The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-05
TRADE CONDITIONS STILL IMPROVE Dun and Bradstreet Make
 Weekly Reports IRON OUTLOOK GOOD Promise of Increased Activity in the Fall-The Cotton Crop Re-
 Port Has Considera-
 ble Effect
IRON OUTLOOK GOOD

New York, August 4.-Bradstreets to- morrow will say:
 There is still considerable irregularity ill trade conditions due to cautiousness and fears of crop damage, but basis con- d.tions and the advance of the year tend to work for a little further improvement. While merchants continue to feel their way, sentiment as to fall trade is im- p1 owing slightly and at some of the lagger oenters jobbers and wholesale leaders have done a rather better business with outside merchants who are beginning to come to market. This refers, of course, to buying for future delivery, for as a matter of fact, current trade still reflects the influence of midsummer conditions. Southern and to a less extent southwes- tern merchants whose feelings are buoy ed by prospects of a record cotton crop are more disposed to place orders for future use, and as a result dry goods, clothing and shoes are in little bot ter demand. In sections where cereal crops are the mainstays, conservatism reigns, partly because of too much rain close to spring wheat harvest time poor oat crop prospects and impaired corn conditions.
 Even in the south, the Carolinas for instance, severe drought has caused a suspension of operations in textile mills and water has been carried from a dis tance to afford some relief. Retail trade In seasonable goods is quiet, though clearance sales are general. Under the circumstances there is little or no re-or- der business.
 In the iron and steel business, trade keeps up and the outlook seems to be improving, but price cutting Is still mo- tioeable on sheets, plates and bars Col lections rangs from slow to fair.
 Business failures in the United States for the weak ending August 3 were POS against 23S last week; 166 In the like week Of 1910, 1S4 in 1909; 205 in 1908 and 157 in 19O7
 Wheat including flour exports from the United States and Canada for the week ending August 3, aggregate 3,321, 1908 bush els against 2,514.204 last week and 1,275,- 73d this week last year. For the five weeks ending August exports are 10,- 660,S bushels against 6,323,743 in the cor responding period last year.
 Corn exports for the week are 322, 7S1 bushels against 35o09S last week and 415, ,154 in 1910. For the five weeks end- ing August 3 corn exports are S,0S 1908 bushels against 1,717,625 last year.
 Dun's Report
 New York, August AR. G. Dun 6 Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 Moderate betterment in trade condi- tfons appear this week. The extraordi- nary government cotton crop, showing with one exception the highest July condition estimate for 13 years, caused some selling among buyers of dry goods, although the tone in this line was trifle better, both wholesale and retail.
 Consumers of iron and steel con- stantly place mode era te orders for early delivery. Mill operations reflect fur ther expansion and there isspromse of il creased activity in the fall. The rail- roads show more disposition to pro- vide for needed equipment. Orders for rails have reached quite a satisfactory tonnage at the west and plate inter- ests have received a considerable vol ume of business from the transporting companies. In the latter division prices gre unsettled; lrregularity also appears i'll steel bars, wire products and gal vanized sheets. Current statistics in Gicate a further enlargement of pro- duction, the leading interest having about 76 per cent of it's ingot capacity active, while the rate at which speci- cations are being received suggests that few more blast furnaces will be put in operation. There is more anima ton in foundry iron.
 Moderate improvement appears VI dry goods both at wholesale and retail, although the government report on the cotton crop, showing further marked gain, created considerable hesitation with buyers who have limited their commitments until they are assured of the markets stability.
 Curtaiment by the mills becomes still more drastic with the approach ing end of the cotton year and decreas- ing supplies for immediate consump- tion. Exporters are withholding orders tut shipments to o-date are materially ahead of a year ago. Mems wear trade in woolens is somewhat backward, bat buyers concede that values are more attractive than a year ago, and it is roted that while purchases rule, small requests for prompt shipment are ire QLent
 New business in footwear continues conservative, changing style still be- ing paramount factor in restricting trade. Eastern manufacturers are re- ceiving some fair sized mail orders and some factories are fairly busy with tEe current demand. Leather trade is unsettled by the decline in hides and this has caused some buyers to with draw their bids.
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