The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-06
PRODUCING P|G IRON AT 4 RECORD RATE Activity and Higher Prices for Iron Features INCREASED OUTPUT Coppers Move Up to 16 Cents--Sheets Firmer - Better Prices for
 Plates and Structural
 Shapes

NeW I Ork, aprll .os--hfauStreel to- morrow will say:
 While good and bad conditions con- | spire to give an irregular appearance to trade there is an undeniably better feeling in evidence in the larger lines of wholesale and retail trade, except in the sections immediately affected by unfavorable happenings. Good features are the arrival of fairly settled spring weather at many points. the appear ance of hitherto beated Easter demand at retail, further improvement In iron and steel and the settlement of many labor disputes in the textile and other trades by the granting of higher wages
 On the other hand, the influence of past heavy rainfall and the melting of snows in the valleys of most west ern rivers has resulted in widespread damaging floods and fears of further injury, the excess of moisture In the soil delays crop preparation and plant ing, north and south, and impairs coun- try roads. and the idleness of nearly 100000 coal miners tends to restrict seasonal activities, transportation and buying in the sections affected. A sur yey of the entire situation leaves much to be desired. but 1t might be observed that political and tariff uncertainties are not so prominently instanced as disturbing elements.
 Activity In and higher prices for pig iron, increased outputs, better prices for plates and structural shapes. indi- cations of broaded demand for fn- ished materials and expectations of heavy buying of railway cars feature the Iron and steel markets. Sheets are firmer and eastern plate mills, some of which were working on one-half to two-thirds capacity, have taken up most of the slack. Pig iron Is being produced at a record rate. Copper has moved up to 16 cents. but business is quiet and apparently discouraged by the rapid advances in prices.
 Business failures for the week end ing April were 261 against 252 last
 week; 326 in the like week of 1911;
 240 in 1910; 227 in 1909 and 25S In 1908
 Business failures in Canada for the week ending with Thursday number 23 which contrasts with 25 last week and | 23 in the corresponding week of 1911. Wheat, including flour, exports from the United States and Canada for the week ending April 4 aggregated 3,421,- l542 bushels against 2,495,597 last week and 2,143,043 this week last year. For the 40 weeks ending April 1, exports are 124, ,653,690 against 94.690,732 in the l like period last year. Corn exports for | the week are 3S4n300 bushels against | S53, 460 last week and ,,616,045 in 1911.
 For the 40 weeks ending April corn ] ..,l.- .t....a 41,033,991 last year.
 New York, April 5--R. c. Dun &
 Co.'S weekly review of trade tomor-
 row will say:
 The growth of business confidence
 which is so plainly In evidence may
 be greater than the growth In business lactivity, but the latter steadily in- creases and is moreover supported by substantial contributions to the sound ness of general conditions Tho better | sentiment prevailing in most of the market is clearly revealed in the re- ports which come from the different sections of the country and notably from the leading centers of the west and south.
 It is aocentuated by constantly Inn proving conditions making for good crops by the steady expansion in the principal trades, and by the removal one by one of causes of uncertainty. There is now suspension of anthra- cite mining in this. country, this re- garded as being merely temporary, but in England the great coal strike Is drawing to close. It is signih- cant that a number of commercial fail- ures during the first quarter of the year was large, there was plain proof of expanding investment and a notable increase In the output of new securi- ties and short term notes in the same period.
 The forward movement in iron and steel is illustrated by a pronounced gain in the iron during March. New business Is enlarging at a gratifying pace Production of finished material continues at a good rate, with some strengthening in the quotations of several lines. Tin plate mills are buster and the demand for sheets has broadened while the market for plates, structural material and steel bars has improved and numerous inquiries are reported for steel cars.
 While the cotton goods markets are slightly less active, demand for spot goods continues steady and prices rule very firm, with jobbers doing a much better business than at this time a year ago. Cotton goods for immediate delivery are scarce with steady in- crease in values. Export trade is very large. number of small inquiries have been received from China. though no business has been done.
 In wooen goods there Is broad distribution of staple products. Sew eral advances were made in overcoat- ings and worsted suitings. Both woolen and cotton yarns are very firm and silks for fall are being ordered in a moderate way. A better tone marks the footwear market but trad- ing is not active as yet. The leather trade continues to increase in activity week by week and prices rule decided Iy stronger on all varities and especial ly so on sole and on belting leather Trade in domestic packer hides is rather moderate and prices on most varieties are firm.