Show TONE E OF TRADE TUK IS Large Number of Buyers in io Evidence at Leading Markets UNCERTAINTY AS TO PRICES REPORTS RECEIVED FROM LEAD LEADING LEADING LEADING ING INDUSTRIES CONFLICT New York March 6 Bradstreets to tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow morrow will say Distributive trade shows growth from week to week as the spring sea season season son approaches and the tone of trade as a whole is more optimistic but de despite despite despite spite the large number of buyers in evidence at leading markets the char character character character acter of 0 the business done does not vary from that hitherto described Conservative buying largely of sta staples staples ples pies usually is the rule and the un uncertainty uncertainty uncertainty certainty as to prices in many lines acts as a check cheek to fullest activity This is especially manifest in some lines as asfor asfor asfor for instance cotton goods where prices have been of at late lato sharply reduced without however evoking the interest expected In few if any an cases arc are comparisons with a year ago satisfactory satisfactory tory and a number of measures of monthly trade and Industrial move movement movement movement ment point to shrinkage of 25 per cent centor or more Collections are still sUIl widely com corn complained complained of at and in this direction reports are no better than are the advices as asto asto asto to volume of business doing Retail trade does not riot quicken greatly al although although although though large centers show special ef et efforts efforts forts put forth to stimulate buying either of winter goods at concessions or of new spring season fabrics The reports received from the leading in industries industries industries are still conflicting The iron and steel Industry unquestionably unquestionably unquestionably has a better tone and the output of pig iron in February a short month seems to have slightly exceed exceeded ed that of January although falling failing far behind a year ago Raw wool is moving only at concessions and the lumber trade is very quiet One fact brought out is that In distinctively winter trades as for tor instance ice har harvesting harvesting harvesting vesting lack of money has caused a restriction of at cutting and storing Business failures for the week end ending ending ing lug March 6 5 number against 25 last week In the like week of 1907 in 1906 1006 in 1903 1905 and in 1904 1901 Canadian failures for tor the week num number number number ber 49 against 35 15 last week and 21 in inthe inthe Inthe the like week of 1907 Wheat including flour exports from the United States and Canada for tor the week ending March 5 aggregated 2 bushels against last week this week last year and in 1902 For the weeks of the fiscal year yea ea the exports are bushels against in and in Corn com exports for the week are 1481 bushels against last week and in 1907 1901 For the fiscal year to date the exports are bushels against In Duns Report R H G Dun Cos Review of Trado tomorrow will say Favorable symptoms arc are more nu numerous numerous in the commercial outlook es especially in respect to tUe tIfe growth of confidence Jobbers note more pres pre pressure presure pressure sure to replenish depleted d stocks of staple merchandise orders in many cases being for delivery next fall The advancing season has also contributed to the better feeling by accelerating the distribution of spring goods and stimulating Interest in the building trades Industrial plants are more ac active active active tive pig iron productions rising to the best weekly average in three months Credits are still closely scanned and mercantile collections are by no means satisfactory yet payments are more prompt and the volume of oC business is distinctly heavier There is a question of permanence of ot the steady stead improvement in the steel and iron Industry that would be lack lacking lackin lackIng ing in were recovery more sensational Each week brings a few more mills and furnaces turn aces into the active list while specifications on old contracts con constantly constantly constantly call for a larger tonnage New business appears in many departments warmer weather being especially help helpful helpful helpful ful in restoring postponed building op operations operations operations that will call for much structural structural structural tural steel |