New-York tribune., 1912-03-02
CONDITION OF TRADE
Dun's Review says:


In view of the fact that the severe utn,..
weather has served TO hold trade distrim,.
tion in check, the near approach OF sprinc
constitutes the most favorng feature ~
the business situation, ana aireany this d.
having a beneficial effect The severa
weather operated to the DISADVANTAGES ~
the railroads and OF the iron industry. ana
also decreased the volume OF building frans-
actions. But as the weather has improved
trade Improvement is shown; in the three
weeks OF February railroad gross earnings
gained 4.9 per cent. BANK ciearihxs ta,s
week outside Of New York, which measure
the volume OF inland commerce, still show
a gain; at New York, owing to depression
in the security maraets-the result not OF
the chill OF winter, but OF the chill OF cor.
tinued economic OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
are l02 per cent under 1911 and i7.9 per cent
under 1910 The iron trade is shaking OF
the depression OF winter, and there Is an
increase in production that further short
ems the distance TO full capacity: require.
ments on account OF the building OF two
new steamships seem an augury OF what
may perhaps be expected to follow the
early opening Of the Panama Canal The
drygoods trade continues to improve In most
of its branches and tho mills are much
more active. Leather Is dull but hides
continue very strong. Wheat is higher on
account of low estimates for reserves, but
the outlook for winter wheat is favorable.
the winter conditions having been on the
whole excellent for the crop. The copper
trade outlook continues to improve. Not
wthstanding the auletness OF the financial
markets. Februarys output of new stocks.
bonds and short time notes exceeded that
Of the corresponding month In any preced-
ing year. As having a distinct bearing
upon the money and credit situation, the
continued high Transvaal production Of
gold as evidenced by the January statistics.
Is important, although the relation of the
gold output TO prices of commodities has
probably been exaggerated. The expansion
in the foreign trade is maintained; during
the latest week at New York the total COM
merce In and out was s965oi.5l4, against
$50, 1905 In 1911 and 1862. sos In 1910: ex-
ports were S2,l74.36S less than the imports.
but made a larger gain than the imports
over the preceding years.
Bradstreet's says:
While some centres indicate that trade is
not up to expectations, developments on the
There IS nothing resembling marked ac-
tivity, but undercurrents In general sug.
gest that fair gains are being made and
that Improvement heretofore ] ho.ea bs T. b oens
the country's chief markets, thus making
for fair degree of activity In house sales:
but on the other hand snowstorms have
tended to hamper road business IN paru
trade, which is fully equal TO and In many
instances ahead of last year, reflects the
effects of the conservatism which purchas-
ers continue to practise; However tns
alton is found In the quite generally Insist.
ent demands made by retail dealers for
prompt deliveries on goods they have or
dered. This, OF course, indicates that stocks
are low, which. coupled with the fact that
there is no disposition to make heavy pur'
chases at any one time. suggests that de-
mand will continue to be OF the steady. IN.
sistent type. This latter feature Is con-
spicuously in evidence in the markets for
dry goods, requests for which denote ths
nresence OF healthy requirements for staple
goods and a firm price undertone thereon,
due allowance being made for demand for
this or that article to recede following
period Of good buying.