Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-20
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1srArcHL

NEW YORK, April 19.-Special tele-
grams to BradStreet'S report moderate gains
in the distribution of staple goods at Balti-
more, Kansas City and Pittsburg. At the
first named city trade equals the volume
year ago, and at Pittsburg fine weather has
been the stimulus. At Kansas City there
is an active demand for goods and for funds
for use in Oklahoma. There is good aver
age business doing at Chicago, St. Louis
and New Orleans.
The outlook for wheat, cotton and corn is
bright. Mercantile collections have i'm
proved at Pittsburg, Detroit, Chicago, Bur
lington, ST. Joseph and New Orleans. San
Francisco has shipped 157,O 900 bushels of
wheat to Australia this year, and tonnage
for $50, 900 bushels more has been engaged.
Good Friday observances have curtailed
the volume of business somewhat this week,
and at New York the centennial inaugural
celebration will further check the volume
of wholesale trade. Country produce and
building materials are more active at New
York, with prices tending upward.
BUILDING STILL ACTIVE.
Building is active and the demand for
materials is 9095O per cent in excess of last
year. Trade in furniture, machinery, naval
stores, fruits, leather, rubber, paper, paper
stock and cane is quiet. Liquors, paints,
jewelry and boots and shoes are fairly active.
Prices of furniture, naval stores and crude
rubber tend downward.
Stock speculation at New York has been
dull and mostly of professional character
with downward tendency owing in part TO
the coming Centennial celebration. Bonds
have advanced slightly. Money at New
York remains easy. Call loans are 3(g3L
per cent and demand sterling is firm at
81 S8s<C94 SO. Net railroad earnings of 81
companies for February aggregate $40, ,O66,
359 against 50, SIS, ,379 last year, an increase
of 49 per cent. For two months ending
February 2S, Sc companies report net earn
ings of SIC, 1874, Sol against S17, ,3l5, $50 in
1888, an increase of 17.9 per cent.
Sugar advices from primary sources are
stronger and prices of raw are 5s(97-16c
higher, holders of raw declining contracts
at current rates. Crop estimates are less
encouraging. Arrivals are Il, 800 tons
heavier this week. Stocks at the four dis
tributing ports of the United States are 52,-
900 tons, against la, 800 tons year ago.
SUGAR ON THE RISE.
There was heavy demand for refined
early in the week, which was followed by a
stiff advance, amounting to 15c on the week.
The price of sugar is declared to be not vet
abnOrmallv high, ''the last few years of de-
preston" having accustomed consumers to
less range Of prices. Raw sugars are still
below the average price of 40 years. Granu-
lated is S3<c at San Francisco and SIC at
New York. Coffee prices in speculative
lines have been fairly supported, although
holiday observances in Europe and at home
have checked trade. Rio is unchanged on
the week. Jobbers are awaiting the revival
of demand from their customers.
The breadstufs market is weaker and
lower. The trading in wheat is of smaller
volume, and prices are off three-eighths ofa
cent, on increased stocks afoat and unusu-
ally favorable Western crop outlook. Flour
is weak in sympathy and prices are shaded.
Indian corn forms an exception, with an
advance of IL cents on reduced offerings
and better foreign demand. Oats are Il
to i cent lower with the West. IN
Hog products have hardened, and lard is
dearer. The exports of wheat (and -four as
wheat) from both coasts this week equal
1,419, 900 bushels of wheat, against ], ,226, 700
bushels last week and FLAG, 900 bushels in
the like week of 1888.
PIG IRON PRODUCTION.
The production of pig iron is very heavy,
and the fact that stocks are not accumula-
ting or prices not declining openly are re-
garded by many as encouraging features
The demand for hardware. iron pipe. sheet
iron and nails is said to be improving.
Production and shipments of rails this year
exceed those of 1888 to a like date. Lake
Superior copper is sold here at 14Z cents,
but is likely to go to the neighborhood of
II cents during the summer. Consumption
here and abroad is small. The visible sup
ply has gained 1000 tons per week for the
past fortnight.
The price of petroleum has been ham
mered down about &c per barrel this week
by speculative dealers, mainly on a sensa-
tional account Of the Standards operations
in the Ohio field. Drygoods are in only
moderate demand from commission men at
New York and Boston. Jobbers are doing
the usual quiet between-seasons trade. Dec
orative goods are in free movement at New
York. Cotton goods values are steady, not
withstanding the light demand. Prices are
low in view of higher cost of raw product
Stocks of prints are increasing, and are IN
excess Of year ago. Raw wool is weaker,
but unchanged on dull demand. The quail
ity of new wool received is not good, but is
expected to improve. Holders are conf
dent. Raw cotton is 5-16c higher on good
demand. Shorts are covering on bullish
i I 4