New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-27
GENERAL TRADE CONDITIONS
Reports of Commercial Agencies
Show Continued Improvement.

The gradual tone Of improvement winch
has been shown by Concensus or reports
from various points Of the United states
and Canada. continues to find confirmation
from, the findings of commercial agencies
which have regular systematic detalied
information sent to them from ther hu-
merous correspondents. The returns Tor tne
week ended May D are even more encour-
aging than in former weeks. and go TO
prove that there is a real recovery IN ousi'
ness now in course Of action.
r. G. Dun & 60. have the following TO
say about general trade conditions
THE volume of business continues to OK
pand, as Is evidenced by the statistics ol
bank clearings and railroad earnings. The
situation during the last week has been I'M
proved by the much better weather, which
has serxed 10 increase the retail and 10
some extent. tho wholesale distribution on
merchandise. Moreover. the crop outlook
is now more favorable. both for wheat and
cotton. while there is very notable prom
Use for fruit and hay. The better weather
serves also to make building operations
more active. The large volume OF business
in iron and steel is maintained and there
is much pressure on the part or consumers
for prompt deliveries. While in some
branches there Is a quieter movement, III
others there is a more urgent demand and
railroad orders for cars aud rails arc eSpe-
ciaIIy noticeable. Tho textile mills are
actively occupied and generally a confident
feeling prevails IN the drygoods trade, hoth
as regards the present and the future
Trade in footwear is rather quiet, on the
,,,,, nett at nm
her of points and leather continues very
firm Conditions i'm clothing. chemicals.
hardware and other large branches are de-
scribed as fairly satisfactory. although
there is not an even Development in all
lines and some sections appear 10 he more
active than others. The prominent fact re
mains. however that the trade movement.
as a whole. is considerably larger than last
year and business sentiment more hopeful
Bank Clearings this week outside OF New
York gained IA per cent over 1911 and lhh
Per cent over 1910, the gains In New YORK
being 81 ami $50 respectively. Railroad
gross earnings in tho FIRST two weeks Ut
May gained A. per cent. June disOurse-
ments Of interest and dividends are csti-
mated as being about the same as last
year Foreign commerce continues heavy,
amounting at New York in the last week
to &37.S75.27S. against S3oS4S,i52 in 1911, and
SCI .672. 80 in 1910 The exports we're Sl5.9l4,-
ass a small gain over the last two years
while the imports were 81, i6oSlo, a large
increase over 1911 and 1910.
There has been some lull IA new demands
for iron and steel. but considerable tom
mage is in prospect and price advances arc
made more easily. I'm many lines produc-
ton is now on heavier scale than last
month. the larger plants operating close 10
capacity and orders booked will Keep the
mills busy for several months tu come.
Specifications indicat" that the bulk Of ma
terial is going into consumption, and a
scarcity is developing In basic materials.
Buying on the part Of the railroads tends
TO make up for the reduced requirements In
other directions. car inquiries amounting TO
fully 10000 tons and additional contracts
for over 35G) tons Of rails being noted.
There is only fair activity I'm wire prod
ucts. and the quotation Of 81 ~ for wire
nails is shaded in some instances, but tin
plate for third-quartor delivery has ad-
vanced Two more furnaces In the Pitts
burgh district have been blown in. yet
stocks of pig iron are being reduced in
spite of the increased output. Bessem-r
iron Is firm at t1i ., Valley, and basic at
Sl3 %, Valley.
More favorable weather over a large sec
ton Of the country has increased the vol
ume OF retail sales aud has generally slim
ulated interest IN wash fabrics and sum
mer merchandise.
Liabilities Of commercial failures thus far
reported for MAY amount TO 2.09.G%n. Of
which S3s65,e6 were IN manufacturing.
81 76s. l35 I'm trading and &s7 so In other
commercial lines. Failures this week num-
bcred al i'm the United States. against 10
last year. and l9 in Canada compared with
Is Il year ago
The railroad situation is told IN the fol
lowing by r. G. Dun & Co..
Railroad business continues 10 mako a
fairly satisfactory showing, total gross
earnings Of all United States railroads re-
porting TO date for the first two weeks Of
May aggregating H5.07l79l. an increase Of
a. per cent as compared with the earnings
Of the same roads FOR the CORRESPONDING
period a year ago. These returns. as here
toforc noted, are more favorable from the
South than from some other sections OF the
country, although in nearly every direction
there are many Indications Of improve
ment. especially IN the West and South
west where the losses reported are not
nearly 80 pronounced as earlier in the year
Among the roads in the South which make
"A more favorable exhibit for the second
week Of the month than Il year ago are
Central of Georgia. Louisville and Nash
vile, Cincinnati. New Orleans d Texas Pa
cifc Chesapeake & Ohio and Scaboard Air
Line. while in tho West and Southwest
more or less gain appears on Missouri
Kansas 81 Texas. Missouri Pacific. St Louis
Southwestern Texas Pacific, Minneapolis
St. Paul g. Sdult Ste Marie and Interna-
tional Great Northern. In the following
table arc given the gross earnings of all
United States roads reporting To date for
the first two weeks in May. and the gain
as compared with the earnings Of the same
roads for the corresponding period a year
ago: also for practically the same roads for
the same time IN the two preceding months.
together with the percentages Of gain over
Last year.
Per
MAJ 1.-TWO weeks. S15o1l19l sj9s.61G -
April 1.-TWO weeks. - 4767i5 s27.3jo 80
March 1.-TWO wecksD. li1Do5il 6f7,iH -
Referring to last. weeks commodity and
price movement Bradstrects Report has
the following
Technical trade conditions as well as the