The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-15
BETTER UNDERTONE
 IN GENERAL TRADE Irregularity is Still Noted In
 Some Sections BUSINESS IS LIMITED Conservatism is still Evident In Small and Frequent Buying Rather
 Than Large Orders in
 Nearly All Lines
BUSINESS IS LIMITED

New York, October 14-Bradstreet's to- morrow will say:
 Trade is irregular and still lacks snap but the better undertone noted last week has become more widely disseminated, this despite holidays. which have tended to limit the aggregate volume of busi- ness done. Causes for the falling off have been the official confirmation by the government crop reporting service of the trade estimates of bumper yields of corn and oats and larger than expected yields of wheat the liberal marketing of crops, more especially cereals, livestock and cotton, the advent of cooler, settled weather in some sections and the rather better tone of the securities market.
 Improvement as whole Is not marked and the conservatism earlier noted is still manifest in small and frequent rather than large buying. In some lines, as, for
 instance cotton goods, the proof that stocks of goods are relatively light has become more evident, and with higher prices for the raw material have come hardening quotations for the goods them selves. Wool is firmer than of late and there has been liberal buying at the interior by large manufacturers.
 The feature in the price situation this week is the sharp advance to the high est levels recorded at this date in many years of raw cotton, much of which Is said to be due to free buying by spinners of futures or actual cotton.
 Business failures in the United States for the week ending October 13 were 223, against 192 last week, 22O in the like week of 1909, PA in 1908, 194 in 1907 and TO in 1906.
 Business failures in Canada for the week number 34, which compares with 2S last week and g in the corresponding week of 1909.
 Wheat, including flour, exports from the United States and Canada for the week ending October 19, aggregate 3,1o2,S7s bushels, against 1892 $50 last week and A. 565S19 this week last year. For the 15 weeks ending october 13 exports are 25,- 156 5O2 bushels, gainst g ,421 ,264 in the cor responding period last year.
 Corn exports for the week are 642,262 bushels, against 1921 last week and 271, I'll, in 1909 For the 15 weeks ending Oc tober 13 corn exports are 4,733,7l6 bushels, against 1,7SS5s5 last year.
 Dun's Weekly Review
 New York. October 14.-R. c. Dun Co.'S weekly review will say tomorrow:
 The better feeling noted last week Is confirmed by this weeks reports, and important elections are impend- ing the railroad rate controversy Is still unsettled and the trade recession to point considerably below normal con tinues, yet there are signs of largely in- creased cheerfulness and some increased activity. This is disclosed much less In eta da fhap In dry goods, the former moving slowly with reduced production but in dry goods there is a perceptible expansion in demand in all branches which exercises healthy influence in both wholesale and retail trade, especially in districts nearest the crop producing states.
 In all branches of business demand Is still restricted mostly to immediate news, but stocks are low and the situation Is, therefore, a strong one in case business confidence continues to expand and the factors which operate to produce re- actions weaken. Irregular reports are still received from leading pig iron centers a fair tonnage of orders being placed in some districts, whereas dull ness is conspicuous in others and Bes- semer and basic iron are tending lower. That there Is general hesitation to con- tract for future requirements Is suggest ed by the usual statement or uhnfieu orders by the steel corporation which shows a reduction of 379,000 tons during September and the smallest monthly total with two exceptions on record. In fin- ished lines conditions are mixed and 1t is apparent some consumers anticipate further price concessions. The railroads are not covering distant needs freoy and there Is a lessenng of demand for struc- tural material for bridge building.
 Cotton goods in bleached. brown and colored have been advanced as a conse- quence of larger demand and greater cost due to the rise in cotton. Leading lines of mems wear are moderately ad- yanced. Yarns in more active inquiry. Jobbers are doing a fair trade and are re-ordering in the primary market for im- mediate and for spring delivery.
 Footwear conditions continue on the whole unsatisfactory. Trade Is fairly good in some kinds of leather, such as belt ing, harness and sole, but upper stock continues slow.