Show TRADE Is BACKWARD Weather Conditions E For Tardy Opening SMALL RAILWAY EARNINGS IN IRON New York March Dun Cos Weekly Review oC Trad row will say to improve de deSpite Spite the of low temperature and higher pree Weather conditions havo been singularly unpropitious deep snow retarding distribution of dine and cold delaying the opening ot sprIng trade structural work Yet retailers are making exten extensive sive preparations and plans are sub submitted for numerous building opera operations Prospects have improved on the Pacific coast where rain has fallen Railway earnings for February were 22 per cent less than last year bad weather It may be said with some degree of assurance that the iron and steel in dusti has made further progress in the right direction and the prospect I brighter than it has been at any time during the winter Domestic hides are weaker than is ex by the seasonable tion in quality Failures this week in the United States are last week the preceding week and the corre corresponding week last year Failures in Canada number 27 22 last week 20 tb preceding week and 16 last year Bradstreets vili say Trade and industry are still irregular being active in favored but ham pored in others by the prolongation of winter weather with lt concomitants of delayed transportation car short shortages ages or Among the industries reports cate activity in Iron and steel nd prices of some grades of iron firmer but the iron ore situation is not yet settled the coke supply in insufficient and a soft coal strike overhangs west era industry generally The agricultural tural situatiOn on the whole Is one of great strength and a record breaking acreage will go into cotton Railway earnings reflect the most unfavorable winter in ninny years In a decrease of 20 per cent in January net earnings of reports representing In a decrease in gross of t per cent February returns promise to be no better The feeling is still that good settled weather would help to repair the backwardness of general and be particularly helpful to building and other lines of outdoor work in which operations are at a standstill Collections are fair to good goodWeather Weather conditions have checked eastern wholesale trade and retail trade is backward Manufacturers are buying wool only to cover actual needs while stocks are small buyers disposed to purchase find dealers willing to meet their views There Is little In lumber Eastern shoe report demand for spring goods as a whole but leather Is stronger In in prices The features in iron and steel this week have been of nearly tons by the leadIn interests arul reports of other sales aggregating ai much more Wheat including flour exports for the week ending March 3 aggregate bushels against last week this week mat year 4 In 1902 and in 1901 Prom July 1 to date they aggregate lOS against last season in lO and iS in Corn exports for the week aggregate bushels lost a ago In 1902 and in 1001 From July 1 1903 to date aggregate bushels against last reason In and in 1901 Business failures in the States for the week ending March 3 number against last week and n the like week In 1903 ITS in 1902 In and 19 in 1900 In Canada fail urea for the week number 19 against l llast last week and 24 in this week a year ao |