Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-31
THE STATE OF TRADE.
Increase in General Business Not oil
q Flattering Nature.
A VERY SLUGGISH IRON MARKET.
An Encouraging Advance Reported in q
Few Cotton Goods Values.
STRIKES AND BUSINESS FAILURES

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.i
NEW YORK, May 30.-special kilograms
to Brddstreet's point out that owing to the
advanced stage of the season there is rather
less activity in general trade than a fort
night ago. During MAY the volume of
business at Omaha is said to have been
smaller than in April, but in excess of the
total for May. 1889. Groceries and boots
and shoes have shown most activity. Coup-
try orders South have fallen off during the
week. Crop reports throughout the South
are favorable, but in the wheat district re-
ports are conflicting.
Trade reports from Chicago show some
improvement over the preceding week. as
do those from points further northwest. The
opinion gains ground that we are to carry
over nearly 40, 600, 600 bushels of wheat on
July next in excess of the quantity carried
over one year ago, as was pointed out in
prices point to reported prospects for a crop
of only 412, 900, 900 bushels of wheat this
year, as compared with 400, ,000,0 900 bushels
in 1889 as an offset, with tendency to favor
holders of grain.
The iron trade has not developed any fur
ther strength or activity. Heavy buying
for the summer is expected by some in the
trade early in June. Buyers feel that with
the present extraordinary output of fur
naces, factories, bloomeries, forges and mills
prices cannot help but continue in their
favor, and hence indifference to the sug-
gestions of makers to buy literally for the
future.
The recent heavy advance in raw cotton
has further stiffened cotton goods values
and advanced some makes of bleached goods,
tickings and jeans Nc yard. Print cloths
are steady. The current demand is only
fair from agents and rather quiet from job
bers. Staple cottons and fall dressgoods
note chief activity. Woolen goods are only
moderately active. ,.
The fall season will open early. Light
stocks and quiet but steady demand impart
continued frmness to the wool market.
Holders and purchasers views at primary
markets are apart. New wool is arriving
more freely at the seaboard. Carpet wool is
firm, with an upward tendency, on light
stocks and fair demand. Cotton is 10
higher on speculative excitement, due to
short covering, growing out of small sup
plies available on contract requirements.
advices cheerful.
SHARE SPECULATION BEARIsH.
Bear manipulation on large scale keeps
share speculation disturbed and depressed.
The trusts were successfully attacked, and
the restoration Of Western railroad rates
does not prevent bearish raids on the rail-
road share list. Bouds are less active, but
values are steady.
An unprecedented number of strikes have
been reported during May. The total is
243, involving 67,507 strikers, against 75
strikes and 26, 126 strikers in May last year.
For five months this year the total number
of strikes .number $50, involving l36, 454
men, against 296 strikes and 75, ITO strikers
in like portion of 1889. The next move
ment for the extension of the eight-hour day
will be made by coal miners, who number
$500 This, we are informed officially,
will occur as soon as the carpenters strike
is ended. All but 5000 of the carpenters
interested are reported to have gained the
shorter day.
Business failures reported to BrddStreet's
number 140 in the United States this week,
against 186 last week and 1876 this week last
year. Canada had II this week, against %
last week. The total number OF failures in
the United States from January to date is
4,767, against |, ,044 in a like portion of 1889.