The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-17
TRADE CONDITIONS
: ARE SATISFACTORY
Despite Irregularity in Final
Distribution
CROPS FAVORABLE
Winter Wheat Indicates hummer
FAVORABLE
Winter Wheat Indicates Bumper
Yield - Sentiment at Present
Seems Less Pessimistic.
Tariff Matters Felt

New York. May 1e.-Bradstreet.s
weekly trade review tomorrow will saw:
Trade currents Indicate the existence of
relatively satisfactory conditions. though
the reports still are interpersed with ev-
dence of more or less irregularity in
final distribution.
Conservatism is being practiced as to
future trade pending prospective tariff
changes, but slaclsness in one or another
zone has been counteracted by improved
movements in other places.
Retail trade this week has been re-
stricted by cool weather, a temporary fac-
tor, and new business In iron and stec.
tends to become lighter. On the other
hand, crop conditions are mainly favor
able, the winter wheat crop having un-
doubtedly made further progress toward
bumper yield. In the east there is just
as much talk a ever about tariff matters.
Sentiment at the moment seems to be
rather less pessimistlc In some places
wholesale trade is better than anticipated.
Wheat, including flour. exports from the
United States and Canada for the week
ending May Is. are the largest since Oc-
tober, 1902, amounting to 7,011.479 bushels.
against 4027,513 bushels this week last
year.
Business failures for the week ending
May Is were 259, which compares with
243 In the like week of 1912.
New York, May 16.-Dun's review to-
morrow will lsay:
There is still some abatement of activi
ty, due chiefly to anticipated tariff
changes, but the volume of transactions
in all the leading branches of trade and
industry is very large. Conservatism is
naturally more pronounced in the indus
trial and financial east. while in the agri-
cultural west and south there is a
marked feeling of confidence, based upon
the splendid crop conditions and the
enormous export trade much of which
means large returns to producers in those
sections. The decrease in bank exchanges
this week of 1870 per cent compared
with the corresponding week a year ago,
was chiefly due to reduced speculative
transactions at New York, the volume of
business at many points being equal to,
or even larger than, asst year. 1t is no
ticeable that in contrast to the falling off
in bank clearings, railroad gross earnings
continue to expand, the gain in the first
week of May being 72 per cent. In most
sections active building operations are re-
ported, though in some places these are
trade is rather quiet but other building
materials are fairly active. The iron and
steel mills are busly engaged on old Or
ders, but there has been a decline in new
business. The recession in business in
iron and steel as well as in the textile
trades is remarkably small in view of the
conservatism inspired by the pending tar
iff changes. There is increased steadiness
in cotton goods. In leather, and especial
ly In betting leather, more activity IS
noted The recent rainfall has improved
the already bright crop prospects. AGri-
cultural exports in April broke all pre-
vious records for the month, and during
the last week the total exports from the
port of New York were SIS, ,566, ,623 nearlv
equalling the imports, and s1,O0i, POP
greater than last year.
Commercial failures this week in the
United States are 300. against 30S the cor
responding week last year. Failures in
Canada number 45.