The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-03
STEEL INDUSTRY
 CONTINUES ACTIVE Weeks Reports Again Spell
 Progress PIG IRON IS STRONGER. Industrial Circles Employ Good Railroads Inquiring for Rails for Next Years Delivery-Col-
 lections Improve
PIG IRON IS STRONGER:

New York, August 2-Bradstreets to- morrow will say:
 This weeks reports again spell progress, and more clearly defined movement to- ward enlarged business in most sections except parts of the south. This dispost- ton is manifested to a greater signifi- canoe than northwestern ports though most markets have shared in the general betterment. In the textile lines price ad- vances are enlarged. either present or prospective. Indeed, those buyers who have hestated about paying the advances asked are coming into the markets and, of course, the mills are firm in their views as to prices, as it is fully recognized that supplies are not overplentiful, first be- cause prolonged hand-to-mouth buying caused manufacturers to restrict output to demand. and secondly, because labor troubles have mitigated against anything like full operations.
 Industrial circles employment is good, and the iron and steel industry continues to sound activity. Pig iron is stronger, higher is being demanded for number of finished products eastern shipbuilders
 
 railroads are inquiring for rails for next years delivery, thus returning to their old time policy of ordering in advance, and some business has been booked for this year by eastern mills, which are in a better position to fill nearby require ments than western plants. Collections have improved at a number of points, still there is sufficient loans to prevent uniformity, and payments at the south continue slow, and especially from re- tail dealers.
 Business failures in the United States for the week ending August l were 224. against 252 last week, POS in the like week of 1911, 166 in 191o 1S4 in 1909 and 205 in. 1908
 Business failures in Canada for the week numbers 24. against 26 last week and 9S in the like week of 1911.
 Wheat, including flour, exports from the United States and Canada for the week ending August 1 aggregate 2,49i,657 bush els, against 2,0569 95S last week and 3,321, ,90S this week last year.
 For the five weeks ending August 1 ey- ports are 12.025,016 bushels. against 10. efD, = 375 in the corresponding period last year.
 Corn exports for the week are 77S12 bushels. against 99,262 last week and 329, : 1Sl in 1911. For the five weeks ending Au- gust l corn exports are 431 ,149 bushels, against 3,osl,s@ last year
 New York, August 2-R G. Dun & Col weekly review of trade tomor- row will say:
 Trade expansion contrasts with spec ulative dullness. 1nasmuch as the jn- creased Industrial and mercantile oper- atlons involved larger demands for money, while requirements in connec- tion with moving the crops will also he heavy, 1t is, on the whole, fortunate That there Is no great speculative ac- tiVity 10 add to the burdens of the money market which Is giving signs of an advancing tendency.
 A noticeable note of optimism pre- vails Tn business circles In most sec lions of the country, which Is not ap- preeiable affixed by the usual excite ments of q presidential year. The fur ther price advances on steel products testify to a large volume of new bus mess and there are indications that the bulk of output is going directly into consumption by the railroads.
 Demand is broadening with the smaller plants reporting steady im- provement sales. II is estimated or oers for equipment from the railroads this year will surpass all records. Pur- chases of plates and structural ma terial continued a feature and quota tions are higher. with premiums paid in some instances. Crude steel is steadily becoming scarcer and prompt deliveries are more difficult to obtain. An advance in pig iron is considered probable especially on basic iron. which has been quite active during the past few weeks.
 In dry goods, fine linens are slightly higher, and are reflecting the con tinued buying by the jobebrs.
 The men wears continued satisfac- tory and the large corporations making dress goods report very good demand for spring merchandise. Jobbers re- port a better fall trade than a year ago.
 Worsted yarns are firm, with demand steady and while cotton yarns have advanced buyers are still holding off.
 Trading in footwear shows improve ment and most of the grades are ac- tive. The output is greater than ever before on factories ouput.