Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-07
WEEKS TRADE REVIEW
FAVORABLE SYMPTOMS RE-
PORTED IN OUTLOOK.

NEW YORK. March 7-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade" says:
Favorable symptoms are more numer-
Gus In the commercial outlook, especial
ly in respect to the growth Of confidence
Jobbers note more pressure to replenisn
depleted stocks of staple merchandise,
orders in many cases being for delivery
next fall. The advancing season has
also contributed to the better feeling oy
accelerating the distribution of spring
goods and stimulating interest in build
ing operations. Industrial plans are
more active, pig iron production rising
to the best weekly average In three
months. Credits are still closely scanned,
and mercantile collections are by no
means satisfactory, yet payments are
more prompt and the volume of business
is distinctly heavier.
There is suggestion of permanence In
the steady improvement in the iron and
steel industry that would be lacking with
recovery more sensational. Each week
brings a few more mills and furnaces
into the active list, while specifications on
old contracts constantly call for larger
tonnage. New business appears In many
departments, warmer weather oelng es.
peciaHy helpful in restoring postponed
building operations that will call for
much structural steel.
Jobbers Exceed Expectations.
Dry goods jobbers have done more
business than expected. but thus far
there is little improvement in the pri-
mary market, and few mills have extend
ed activity. Jobbers will not begin road
operations as early as usual. so that
sales will be closer to actual retail dis
tributions and the seasons aggregate
business will be much less speculative
than In any recent year. Contracts ex-
tending well into the summer have been
placed for sheetings, and inquiries from
1.-the bag trade promise good movement
OF odd constructions.
Many buyers have left the wooden mar
ket after placing moderate orders. and
liberal supplementary contracts will be
needed to make up a normal aggregate.
Fancy worsteds have moved fairly well,
but no department is we'll sold. few
standard woolens have sold sufficiently to
insure the running of the mills through
the entire season. but 1t is estimated that
90 per. cent of the eastern wooden ma
chinery is still idle.
Production of footwear at New England
factories is still much curtailed, idle
plants not yet having received sufficient
fall business to warrant the starting of
machinery. Quotations are nominally
unchanged. A few varieties Of leather
are fairly active. Upper stock Of the
better grades still receives most atten-
ton, although there are indications Of a
tendency to transfer interest to the
cheaper descriptions. Harness leather is
quiet. because many factories are we'll
stocked with finished goods. and the re-
cent activity in betting butts has SUBJ
sided.
What Bradstreet's Says.
Business failures for the week ending
March 5 number 2S7. against 254 last
week. 172 in the like week Of 1907, 1T in
1905. 100 in 1905 and 200 in 1904. Cana
dian failures for the week number 40,
against 30 last week and 81 in the like
week Of 1907
Wheat including flour. exports from
the United States and Canada for the
week ending March 5 aggregated 1883, 9O8
bushels. against 4 "a, S32 last week, 2o51,-
303 this week last year and 4,O95, 044 in
1902 For the thirty-six weeks Of the ifs
cal year the exports are $50 .O94. 166 BUSH
els. against 123. 924 965 in 1867 and 1884,
524. $50 in 1912. Corn exports for the
week are 1.4s1 .487 bushels, against 2,4s1.-
394 last week and 1851 $50 in 1907. For
the fiscal year to date the exports are
80, O94 ,3OS bushels, against 1876, 1873 in