Wichita eagle., 1889-04-13
A BETTER TONE.
Improvement Noted in Business Circles
Prices Little Firner.

NEW YORK, April 12-R G. Dun's
weekly review of trade says: There are
distinct signs of improvement in business.
Reports from interior points, almost with
out exception, indicate an enlargement of
| trade. Rapid advances in sugar, coffee,
cotton, butter and oats are nearly bal
anced by the decline in wheat, corn and
pork products, print cloths, leather and
other articles, so that the general average
of prices is but a shade higher than week
ago. But further disbursements by the
treasury have increased the already album
dant supply of money. The market for
securities has improved and reports con-
tinue TO increase.
The most significant feature of the
weeks commercial news is the report Of
furnaces in blast April 1. which shows
weekly output of anthracite
and bituminous iron only 657 tons less
than March l, and nearly 81 600 tons, Or Sc
per cent larger than year ago. The suf-
ficient fact is, that with a production close
to the largest ever known, prices scarcely
Weld at all. These facts in connection
with the narrow demand for rails indicate
that consumption of iron in other forms
must be increasing. The demand for sheet
iron is fair apd rails are firm at $1,000
-s..O
Nails are firmer ard bar iron is still irreg-
uIar and low. Pig iron is rather weaker
and some southern is offered below SIT for
No /, while mill iron ranges from 214 IS to
$3.50.
he sharp advance of 50 cents per hun
dred pounds in raw sugar with the pur-
chase of the San Francisco refinery for the
trust accompany sudden rise OF u cents
in the trust stock
The boot and shoe trade is said to be
large beyond precedent. Leather is a
shade lower and hides are over abundant.
Raw cotton mas risen &c. In oil lower
prices caused a decrease of S200.00O in val
lie for March aud the market has been
dull and weak, Wooden manufacturers
and dealers are excited by news that the
recently appointed appraiser at Philadel-
phia has advanced the duty on worsteds to
correspond with that on woolens and some
believe similar rating will soon be made
here and at other ports. The market for
raw wool is stronger in tone and an ad-
vance in price is expected.
Copper and tin are still weaker and the
excessive supplies still depress the coal
market, which is worse than dull. The
volume of business is unsatisfactory and
sales below schedule rates are reported
without exception.
Reports from the interior show that
money is abundant, though in a few in
stances the demand is improving, fear of
disturbance in connection with April set
Elements having passed. Disbursements
for the week have exceeded receipts by So
100000. No demand from abroad appears
as yet, though foreign exchange has been
strong in spite of some purchases of secur-
titles on European account. The stock
market, owing to these purchases and I'll
apparent change in the plans of some op-
orators, has been stronger with a sharp adj
vance in few stocks and sales for the
week have reached 100000 shares. A
most important symptom is that exports
of merchandise from New York
for April thus far exceeded last
years by Is per cent, and the further fall
of IA cents in wheat and cents in corn
tends to increase the movement. The re-
ports of increase in spring wheat acreage
and sowing has progressed favor
ably, the season being about three weeks
earlier than last year.
The business failures number 239, as
against a total Of 222 last week and 2i0 the
week previous. For the corresponding
week of last year the figures were 222