Arizona republican., 1912-04-04
Especial CorcSpoHdcHccl

NEW YORK. March So. l9l2.- The stock market continues to reflect present and prospective improvement in business circles. This .S paru- cularly true in regard to general business. AdVices from the west are all of d more cheerful nature. Crop conditions are exceptionally promis- ing. although in some section spring is late Merchants in all parts of the west are stocking up more freely in anticipation of larger business. Consumption of staple commodities does rot appear to have curtailed by recent depression. partly owing to a
 severe winter. and distributors find themselves absolutely obliged to re- plenish empty shelves much more freely than expected.
 The iron trade is now showing a very encouraging degree of activity Some plants are running at 90 per cent of their capacity, and few are known to he running to the limit Prices. it is true. are often low. but this stimulates demand, keeps a large number of hands employed and re- suits in wider activity. Many orders are now being given out for steel required for structural purposes and the railroads are also entering the market more freely for rails. locomO- lives. cars bridge material, etc Rail orders since January are reported at over 960, 900 tons compared with 930,
 dGo tons during the first quarter of 1911 Fully 30,000 cars have been ordered during the first quarter of the current year compared with 24,
 GOO ordered at the same time last year. while 500 locomotives have been ordered compared with 7S6 year ago There are indications that the railroads will soon become even more liberal buyers. not only on account of necessity. but from the fact that conditions will he more favorable to the financing Of such operations. not to speak of the fact that the hard ening tendency in the steel trade will stimulate the early placing Of orders
 The activity in cotton goods also continues. mainly because of the eX- haustiOn of interior supplies, which is confirmed by the large purchases of jObbers Some mills are now sold out to the end of 1912 Prices are strong and the trend is still upwards The only serious draWb back in the cotton industry is the fresh outbreak of labor troubles. which may seriously embarrass manufacturers In other textiles the outlook is favorable say ing for the uncertainties of the labor situation. Now that winter is break ing mp construction work is being resumed in all parts of the country, and railroad traffic is showing ma terial improvement Some of the roads are already congested with freight released from winter block ades. As result current railroad earnings will show much better com parisons than the returns of Jan nary pr February, which were eX- tremely discouraging. The increases reported by AtchisOn, Erie, Southern Railway. Southern Pacific. Union Pa cific and others this week must be accepted as fair indication of turn for the better in railroads, a change much needed after the busi- , ness losses of the last few months. l
 The only clouds in the business hor- ! izon are the propects of coal strike ! and of difficulties with the engineers of eastern railroads As for the coal strike, there seems to be little reason