The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-01
TRADE REPORTSA ARE IRREGULAR IN TENOR Retailers So Far Have Had
 Disappointing Season IRON DEMAND QUIET In Dry Goods Lines Distribution for Immediate Needs Is Not Above
 Fair-Iron and Steel Ship ments Continue Heavy
IRON DEMAND QUIET

New York, May S1.-Bradstreets tomor- LOW will say in part:
 Trade reports are irregular in tenor, but it is probable that the weeks turnover in commercial circles has not been better than fair. Retail dealers have so far ex- perienced very disappointing spring sea- son. Proceeding to the jobbers and whole sale dealers, it is evident that sales are marked by small lot purchases for immed- late wants, by conservatism controlling or holding up fall orders and by the fact that current trade is dominated by be- Tween seasons conditions. In the dry goods lines distribution for immediate needs is not above fair. Trade lacks de- sired animation and it is likely that the needed zest will not be forthcoming until crop prospects crystalize and political con ventions are out of the way. Iron and steel shipments continue heavy. with prices on a more profitable basis. Though demand for pig iron is quiet, furnace stocks the country over have been reduced in good degree, but coke prices are so high as to presage, perhaps. some effect on outputs of iron and steel. Collections are not much above fair.
 Business failures III the Onileu otdleS for the week ending May % were 23l, against 2lS' last week. 1eS in the like week of 1911, 1eO in 1910 1S1 in 1909 and 225 in 1908. Business failures in Canada for the week number r, which compares with 2 last week and 2S in the like week of 19l1.
 New York, May 31.-R. G. Dun X Go. s weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 Four features of the business situation are so favorable for the time being at least as to overshadow those conditions which seem doubtful. These favoring feat lures are.
 The better outlook for the crops-par- ticularly in northwest-this being already iproductive of an increase of confidence and activity in the leading trade centers of the great agricultural sections: the warmer weather, which is everywhere stimulating trade distributions; the very notable expansion which has taken place in the iron and steel trade, bringing pro- auction almost to the point of capacity and giving promise of a year of remark able consumption; the greatly improved conditions which have prevailed this year in the textile markets, fact due in part to the more normal state of the market for raw cotton and in part to that con dftion which is the inevitable product of low stocks of merchandise and grow ing population with expanding wants,
 Activity still prevails in finished lines Of Iron and steel and the larger plants con tinue to operate almost to capacity.i In the Pittsburg district a shortage of crude steel is reported. and purchases of pig iron are being made in the open market Heavy specifications continue to be made on plates and structural shapes and prices show a tendency to advance S1 %, Pitts burg now being the absolute minimum. tBuying of equipment and finished steel products by the railroads is still a prom inent feature.
 The primary cotton goods markets are rather quiet, but generally firm. Fall orders for mapped fabrics, cotton blankets etc. are coming in steadily, and denims cheviots and shirting chambrays are being bought by manufacturers for fall delivery Export trade continues large and included in the weeks shipments were 1928 bales for China, 1889 bales for Chile and 1055 bales for Central American ports, while the manila markets are calling for prints 2tn sizeable quagtities. In wooens and worsteds mems wear and dress goods mills are we'll engaged on staples and novelties. and considerable confidence Is now expressed regarding the future. Knit goods and hosiery are in distinctly bet ter demand and some improvement ap- pears in the inquiry for silks.
 Improved weather conditions have ma terially stimulated the retail demand for summer footwear and stocks of season. able shoes on the shelves of distributors have been substantially reduced Trade in all kinds of leather continues moderate but prices are firmly held.