The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-02
General Trade Conditions
 and
 Business Forecast (Issued by The Connecticut National Bank

New York, Chicago, Cleveland. New ark, Denver, Bridgeport and Spring field, Maszaeh useets.
 Pig Iron production for the month of May was 2,265 thousand tons com- pared with 2,116 thousand in April and 2,003 thousand in May of last yeart. In all 2O6 furnaces were &C., tive compared with 195 the previous month and capacity was "A thousand tons per day compared with Fl thou sand a month before.
 The thrilled tonnage of the Steel Corporation at the close of May was 4,265 thousand toms compared with 4,t62 thousand a month previous and 3,9SS thousand Q year previous.
 The six leading copper mines pro- duced 52 nailllon pounds in April compared with AZ million pounds in March. The v4aible supply in this country on the. first, of the month was estimated at 100 million pounds com pared with 21s million pounds at ths close of last year. The worlds visible supply is estimated at 165 malldon pounds compared with Se1 million pounds at the close oe last year.
 The Visible supply Of Tin at the compared with 15,7s5 tons a month previous. Tin arrivals at our ports for the first five months Of the year have totaIed 17,T14 tons.
 Xinc and spelter receipts at the leading market have been 1905 thou sand slabs compared with 1,7S2 thou sand slabs for the same period of last year and shipments have been 1908 thousand slabs compared with i. .704 thousand slabs for the same period a year ego. EveCy Zinc smell ter in the country is in flall blast and been rshabdsita1ed and are in full operation. Ordars are being taken for deliveries up to a year hence.
 Shipments Of antaracfte for May were 5,7SS thousand tons compared with 6,2S2 thousand tons a year ago. For the first five uaon4hs Of the year shipments were 26, gre thousand tons compared with 26,S thousand tons efor the same period last year. Hx- ports of bitu1ninous ooal for April were LIS thousand tons compared with 772 thousand tons g. year ago. Exports Of ba&aninous coal are on the inerease and it Is believed a steady foreign market will be established for American soft coal as shipments are increasing to South America and Canada.
 In the Connellsvi1Ie district a4ss24 coke ovens are in blast cOmpared with 22. 47o a nroufh ago, with an output ofl s35 thousand toms compared with 2sS thousand a month ago. ship nents for the last week reported WS9478 CsSO1 5GeLLS5 C011490I4As N1In E1tS4S for the corresponding week in May.
 The production of gold at the Raxld mines for May was 764 thousand fine ounces eofupared with T20 thou sand for the same month a year ago
 Commodity prices are al shade be- low a month ago although still naa- terfal1y higher than a year ago, end stin remain higher than at any date In recent years previous to the out break of the Eur0pean war. While commodity prices stiH average very high, declines are occurring on many items and the high average showing results largely from high prices on. war order materials. Quitting those things in which we are heavy export CTS commodity prices are at about the average point of the past seven years
 Pipe nne deliveries of@crude oil for May totaIed 16s897 thousand barrels compared with 15,564 thousand for the same month a year ago. Shipmenks wore larger than in April of this year,
 Cotton exports in April were eT2 thousand bales compared with 29e thousand for April of last year and for the season to date exports have been T,S62 thousand bales compared with 8.334 thousand last year. Ac- tive spind1es at the cIose Of April were 3oy98S thousand coxnpared with SLOTS thousand a year ago. The best figures obta1nable at this early date indioM&e a cotton acreage planted about 10 per cent less than. a year ago. Early estimates indicated a de- cline in acreage of as much as 25 per cent.
 Conditions of crops generally, and of wheat especially, were good up to the beginning of the June floods In the Mississippi and Missouri Valleys great damage has been done and it. will be fully a month before a de- pendable estimate can be made of the actual winter wheat harvest has been totally destroyed. but it is believed that the crop will sttll run between 860 and 300 million bushels for both winter and spring wheat
 The general business condition of the country is better than at any date since the beginning Of the European war and activities are not confined to export lines. Domestic business is steadily increasing in volume and while the estimated billion and one half favorable foreign trade balance to be created this year means much to the business fabric it amounts, after all. even if it reaches that enormous sum, to less than $15.00 per capita for the year to the people of this country which is less than five cents per day per capita This as a single factor is 9 very important one but enjoy prosperity on that item alone Domestic business of many times that amount is being handled and those manufacturers and merchants who asre carefully nursing the home trade are building most securely and most permanently.