The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-30
P|G IRON TENDS
 ID MOVE HIGHER Roads Release Orders for 100000 Tons of Rails
BUSINESS EXPANDING
More Speculative Buying of Dry Goods at Some Centers-Market for Iron Ore Open-Decrease
 Shown in Bessemer Grades

New York, March 29.-Bradstreets to- morrow will say:
 This weeks reports reflect two sets or conditions, the favorable side being com prehended in sustained wholesale traoe' further growth in optimism and grea'iy improved stock market, while the ad- verse features are indicated in a oecloao- ed labor situation, a backward piai'iis season and late Easter retail traoe. 1'o" ever, improvement heretofore hoteo III wholesale lines is being held, anVin some instances the volume of business has ex- banded.
 AS regards dry goods, there seems to be more speculative buying at some centers, which manifestation is probably due to the scarcity of stocks, the inability of mills to make ready deliveries and to the firmness of prices. Several makes or cot ton goods were again advanced this week. At the leading markets jobbing trade is receiving most attention, primary factors having become less active and more prone to concentrate on the matter of deliveries. With settled seasonable weather steady improvement seems likely.
 In the iron and steel lines the firmness of quotations causes increased specihca- tlons ~ aished goods and incidently the mills ipufrnsisting that contracts must be specified again in accordance with their terms as to dates of expiration or else be renewed on the basis of higher prices. Pig iron is firm and tends to move higher. Western roads have released orders for 1OO,OOO tons of steel rails. The market ,- mer grades are 75c a ton below last sea sons figures, while non -Bessemer is down 6oc.
 Collections are somewhat more prompt at certain places, but on the whole they are hardly better than fair.
 Business failures in the United States for the week ending March 2S were 2o3, against 252 last week. 26O in the like week of 1911, 232 in 1910, 2O4 in 1909 and 2il in 1908.
 Business failures in Canada for the week number 25, which compares with 37 last week and 26 in the like week of 1911.
 Wheat, including flour, exports from the United States and Canada for the week ending March 2S aggregate 2,495,597 bush- els, against 3,069,074 last week and 3,576,s ,sS4 this week last year. For the 39 weeks ending March 2S exports are 121, 279 bushels, against 92,547, 6S9 in the corre- spending period last year.
 Corn exports for the week are 573, ,460 bushels, against 309.764 last week and 1,- 725,2S6 in 1911. For the 39 weeks ending March 2S corn exports are S1,021, ,622 bush els, against S9,n7,9i6 last year.
 New York, March 29.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 ''The forward movement in business con tinues; reports from the west and south are particularly good. The advancing sea- son, favorable crop conditions, expanding confidence with maintained conservatism, low stocks of merchandise with a larger demand and a more optimistic outlook combine to make the situation in industry and trade the most satisfactory in many months. Mill operations in iron and steel are steadily expanding and the output of all products this month is expected to establish new high record.
 ''One of the subsidiaries of the leading interest is now working about 94 per cent of its blast furnace capacity while making steel at practically 100 per cent rate. High CT prices are slow in developing, but there is little talk of concessions. A better in- quiry Is noted for tinplate and there is considerably more activity in structural material and steel bars, while wire goods move more freely. Bessemer pig is quoted at s14. 25 and basic $13 valley, while open hearth and Bessemer billets are stronger at $20 PlttSDurB, With the leading pro- ducers practically out of the market. AL though conservatism is still prominent, the demand for merchandise in dry goods is broadening. Sales of print cloths for export have been the largest in the his- tory of the trade but the China markets are still quiet and India and the Read Sea have supplied their current wants. The miscellaneous export markets, however are still operating. Woolens and worsteds are in more active request, an especially good business being done in the latter. One leading factor advanced the price Of staple worsteds cents per yard. Business in light weight serges is very active and some substantial orders have been placed by clothing manufacturers at advances or cents per yard. Cotton and worsted what irregular. Trade in leather con- tinues to improve and the volume of safes this week has been larger than heretofore. Upper leather tanners have advanced their prices iac to 1c per foot and sole leather tanners have established the in- crease of 1c per pound made while ago. Further sales have been made at these advances and though dry hide hemloclx sole tanners are willing to sell stocks On hand at the former rates, they refuse to accept orders ahead under the new prices In the hide market Latin-American dry hides have again advanced Ac. Domestic packer hides are unchanged"
 
 THE PEOPLE ELECTED JUDGE FRANK CATALAN FOR A SHORT TERM. HE HAS MADE GOOD. AS