St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-31
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
I'm Improvement Greatest in West
err Markets.

New YORK, Oct. 30-R. G. Dun & Co. s
weekly review says: The improvement in
business continues. 1t is greater than before
at the West considerable at the South and is
clearly perceived even at the East. Yet dis
couragement III some branches of industry
is doubtless more apparent than before evil
IDENTIFY because calculations have reen made
upon more rapid and great increase in bus
mess than has been realized. Premature ex-
pansion i'll some forms Of production and of
trade has invited the usual corrective, aud a
depression exists which is so general that it
might easily be misinterpreted.
The iron industry shows most change
Extreme anxiety TO sell pig iron, and finau-
cial weakness in unexpected quarters pro-
duce present depression which is i'll curious
contrast with the Astounding confidence
which prevails regarding the future Bar
mills find lack of large orders, plate mills
have fair business al the lowest prices ever
recorded, and structural iron is Irregular aud
also very low. The anthracite coal market
Is more cheerful. Copper is depressed by
heavy sales at ll2c for lake. Tin has gone
below zoe, and lead has sold down TO 42c
Wool is somewhat easier. The dress goods
market is active and works we'll EMPLOYED
though at narrow margins of profit. Cotton
mills have increased business in fancies but
trade i'll staples is falling off and BUYERS
urge that lower prices are justified BY the
decline in raw cotton. Yet the Southern de-
nland is better, and the trade on the whole
fairly good.
Reports from other cities are decidedly
more encouraging than usual. though at the
East Improvement is not rapid. Boston re-
ports fair trade: with improvement in many
lines. At Hartford dry goods show decided
improvement. At Philadelphia fanneis
blankets and wooden goods are in better de-
mand from the West. Improvement is seen
i'll groceries. At Cleveland trade in dry
goods groceries and hardware is good; fair
in shoes and clothing. At Cincinnati some
improvement is seen In merchandise, and
the whisky tade is fair. At Chicago some
gain IS seen in receipts of oats, seventh i'll
cattle. sixth i'll flour. a third in hides, a
quarter in dressed beef, and receipts of
wheat and rye are three times last years, but
cheese, butter aud wool fail short little:
corn, barley and cured meats a third and
lard 20 per cent. In dry goods, clothing and
shoes. trade is much larger than year ago.
Business is good at Milwaukee and ST.
Paul, and at Minneapolis the -four output
100000 barrels, is gain the largest OH record
At st. Louis seasonable goods are in strong
demand and distribution greater than year
ago. At Kansas City steady and healthful
activity is noted. and trade is encouraging at
Louisville, fairly good at Memphis and Nash
vile, with cotton receipts very heavy at Gal
weston. New Orleans. Charleston and Savan-
nah. AT most Southern points general trade
improves, but At Charleston money is still
tight.
Speculation In breadstuffs has advanced
prices this week, partly Oh account of the re-
ported prohibition of wheat exports from
Russia. Receipts at the West have been 1914
0c0 bushels in four days, against exports of
/, 305. 000 and yet the price rises &c. Without
any excuse. speculative manipulation has
hoisted corn sc, but pork products are a
shade lower. and cotton declines q sixteenth,
with continuing heavy receipts Oil has
fallen SEC, but coffee is shade stronger and
sugar unchanged. No fears are entertained
of monetary pressure. Throughout the East
and West and almost South money markets
are we'll supplied for legitimate business and
rates tend lower, while collections improve
almost everywhere, but especially at the
principal Western points.
The business failures occurring throughout
the country during the past seven days num-
Der 255, as compared with total of 249 last
week, and for the corresponding week of last
year the figures were 21S.