The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-15
BUSINESS Is STILL DULL.
DECREASE IN THE PIG IRON OUTPUT.
The Threatened Miners Strike n Threaten
ing Feature The Money Market Un-
disturbed and Collections Good
Business Brsvities.

New YORK, April 10.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade says: 1t cannot
be said that the business OF the country is
expanding when there Is a decrease of
nearly one-sixth within a single month in
the output of pig iron. In nearly all
quarters the admitted slackening of trade
is attributed to merely temporary causes,
but the state of the iron trade cannot be
thus explained, and while it may at any
time Change for the better, it is at present
an unfavorable symptom.
At Detroit charcoal is offered at SIS
the lowest price ever known. 1t is hope
ful feature, on the other hand, that stocks
unsold have decreased during the month
more than one-Quarter, both of anthracite
and coke iron at furnaces reporting. But
the trade is very dull and some southern
furnaces weakening as to price and the
market Tor manufactured forms of iron
and steel chow no improvement. 1t is
said that the orders for rails placed this
year do not reach 10000 tons.
Another element which may prove OF
great though temporary importance is the
decision of a great body of miners to
strike May for eight hours a day. The
Eastern coal trade is very irregular, buy
ers waiting the effects of the coke inter
state decision. Other industries show no
material change though the wool market
is more dull The boot and shoe trade is
uncommonly dull with prices tending
rather downward. Sales of half million
pounds lake copper at 1890 are reported,
and lead is weaker. but tin has been ad-
vanced by speculation. The outlook for
the building trades is generally favorable,
though labor troubles at some localities
are still threatening.
Reports from the various centers of
trades are about the same as last week,
but recognize temporary slackening even
more generally, while it is attributed
mainly to bad weather and the state of
country roads. Pittsburg reports lower
prices for iron products, but glass sus-
tanned with improving trade. At Cleve-
land general ira lie is fairly active, and
lumber especially, and at Cincinnati ma
chinery is very brisk. but other trade only
fair. At Chicago W heat, dressed beef and
wool show considerable increase over
last year, the first adverse report in that
trade for many months, the clothing and
shoe trade still showing gains. Business
at Detroit is dull; at Milwaukee and
Kansas City only fair, and at St. Louis not
very strong, but at st. Paul spring trade
has been very satisfactory, and at Omaha
and Denver fair. At New Orleans trade
is quiet, at Memphis caution rules, but at
Savannah the prospect is bright, and there
Is Improvement at Jacksonville.
SDpcuiafion in hraadStuffS N alta fhouoh
wheat is a fraction higher. Corn is &c
lower, but oats is &c higher; pork 25c
higher, but lard and hogs a shade lower.
Coffee is &c lower, and cotton has declined
l-l6c. Raw sugar has advanced l-l6c
under the very heavy demand since the
duty was removed, but refined grades are
unchanged as yet. In general, the
speculative markets are rather inert and
the general average of prices is now per
cent. lower than it was two weeks ago.
Exports are fairly maintained in the
aggregate, but the movement of wheat,
-four and corn falls far below last years
The returns of foreign trade for March
appears to indicate an excess of about
100000 exports over imports, but the
exports cannot be expected TO enlarge
from this time forward.
The money market here Is quite I'M
disturbed, though at all eastern markets
there is more than usual disposition to
loan on call rather than on time, and at
Boston there is considerable stringency
Philadelphia and Pittsburg are easy, hut
at Cleveland there is some pressure, Gin
cinnati is little close and at Chicago
there is good demand at 6 per cent. At
other western points generally the money
markets are con paratively easy and at the
South not materially changed. Collec-
tions are not a rule quite satisfactory
owing to bad weather and bad country
roads. But the treasury has again put out
about S3,000,000 in week more than it
has taken in and no signs appear of heavy
gold exports as yet.
The business failures occurring through
out the country during the last seven days
number 243, as compared with total Of
243 last week. For the corresponding
week Of last year the figures were 200.