The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-03-23
.gRADSTREET AND Dun
REPORT ON BUSINESS
Djstributive Trade Said to Be
Quieter Than for Several
Weeks Past.

New York, March 20.--Bradstreet's
Saturday says.
Distributive trade is still quiet. more
SO perhaps than in recent weeks, be-
cause visiting buyers have returned
home to await indications of the trend
of spring retail distributions Tile lat
ter branch of trade has been in turn
checked by cool snap which over
spread a large area of the west and
north. and which, while not sufficient
to stimulate demand for left lover win
ter goods, has operated to retard those
| for spring wear.
| or the leading lines or wearing ap-
parel, perhaps most activity, largely at
wholesale, has been in millinery, in
which the tone Is really optimistic.
Staple dry goods have sold well and
the tariff uncertainties are a check to
| free buying. There is feeling in the
Wholesale cotton goods trade, however,
that the line OF resistance to lower
prices has now been reached, and this
is fortified by the closing down or cur
| tailment, of operations by many mills
south and north. Collections are ir-
regular, ranging from fair to slow.
In the industries the features are a
rather less eager movement to buy iron
and steel, but against this is a larger
capacity employed in furnace and mills
than for many. months. Buying con-
purchasing in cautious way, and the
higher prices demanded for pig iron
have apparently superinduced some
thing of lull in that market.
Ut the same time export trade in
steel products promises to continue Of
goodly proportions. Building trade
preparations are not uniform at all
eenters. and decreases about Offset in
creases. as compared with a year ago,
lMith marked dullness noted at the me-
tropolis. Building materials still lag
at markets wherein the past activities
has been noted at this season.
Business failures in the United States
2bl, against 230 last week, 208 in the
like week of 1910, 224 In 1909. 30S in
1908, and 157 in 1907.
Business failures in Canada for the
week number q, which compares with
| 40 last week and % In the like week Of
1910.
Dun's review today said
Recent Improvement in trade Is very
slow, irregular and conservative and
chiefly is in evidence il iron and steel.
in which there is a larger demand for
structural materials more cheerful
sentiment regarding pig iron and better
mill conditions in finished materials.
The volume Of transactions is some
what under that of last year, but is
generally larger than in tho preceding
quarter while business sentiment Is
| helped by the hopeful outlook for
crops.
| Encouraging reports predominant in
iron and steel, Notwithstanding that
buying Of finished materials is on a
slightly reduced scale. The new book
ings are scarcely up to the mark
established in February, but the mills
are more actively engaged, and 1t is
| evident that business this month will
| make a satisfactory showing.
From present indications IL seems
that some good sized rail contracts VIII
| be received from Canadian railroads
| owing to the sold up condition of the
mills in that country, inquiries for U.s.
| 600 tons from one system alone being
noted In domestic markets.