The Washington herald., 1908-02-15
TRADE MORE ACTIVE
Buyers of Spring Goods in
Evidence in All Cities.
STEEL PLANTS STARTING UP
Wage Reductions Are Reported and
Many Cars Are Idle, but business
Is Gradually ImprOving-A Few
Cities Report Better business Than
a Year AgO-MiIIs Are Resuming.


New York, Feb. H.-BradstTeets review
of the state of trade tomorrow will say:
Buyers Of spring goods are more in
pevidence this week at all markets, re-
spending 10 the advance of the season,
and jobbing trade evinces more vim than
at any time since last autumn. On the
other hand. conservatism and caution
dominate buying is small and frequent
rather than of large volume, and conces-
sions. indicating instability of prices.
while attractive to some buyers, have the
effect of holding back others from pur-
chasing largely.
Uncertainties as to the outlook for
| future business are also bar TO the
placing Of large orders at one time. Re
! ports point 20 bad roads in many parts
Of the country. and merchants in those
sections are buying conservatively for
spring. with staple lines of dry goods
evincing most activity and confidence on
the part of customers. In no case. how
ever, is the buying reported as equal to
year ago, and in some cases the de
! creases are very heavy.
! Reports as 20 the various industries
are conflicting, more being reported doing
/ in some industries, with numerous re-
sumptions Of full time noted. Some fin
ished iron and steel mills are resuming,
/ but others are reported slowing down, ana
/ the improvement as q whole, is slight.
/ Despite the stand of union labor. wage
| reductions are being reported. while the
number of unemployed is probably the
largest of the winter Railway earnings
are decreasing, and leading railway sys-
TENS report one-third Of their cars idle
| this involving the tying up of a large
quantity of capital. Collections are still
/ backward, being especially slow at the
South, where much cotton is being held
/ Business and collections are. however. re-
ported better IN the Pacific Northwest "
Dun's Report.
r G. Dun & Co.'s review will say:
Industrial plants steadily decrease the
percentage of idle machinery, especially
in the steel business, which increases the
size of pay rolls. and by reducing the pur-
chasing power Of the wage Garner im-
proves retail trade. Thus far progress is
slow in wholesale and jobbing depart
ments, but as retail stocks are depleted
there is more disposition 10 place orders
for spring goods.
Reports are still irregular, some sec
tions of the country recovering much
more rapidly than others, and few in
terror cities record business even better
than at this time last year. This state
ment is supported by several compari-
sons showing scarcely any alteration In
bank exchanges. while In d few eX-
II ceptionaI cases there are gains in clear
ings Mercantile collections are also
more uniformly favorable. Complaints OF
slow payments being less frequent.
Prices OF commodities are lower, espe-
/ cially at the exchanges dealing in farm
| staples Wheat fell 10 the lowest price of
the season on smaller export inquiries and
/ statements of large shipments from
Argentina.
More Contracts Placed.
Each week more contracts are placed
for steel than in the week preceding,
and conservative buying Of the last few
months has made the statistical position
strong. Mills constantly augment active
forces. and one large plant that has been
closed since the holidays will resume
next week, having accumulated sufficient
business to warrant opening again
Activity is greatest in the wire trade
closely followed by the tin plate depart
ment, while structural shapes for railway
bridges supply a liberal tonnage Of new
business
Textile lrics are not materially
changed, either IN point OF demand OF
rate Of production. Many retailers ap-
peaTed in the jobbing departments and
J placed moderate orders. but Western job
bers are not receiving a normal housy
business for the season. No improve
ment is recorded in the primary market
for cotton goods, although cancellations
are fewer. Prices are practically un.
changed, some producers claiming tha
quotations are now down TO the cost Oi
production, while others hold that con
cessions will not stimulate trade in th'
present attitude of buyers.
! Commercial failures this week in th'
. United States are 1885, against S56 las
week, AIS the previous week, and 229 tn,
corresponding week last year. Failure!
in Canada number 3S against 48 last week
IS the preceding week, and . last year
OF failures this week in the United States
rs were in the East, 103 South, 73 West
and 81 in the Pacific States, and 1856 re
port liabilities of 5000 or more, agains
: 124 last week. Liabilities of Commercial
failures thus far reported for Februar!
are S662S, ,7S2 against S9.264.649 for tn
same period the previous year"