The San Francisco call., 1909-04-10
WeckIy Tradc ReYiew

NEW YORK. April o.-Bradstreets tomorrow
will say; Trade, crop and Industrial reports are
still very irregular, but the underlying tone of
business generally is slightly more optimistic: All
present future favorable occurrences, how
ever, can not disguise the fact that some lines
Of industry arc still very much depressed; that
the first crop report of the year-that made by
the government of winter wheat-is poor
one; Indicating short crop; that buying Is
still hampered in some sections by unfsvorable
weather or by the reduced purchasing power Of
the public and that caution and conservatism
still govern commercial operations to large
degree.
Easter trade at retail is classed as fair to
good in most parts of the west. fair at the east,
but below expectations at the souts. and rather
poor in Texas. where drought conditions hold
back buying demand. Some slight expansion is
noted in filing in orders by jobbers, but trade in
this line is dstinctiyely of between seasons
character. In wholesale lines there are indicar
tions Of more confidence in buying for fall. The
cotton yarn markets seem to show signs or 1u
provement and export trade in cottons Is slightly
better By classes Of products womens wear
goods seems active. but the automoDlie trade
paradoxical1y enough returns one OF the best
reports OF any single industry. In purely in
dustrial lines the building trades return very
good reports and an enormous volume OF work
is planned for the coming spring and summer.
Business failures In the United states for he
week; 254 in the like week of 1905, 1874 In 1907,
l61 in 1906 and 196 in 1906.
Canadian failures number IS, against 2S last
week and % year ago.
Wheat, including -four, exports from the
United States and Canada for the week ending
April S aggregate / o62 pa bushels. against
l,41s5s5 last week and 2,451,o9s this week
last year.
..Tor the Al weeks ending April s this year
the exports are las. .5S5 064 bushels, against
Ill 900 SIS in the corresponding period last year.
Corn exports for the week are e26, sos, bushels
against / 102 pa last week and 54p,Il4 year
ago.
For the Al weeks ending April corn exports
are %, 769,5oS bushels, against 42,9ol,llS last
year.
r. G. Dun & Co.'s Weekly Review of Trade
tomorrow will say: Although confidence in the
future is more noticeable than satisfaction With
present conditions, yet one By one disturbing
elements are gradually disappearing While the
tariff is still under discussion and is checking
full activity in industries most concerned, yet
the reports from most OF the cities show their
trade TO be in a fairly satisfactory state, the
centers fartbest removed from the industrial
activity are naturally making the best exhibits
While the iron and steel trade IS still In the
unsettled process OF rcadjustment. yet 1t makes
the best showing in exactly that lne--the struc
tural--which is sign OF building activity. In
the primary cotton goods market the most inter
esting feature OF the week has been the activity
IN wide conyertibles Of print cloth, yarn, con-
verters and cutters now showing for the first
time disposition to operate freely. while manu-
facturers as a rule reluctant to make con-
tracts except at a material advance. Buyers of
mems wear wooleD fabrics now going on the
road and fewer cancellations than usual as a re-
are reported There appears to be decided
shortage OF spring goods, stock hand having
been sold at full prices aud in some instances
commanding premiums. The dress goods division
in yarn, but prices remain unsatisfactory.
The noteworthy feature in footwear Is the
buying Of sole leather By several large manu-
facturers. indicating that some contracts are be-
Ing placed. New England salesmen on the road
report an improvement in fail orders. and as both
retail and wholesale stocks are much below nor