The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-21
THE CONDITION OF TRADE.
PRICES Held VERY F'pMLY N
Alt BRANCHES.
A large 'm7u,t ~ Merchandise
Awaiting shipment In the East
The spring Outlook.
IsPEoIAL TO rHn APPEAL.I

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April 20.-A
large amount of merchandise is piled
up in New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more and some few interior cities,
waiting Shipment to points through
out the West and Southwest. The
volume of spring business was clipped
ther short by the strike in the South
west. On this account anticipations
are INDUCED in by jobbers and manu-
facturers that an early settl ment OF it
will bring some delayed demand.
Prices in all branches OF trade are
held very firmly. Ifany reac ion is to
take place, it is the policy of the
manufacturing and jobbing interests
to delay it as long as possible. A
year ago competition was more severe
and greater anxiety was felt to share
the limited volume of business. The
larger volume this year, with an in
creased pr ce Of material, has eXer-
cised conservative influence in trade
and industrial channels generally.
The iron trade is holding its own.
The product n has increased $4,000
tons in pig iron within a year. Sew
eral new blast furnaces are to be built.
Rolling-mill capacity is to be increased
to small extent. Lower iron and
steel quotations are improbable. Nails
are 1925 to $3.50 and demand active.
Wrought iron pipe mills are oversold.
Steel rail mills are booking orders for
the fall at 35@36. But little foreign
iron is arriving. Contracts were placed
this week for $4,000 tons of foreign
material.
The active season among clothing
manufacturers, hosiery and dress
goods manufacturers is about over,
But all mills are running fu time, in
tending to stock up goods for the fall
trade, which every one in New York
and Philadelphia seems to think will
open up sooner than usual. The con-
sumptive capacity of the country has
increased largely within six months
The strikes are no lessening it, as the
labor of the country is nearly all alb
sorbed at good wages, and an improv-
ing demand is counted on by all deal
ers and manufacturers.
Wool is declining in p,ice, and but
little is selling in Eastern markets.
Western holders are not crowding in
stocks. Large arrivals of foreign wool
yarn and wooden products are helping
to prepare the way for depression in
prices.
The carriage and wagon manufact-
urers of the New England and Middle
States are buster than they have been
for three years. The demand for all
kinds of machinery for the West and
South is heavy, and machine shops
are making full time, though in very
few cases are their orders for delivery
beyond sixty days
Heavs receipts of lumber have ar
rived at Boston, New York, Philadel-
phia and Baltimore ports this week,
mostly of white and yellow pine.
Prices hold firm. Building demand is
extraordin rily heavy.
The strikes throughout the New
England and Middle States are prac-
tically over. A great many petty dis.
putes are constantly arising, tut the
bulk of labor is satisfied with wages
and shorter hours of labor to go into
effect May LIST. The bituminous strike
will continue for some weeks and ere
ate a greater scarcity of coal in Eastern
marke S. The anthracite production
is 10000 tons of coal per day.
In spite of the dullness in the iron
trade great deal of capacity is to be
Constructed this year. Three or four
blast furnaces, embodying all the latest
Improvements, will be erected, and in
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois roll
ing-mill capacity will be increased in
view of what manufacturers are in.
clined 10 predict-the coming Of a
heavier demand. The Western and
Southern markets are enlsrging. A
eat deal of machinery is under con
tract for delivery in these sections
and their Purchasing power is gaining
steadily.