Show RETAIL TRADE ACTIVE Spring Weather Has Stimulated Stimu-lated Business FAIR TRAFFIC IN SOUTH Aggressive Strength in Prices Is Chiefly Manifested by Hog Products Pro-ducts Which It Is Declared Have Been Manipulated by Packers Moro Reasonable Explanation Is That High Prices for Beef and Mutton Have Diverted Consumption Consump-tion to PorkWool Is Quiet New York March Brndstreets tomorrow to-morrow will cay Trade activities have shifted from first to second hands this week Wholesale and Jobbing distribution distribu-tion of dry goods clothing hats and caps millinery and shoes has been rather quieter as was only natural In view of demand for tho culmination of the spring Easter Retail distribution favored by spring weather has been very active East and West with a fair business at the South the industries new demand for Iron Among and steel has on the wholo been lesS have and snlpment active but production The undiminished speed gone forward at n building trades nave IUKUH u uvv spurt In activity Lumber Is active at all markets at higher prices than ruled a rather been taken haa The edge ago agc jtrar prices by ken l olt cotton ana cotton goods tho reaction in tho raw material and the but talk of further labor unsettlement values as a wholo aro steady Aggressive strength In prices is chiefly manifested by hog products Which it Is declared have been manipulated by packers A moro reasonable explanation howovcr is that tho high prices for beet and mutton have largely diverted consumption con-sumption to hog products Milder weather has relieved the strain on tho coal trade somewhat but strike talk has prevented weakness In prices Rather less activity in Iron and steel Is noted but no less of price firmness Is observable Tho peculiar situation of the foundry pig Iron market Is shown by tho fact that prices of that grade aro H 1 higher per ton than Bessemer Finished iron and steel has been active implement and wagon manufacturers buying heavily of steel bars which aro nominally 2 per ton higher Despite the fact that tin plate mills arc booked for live months ahead tho leading interest continues to take orders at 4 per box Testimony to the activity in hardwaro is J well nigh unanimous Chicago reports demand active beyond all precedent Jobbers Job-bers In cutlery and hardware at Now York report Inability to secure supplies fast enough Wool is quiet Mills arc busy on previous pre-vious orders Mens wear clothing is dull Boots and shoes arc dull and now business busi-ness IB smaller Leather is quiet and hides arc dull and easy The leading cereals are Irregularly lower after an apparently futile effort at bulling prices Last weeks decline brought in considerable export business In wheat and some revival was reported oven In corn Steady buying and talk of a squeeze In corn were reflected sympa thctlcally In wheat The talk OIL corner cor-ner In July was aided bv tho smallest supplies of contract grades but the tendency ten-dency to take profits in anticipation of the holidays weakened prices which generally gen-erally closed lower than a week ago Wheat crop advices have on tho wholo been very good though isolated reports of damage In Kansas and Oklahoma havo been received These however do not agree with Bradstroets report of liberal rain In tho Southwest and tho improved fooling In business circles generally ln that section Wheat including flour exports for tho week aggregate 2901110 bushels against 4325304 bushels last week andj 1635 bushels In this week last year Wheat exports July 1 1S01 to date thirtynine weeks agjcrrgato 191300011 bushels against 11DIC3124 bushels last season i Business failures in the United States for the week number 183 as against 137 last week 183 in this week last year 173 I in 1900 100 In 1SOO and 220 In 1S93 Failures in Canada for the week num bar 22 ao against 26 last week and 28 a year ago I |