, to the ap-
proach of the closed season, nut more
particularly 10 the stringeucy IN money
The edge is of the demand for some
lines of cotton goods, and concessions
can be obtained, but printed and woven
dress goods are still very strong. Wool
IS active as never before this year, and
coal is in demand. with a scarcity of cars
in the West and of boats in the East,
affecting shipment and mine outputs
Strikes Of shoe hands, silk operatives, and
furrieTS affect output at some Centers-
Rates for money are higher. and cur
rency shipments TO agricultural sections