New-York tribune., 1909-04-03
CONDITION OF TRADE.
Duns Review says

Activity in new building operations IS one sign
Of business revival This gives rise to con
that relieves the depression otherwise prevailing
in the iron and steel trade That Ia spite OF IN
GIStrial uncertainty, people stll have the means
and the inclination to supply their wants fIt'lE
is evidenced by the heavy imports. which IN t9e
lsoo ana S5'i+9,' - more 'is' n , 80, tiSa
on about equality with last year and WIN
lso6 ana are much 4e&yleF @ man IN L'o r. 80 20
the total commerce or New loIh tohI,iIeN f,.
ably with the record Of the last three Years hui
question of prices and wages stiII undetermined
IN important basic trades. with the tarlH SUI
ffers IS TIaniv n.anifesr Hesitation about max
Ing commitments long in the future Neverthe-
less business confidence is on the rising tde. a
fact reflected in the strength Of the security
latiye Influences, is often "A good prophet The
duction Ia the Bank Of England rate Of discount
the period "f industrial CONFUSION ends ana ne
process of re-establlshinE confidence is completed
E+glioh>> % I''F . l' ,SIs is tr,,e ,ln-
33,I'aat I.rioes Taza been carried To- new high
levels The railroads continue to make an
celent showing. all things considered. and report
an increase Of per cent over 1905 for three
weeks Of March. percentage Of gain more than
of business failures for the hTSl three months "i
the year when critically examined reveal the in
frI ,roci< and Isasier The stimulating effect
Of fine spring weather is shown in the reports
the East. which arc under the influence of indus
trial conditions. sharing somewhat in this respect
with the agricultural centres of the West
Rradstreet's says
Trade and crop reports are irregular, and busi-
ness tie country over is stl quiet as Whole
There are however, evidences Of a growth In ppu-
ruStic feeling partly due doubt, to more spring
Ike weather conditions expansion IN retail trade
O. and the advance OF The Easter season.
the opening up of spring activities in outside in
dustres and "A higher level of stock and commodity
prices rejecting speculative dsc0untmE develop
Tnents looked for in the future Current demand
81 wholesale is Of hctween-seasous character and
iobbiug distribution confined largely 70 filing m
orders. but there is reported in several markets
disposition take hold more freely for next fali
Retail demand las expanded where weather has
permitted. and Easter trade far Is ClaSsed as
fair to good The crop situation stlll lacks form
with the winter wheat outlook rather spotted
There is talk Of winter killing in parts of the
wheat belt. and the absence of rain in Texas is
reported have had serious effects. In the mass
Of conflicting reports II IS only possible To nglre
out that winter wheat conditions are not much
different from what they In December, hut II
viii be recalled that the condition then was very
low and the planted reduced Farm and field
work the country is little sater than normal
It@ orts from leading industries are not materially
different from last week. Wage leduCtInnS are
more numerous. but strikes are not frequent IN
iron and steel there iS more business reported, but
evidently al the expense OF prices