New-York tribune., 1910-01-08
CONDITION OF TRADE.
Bradstreet's says:

The year opens with a perceptible lull In
trade, though with optimism the under
Iylng element in all lines. Severe cold
storms have checked transportation and
retarded country trade, though more or
less immediate benefit TO retail trade in
cities has accrued from the stimulus given
TO demand for seasonable goods by weather
conditions and the beginning of clearance
have been generally quiet. owing to the
TACT that statesmen yet are not fully
in their fields Of activity. Jobbing recorders
are checked for the same TeaSons. Col
lections are ra her slower and classed gem
orally as only fair, due. doubt, to inter
ruptons as TO the movements of mails and
or farm products to market. While sea
sonable quiet Is noted in so many lines of
trade and outdoor operations, such as
rupted. most lines of trade return highly
encouraging reports as 10 the outlook Sea-
sonable weather promises 10 afford full
outlet for winter wearing apparel In final
distributors hands. and adyices as to
spring orders booked and now beginning
10 be filled by shipment are very good
II is true that thu continuous advances In
prices of cotton goods necessitated by the
higher price Of the material are not
being accepted in all lines. and somewhat
similar reports come from various lines OF
dress goods dealers. while general trade
conference on shoe prices is set down for
next week al Boston.
Dun's Review says:
Not i'm q half decade has a year opened
with the business outlook so generally au-
spcious as the year 1910 In January, 1907,
there was a tremendous volume of trans
actions, but already the clouds of impend-
ing disaster could be seen on the horizon 4;
in January, 1908, the crash had arrived
and the business world was counting the
heavy losses: in January, 1909, confidence
had been in part repaired. but the progress
toward recovery was very slow, but in
January, 1910 the volume of transactions
IS as large as in 1907. with confidence SUI
preme, and no impending disasters casting
their shadows before. Some of the perpieX-
ing issues which contributed to the crisis
Of 1901 still remain unsolved, While the
question Of high prices has become more
acute; but II would seem as If business
confidence we're not going 10 permit these
things 10 interfere with the further prog
resS Of industry and commerce. The opti-
IS this time apparently well supported by
the facts Of the economic situation. In the
great iron ID steel trade, which is so
basic. this spirit of optimism Is particular
.ly conspicuous. Conditions are not so pro-
nouncedIy strong in some other depart
ments. but with favorable agricultural con
ditions and with no event, political or
otherwise. 10 impair the confidence Of busi-
seems 10 be no reason 10 doubt n good
year. II is d favorable omen that the first
week witnesses a decline in the Bank of
England rate of discount to 4 per cent,
which is a sign of more stable conditions
abroad, and that the volume of bank ex-
changes in the United States shows heavy
increases, l2.s per cent over 1903 and s.s
per cent over 1906 outside of New York
and 27.2 per cent over 1909 and per cent
over 1906 in New York There Is a slight
falling off in railroad earnings, but this is
due 10 weather conditions and the North
western railroad strike Foreign commerce
reports show the same heavy import move
ment which has existed so long, the inn
ports "a New York during the latest week
Of exports ana s5.4s2. 1896 greater than the
imports 81 1860,