The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-17
CROP SITUATION
 MUCH IMPROVED
Continuance of Activity in
 Iron and Steel
RAW COTTON DECLINES
Export Trade as Whole Is Re- ported Slow-Business Would Be More Active Were
 Supplies Better

New York, August 16.-Bradstreet's tomorrow will say:
 Trade, crop and industrial develop ments are of a gratifying character and movements in general are forward The cereal crop situation is even brighter than heretofore Fodder crops are larger than were anticipated a while ago Corn, though still back ward, has made progress save in parts of the northwest, but the plant will re- uuire warm weather and a late ar rival of frost to carry it to maturity.
 Incidentally the iron and steel trade continues to surge forward at a more profitable rate. In some of the more prosperous farming regions there is a renewed movement to pay off outstand- ing obligations and while collections in parts of the south remain slow there is evidence of improvement in pay ments.
 orders for Adry goods are numerous at western, southwestern and north- western centers, but in the east some branches denote less activity than heretofore. Mems wear and dress goods are still active and prices are firmer.
 Business failures In the United states for the week ending Al 7sist 15 were 221 against 221 last week, A in the like week of 1911, 222 in 1910, 1S3 In 1909 and 236 in 1908. Business fail- ures in Canada for the week termin- ating Thursday number 36, which con- trasts with 22 for the last week and I1s in the like week of 1911.
 Wheat, including flour. exports from the United States and Canada for the week ending August 15, aggregate A. 27394S bushels against 2,740,125 last week and 3.507,365 this week last year. For the seven weeks ending August IS exports were 19,039,0S9 bushels eeainst l672S,705 in the corresponding period last year
 Corn exports for the week are 21,621 bushels against 92,395 last week and 298.531 in 1911. For the seven weeks ending August 15. corn exports are e35,171 bushels against 4,ol6,l2O last year.
 New York August 16.-R G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 The industrial and trade situation fully maintains its recent improvement and 8 further advance in activity is noted in the reports from The leading centers.
 Everything points to a continuance Of the present activity in iron and steel.
 Future business is not readily ac- cepted unless higher prices are offered. Basic iron is strong at s14 valley, while Bessemer rules at S1450 and $14.75, val lev Crude steel Is becoming scarcer and merchant pig iron furnaces have practically contracted all of the out put of the third quarter. Bessemer bill lets are firm at $23, Pittsburg, and oper hearth at $23.50 Pittsburg. Demand fol merchant steel bars, plates and shape: continue to tax capacity, while tin plate and sheets are very active with pros pect of an advance in quotations
 Well maintained activity is still the leading features in dry goods Some hesitation was caused in the cotton goods division by the substantial de- cline in raw cotton, but the only effect noted was a slight softening in print cloths.
 A few sales were reported for China shipment, but export trade, as whole is slow. Cotton yarns are quiet and practically unchanged but worsted yarns are in good demand and firm.
 Demand for footwear shows further Improvement. All kinds of leather con tinue in good demand without any very large transactions tanners still refus- ing to contract ahead in any large quantity at present quotations. Trad ing in upper feathers is steady but nc special activity Is shown. Business is in steady volume and would be still more active were supplies not so closely cleaned up.