New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-12
BUSINESS SENTIMENT
REPORTED HOPEFUL
Little Tangible to Show, How
ever-Turning Point
Has Come.

The first full week OF the new year,
while showing a more cheerful aspect and
some encouraging prospects, indicates lit
tie increase In business for the immediate
future, according to commercial agencies.
'Duns Review" says:
There is little tangible evidence as yet
that the turning point In business has
been reached, but general sentiment is
more hopeful. Wholesale trade is rather
more active. while retail demands have
broadened under the stimulus OF the usual
clearance sales and moro seasonabe
weather in some sections. Many buyers
are beginning TO appear In the drygoods
market, and though conservatism Is the
rule In the matter Of future purchases,
stocks are low and requirements large.
'Woollen and worsted mills are fairly
we'll engaged on old orders and wool is
moving steadily. with some grades tend
ing to advance. owing to the strong sta
tistical position. Full resumption OF
operations is reported at New England
footwear factories, which have a sufficient
volume of contracts on their books to
keep machinery busy for some time to
come. A moderate expansion is noted in
leather. and irmness Is manifest in all
branches
while the demand for iron and steel Is
still confined mainly to actual needs, some
increase in business is apparent and the
situation is more encouraging. Numerous
blast furnaces OF the leading interest.
which were recently banked to prevent
accumulation, have started up. but the
output of pig iron was sharply curtailed
last month. the compilation Of The Iron
Age showing the smallest total since
August, 1911 There Is a continued abb
sence of activity In copper, and the De-
cember statistics revealed a further large
addition to surplus stocks
"Bradstreets" has the following:
Trade and Industrial affairs present
more cheerful aspect This Is as yet
more matter of sentiment and tone
rather than OF actual expansion in de-
mand and output, but favorable develop
ments certainly seem TO outweigh those
of an adverse character. Thus there is
a little more activity In some wholesale
lines, statesmen are going back on the
road. money for commercial needs Is
easier and banks are seeking instead or
rejecting paper; sales Of raw wool are
encouraging and prices tend to harden
despite large imports; there Is more do
ing in Northern pig iron at leading West
ern markets, and winter wheat is in ex-
cellent condition the country over, with
a good covering Of snow.
1.-THE reverse side Of the picture is
found in the continued mild weather.
checking demand for coal and heavy
wearing apparel, more especially cloth
ing Clearance sales at retail. IT Is true,
stimulate buying. out not to the extent
hoped for. and stocks OF winter goods
are in some instances oppressive despite
deep cuts. Idle cars greatly increased
in number during the last two weeks or
the year. AS to the latter, however, II
may be said that nearly half of the ex-
cess Is in coal cars. trade in fuel having
been heavily restricted by the mild au-
tumn and winter.
Collections are backward. with a
slight tendency toward improvement
Some requests to hold merchandise ship
ments come from the Southwest, but
cancellations are not complained OF.
so far as the future outlook is con-
cerned. there is q disposition the coun-
try over to look on the cheerful side of
things and to expect that a fair spring
business is probable.