The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-26
THE FALL RETAIL
TRADE INCREASES
Temperature Too High for the
Best Results
IMPORTANT STEEL ORDERS
Finished Product Is In Greatest De-
mand-Rairoads, However, Are
Still Waiting for Developments
Before Placing Large Orders.
IMPORTANT STEEL ORDERS

New York. September Pr. G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade tomor-
row will say:
While the temperature has been too
high for best results in fall retail trade,
the volume is steadily increasing and
manufacturing plants have extended op-
erations still further. There remains the
drawback of low water that retards
some mill work and river transporta-
ton while valuable timber has been de-
stroyed by forest fires.
Most jobbing houses report a tendency
to prepare for the future on a large scale
and wooden mills have less idle ma
chinery, but shoe shops find difficulty in
securing the higher prices made neces-
sary by the firm leather. market.
Several orders of Importance have been
placed this week for finished steel and
the usual supply of small contracts APP
peared, but the waiting attitude is still
conspicuous among the large buyers, es-
pecially the railways. Foreign business
is now nearly normal and much more
steel is under consideration for export,
including rails for Canada. AS a rule
however, the railways are not buying be-
You'd absolute necessities.
Some improvement has occurred in the
primary market for dry goods, although
the situation is not radically changed. A
few lines of cottons are being taken more
freely, buyers showing readiness to
operate for current needs and the Stats
teal position is strengthened by the
curtailment of production. Mills are be-
ginning to resume more generally in this
country, and prices are held somewhat
higher than a few weeks ago on many
descriptions. Only small export orders
are reported, but this business will i'm
prove if Lancashire mills continue idle.
As to woolens, vigorous demand for
heavy weights has arisen. These are also
some duplicate orders for light weight
worsteds and the general disposition of
clothiers is to buy more literally.
Footwear manufacturers in New Eng
land report that supplementary contracts
for seasonable lines come in slowly and
the disposition of interior buyers is to de-
fer operations a few weeks longer. While
some makers of low and medium grades
are able to operate factories full time,
to maintain all machinery. Tanners main
tain prices with heavy sole leather the
only active feature.
New York, September 25.-Bradstreet's
tomorrow will say:
While events generally tend toward
steady, If slow, Improvement. conservatism
still rules purchasing in wholesale and job
bling lines, and at several large centers
toh In Try
reached and passed its maximum. Taken
as a whole trade. though in few In
stances equal to a year ago at this date,
is still generally below the normal, and
the approach of the election has ten
dency to discourage all but absolutely
necessary purchases.
Western trade advices are good as
whole though house trade Is on the wane
and travelling statesmen are relied upon to
take care of recorder business. There Is
very general agreement that stocks are
small in retailers hands and color to this
is given by the many orders given for
immediate shipment, which throws UNI
usual burdens in turn upon jobbers,
wholesalers and manufacturers. PACING
coast trade reports and those received
from the spring wheat northwest are gen.
orally encouraging. Southern reports are
rather more irregular. but the rapid move
southern trade and collections to some ex-
tent, though the contrast in the price of
cotton, which is now 31a cents lower an
compared with year ago, is draw
back to trade. There Is rather more doing
at the larger eastern markets in some
kind of mems wear fabrics and foreign
dress fabrics. Food products, such as
groceries and meats, are also relatively
more active.
The leather trades are quiet, hides are
dull but firm, while shoe orders are not
equal to expectations.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ending September "a number
267, against 266 last week, and 166 in the
for the week number 30, against rs last
week and SO in the like week Of 1907
Wheat, 4ncluding flour, exports from
the United States and Canada for the
week ending September "a aggregate g.
439 526 bushels. against 3,491,911 bushels
last week and 5.272,7 1877 bushels this week
last year. For the 10 weeks ending Sep
TENDER "a this year, the exports are 49,
$685. 312 bushels, against A, 144,573 bushels In
the corresponding period last year.
Corn exports for the week are 69.69S
bushels, against 12.443 bushels last week
and 1,1931SO bushels in 1907. For the 10
weeks ending September "a the corn ex-
ports are 626, 4S1 bushels, against 15,306,9l6
Editor Clear of Charge.
Seoul, Korea, September 25-Yang XII