The Washington herald., 1907-01-19
PUT CHECK ON TRADE
Weather Conditions Affect
All Lines of Business.
ORDERS PLACED FAR AHEAD
Dun's and Bradstreets show Prom
isIng Conditions for the Year-The
Railroad Earnings for January
Thus Far Reported show Great In
crease-Wheat Crop Condition.

New York, Jan 1S.-Dun's review will
say tomorrow:
Trades in fabrics improved as the
weather became more seasonable. but re-
ports for the week are most Irregular on
account of the unusual temperature.
Improvement in the traffic situation
MS checked by snow blockade, and the
best railway authorities state that ex-
panding needs Of the nation can only be
met by a much greater expenditure for
new tracks and rolling stock than has yet
been contemplated. Clearance sales have
made good progress. and new business
FOR spring delivery IS coming TO iobbers
and wholesale houses in large volume.
while collections show some Improvement.
although still slow in many lines
Manufacturing returns could not well
be more favorable, contracts in many
cases covering delivery into 1905. while at
some steel and cotton mills orders are not
accepted for shipment during the first
half Of 1907. A few labor disputes are in
progress, and several advances in pay
were announced during the week
Railroad Earnings Larger.
January were 15.6 per cent larger than
last year, which exceeded the figures Of
1875 by ~ per cent. Foreign commerce
for the past week al this port showed
gain of SS5s.62O in imports. and q loss OF
81. 20l, $50 in exports Money became easier
on receipts from the interior. and a de-
cline in the official rate Of the Bank Of
England, while higher exchange revived
provisions OF gold exports Bank ex-
change at New York for the week were
rs per cent less than a year ago. on
account Of decreased speculative activity,
bot az other leading cities there was an
average gain Of 81 per cent Grain move
ments are small, but prices continue good.
Commercial failures this week in the
United States are 22 against 81 last
week, 256 the preceding week. and zS6 the
corresponding week last year
Bradstreet's Review of the Week.
Bradstrcet's tomorrow will say:
Retail and wholesale trade. industry
and transportation alike. feel the effect OF
varying adverse weather conditions which
retard or check activity and make the
congestion. visible some time ago in rail-
road matters. ever more Icute. These
conditions are not. Of course, unusual st
this season Of the year. but are produ,-
tive of especial comment because Of lie
comparisons made with the wonderfully
open season Of January. 1896.
THE entire Northwest has struggled
with "a series OF snowstorms. followed BY
intensely cold weather. The Central West
and Southwest have had weeks Of heavy
rains. while in the South the complaint
has been that the weather has been un-
seasonably warm. In the Northwest coal
trains have had the right Of way. and
the grain movement has been light. one
result being frmer prices for wheat. while
bad weather. damaging 10 corn and cats.
has been "a stimulus 20 prices Of coarse
gain.
Conditions Affect Wheat CrOD.
The reports from the winter wheat crop
are not conclusive Very heavy rains
followed by sleet and ice. are reported in
parts Of the winter wheat belt In Texas
too much moisture has caused rank
growth and complaints Of bug damage.
The comparative quiet now witnessed in
many lines is not unwelcome 10 many.
who have been kept pushed steadily 10
NIL orders Building Is quiet, when coul-
pared with the activity OF a year ago at
this time. and hardware and lumber
dealers have hopes Of catching UP with
their orders
Relatively. the most active line AT pres
ent is that of dry goods. particularly Get
tons. which are strong and tending up
ward. while the shoe trade is rather back
ward. though weather conditions of the
past month should in the end be beneficial
20 this line. \ new buying movement is
apparently under way in pig iron. and
structural material has also improved In
the main all other lines are in fairly good.
condition %