Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-04-20
BUSINESS WORLD
 SHOWS BIG GAIN
Deicded improvement Noted m A" Lines in the South.

The Tradesman's review Of trade cond tion in the Sou5! this week: says:
 The demand for hardwood lumber is active, but not regular nor weil dfstributed. It is, notable that the de- mand is mainly in the upper grades Prices are also relatively much stronger i'll the upper grades and low grade lumber is very weak. Some firms in the Southern territory report a good business and others making poor beadway. There is much cor respondence over prices and 1t Is sug- gested tnat some firms doing a big business may be doing SO at a great sacrifice. It is probable that if. there is really price cutting to this extent it applies only on the lower grades. The oak market continues to be the most conspiciously good. This is true of both plain and quartered oak. The demand for poplar is satisfactory. The trade in ash and cypress is not large. The box business is rather slow now, after brisk run on fruit and vege- table box contracts. The cooperage market has been fair on bourbon cooperase but -!ery poor on oils. Real estate values are again picking up in the larger centers and house material supply firms report fine improve ment with April
 Textiles.
 Although cotton warns are moving or so ago, prices are still very sat isfactory. Knitters and weavers are endeavoring to place orders for future delivery at current prices, but mill- men are being advised not to sell at prices which show nothing but loss. Knitters are asking for deliveries rum ming as far ahead as next year, but are willing to offer no more than market quotation prices. Other buy CTS are asking for deliveries extend ing from May on through August and September. One thing which male spinners more reluctant than ever 10 sell at current prices is the recent advance in raw cotton. Although for some time past spinners admit there is no profit in present prices, some h,, ;- for f,, ture delivery by some spinners. Deal CTS are still willing to accept low prices to remove stock and some bus mess is being done on this basis. On the whole prices continue very ire gular, and rest largely with the anx- iety of dealers to dispose of holdings. In the cloth business the situation is not SO bad, and business is showing some signs of improvement.
 Considerable interest centered around the meeting last Saturday, at Greenville, $. C., of the newly organ ized Southern Textile association, composed of overseers, superintend- ents and master mechanics. The ob ject of this association is cooperation between employees and employer for the futherance of the interests of both and it is nonunion in nature.
 Iron and Coal.
 Southern Mg iron manufacturers are selling their product right along and the prospects are bright for the future again. Even if the selling is only little spurt it has had the ten dency of strengthening the quotations for the product and S11.50 is almost the minimum price. Almost all ci the companies in the Southern terri tory have felt the little impetus in the trade. and it is believed that f there is not another slip in the cog that considerable iron can be dispos- ed of
 Probably the best piece of news that was given out in the Southern territory as to iron and steel was the announcement that the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company United States Steel corporation) had practically consented to sell steel on Birmingham basis. to give Southern cor sumers a Birminham f. 0. D. price not connected with Pittsburg prices or with freight to Pittsburg added. Chicago. also, was named aa q basing point. There has been a clamor for many months for basing point in Birmingham, Knoxville, Tenn, Chat tanooga, Tenn. and other sections of the country participating therein. The Tradesman was a most ardent advocate of q charge in the plan bringing about 5asing point for