Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-02
BOOM IN HARDWARE.
The Usual June Lull in the Trade
Failed to Materialize.
WIRE SCREENS In ACTIVE DEMAND.
a Great Business Also in Agricultural
Implements.
TIE WHEAT AND FLOUR SITUATION
OFFICE OF PrTrsBURe DISPATCH, F,
Tn-SnAY 1ulv 1900

OFFICE OF PTTTsBURe DIsPATcH,)
TUESDAY. July /. 1890. I
The general hardware trade has not held up
30 well for many years as this season. Usually
traoe slackens up in the month of June, and
there comes lun before fall trade opens. The
activity of April and May still helds. The
record for June as to volume of trade has
never been eQualed in Pittsburg for the same
month, according to the testimony of leading
dealers. Said one who probably handles more
goods than any other hardware dealer of the
city: "Our trade for the first half of this year
breaks all former records, and has held up
longer than ever before The quiet
time we expect in June has not
yet come. Lawn mowers wire cloth,
screen doors, and agricultural implements
have been in excellent demand and am conf
dent that our volume of trade this season has
been . per cent better than last Wire screens,
which only few years ago were regarded as a
luxury, are now coming to be considered a ne
cessity. and demand in this line is 80 per cent
larger than last season. The only exception to
the activity of trade has been in the line of
refrigerators, which is owing to the high price
of ice. Manufacturers in this line will in all
probability be forced TO carry over until an
other season more than thei- usual amount of
stock"
In the past few weeks wire anG cut nails have
shown an upward movement. Prices are a
shade higher and firm at the advance.
Prices Likely to Go Up.
In response to the query as to the outlook for
fall trade. leading hardware dealer said: I'VE
have been TOO busy meeting orders to give our
selves any concern about the future. If busi-
ness was slack and prices were dropping, as is
often the case at this time of the year. we
would push orders for fall trade But, with the
present hardening tendency of iron and steel
products, it would not be business to push trade
Tor the future. All can say as to the outlook
IS that prices are likely to be higher for our
goods in the fall"
The wheat and -four situation battles the
wisest heads. There j. little question that the
late drift has been toward a lower level. and
that some of our. leading -four jobbers have
been cutting prices for a week or two past. The
future of markets will, no doubt, be determined
as soon as the Northwestern harvests are gath
cred. From the Southwest where the wheat is
already garnered 1t is not claimed that the
yield will be above three-fourths the average
and quality is only fair TO good.
The Northwestern Muller of Minneapolis,
which Is authority on wheat and -four in one of
the great wheat belts of the continent in it's
current number, gives the situation and out
look as follows: Prices of wheat averaged
lower the past week with unusual dullne>s. 1t
rs too early for reliable crop estimates. One of
the critical periods is yet to pass. If present
conditions continue full crop may be looked
for But a few days of heat might injure the
brightest prospects. The acreage is about the
same as last year"
Wheat Crop Prospects.
The condition of the wheat crop in Ohio is
1alr, OUT IL lnolana ana Illinois not SO good.
Latest advices from London and Liverpool in
dicate very dull flour markets with dropping
tendencies, and the situation decidedly in
buyers favor. The crop prospects of England
are very good
In France, Belgium, Holland and Germany
prospects have been diminished in the past few
weeks by cool weather and rains. A prospect
of 20 per cent in Hungary two weeks ago has
been reduced to so per cent in consequence of
rust. In Germany rye, which is one of the
principal crops has been very much damaged
by cold weather of late. In the next week or
two the question of price of breadstuffs will in
great measure be determined.
Prospects now are good enough to give sub
stantial grounds of comfort 70 the bears who
have the field at present, both at home and
abroad.