The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-16
WEEKLY REVIEW
The Able but Blind Estimator Aston
ished at the Figures He Sends Out.
After HowliDg About Business in Every Sec
ton, He Finds the Volume Of Trade Larger
than in Any Previous Year.

NEW YORK, April b. r. G.. Dun &
Co.'s weekly report of trade says: Dur
ing all this year business news has been
curiously sectional. Western cities are
gaining almost without exception. doing
the largest business ever known. and in
cllned to resent the suggestion that 1t is in
any degree below expectations. The South
oil the year has been struggling with un-
favorable conditions. doing less business
than a year ago, and looking in vain for a
material change. The East has been dong
q large business. rather less than q year
ago on the whole, but especially less than
many traders expected to do this year.
This, with very thin profits. makes the
season disappointing to many. These
conditions continue. yet the volume
of trade in the whole country
has been larger than in any previous year.
The iron trade illustrates the situation.
tons. against 1913, S02 March !, and 49, o3 @
year ago, when the great strike was in
progress. The reduction in the output of
pig is clearly necessary. since consumption
has been 10000 tons weekly below the out
put. UnsOld stocks. as officially reported,
were 1872, 1865 tons greater April / than Jan.
/, vet when this increase is deducted from
the production, which has been 2.50O.OO0
tons in the quarter. the remaining con-
sumption appears to be greater than in the
same quarter of any previous year. A
better demand is seen for pig and plates at
the East and also at Chicago. and the pipe
business is reviving at Pittsburg. Coal is
unchanged and dull; copper waiting for
producers; tin speculatively strong, and
lead very firm.
Wool sales are large for the season and
since Jan. 1 have been s. per cent.
greater than last year.. the demand for
knit goods being far better than was re-
Gently expected. News from cities is
rather better as to the East. cheering as
usual from the West. but somewhat less
satisfactory as to the South. Iron-mills at
Pittsburg are all in operation and a few
pushed. though prices are weakening.
The glass trade is encouraging. the hard
ware trade good n lumber quiet, and
rolled iron weaker.
isfactory, but machinery is active and the
carriage business better. Detroit notes
good jobbing and manufacturing trades.
in some lines better than last year.
Chicago merchandise sales considera-
bly, exceed last years. Receipts of
wheat and barley are double last
years; of flour. corn and cattle Increased
One-half; of cheese one-third, with sOme
increase in dressed beef. oats and rye. but
a decrease in hogs. wool. butter. lard and
SuICQ ulCut0. ltduC al i buhCC 10 eOOus
At st. Loui it is strong. Notwithstanding
railway washouts. and at Omaha quite
active In groceries, shoes and hardware,
and steady in dry goods. Trade at Kansas
City is quiet. weather in~terrupting. and
prices for cattle being the lowest of the
year. AT Minneapolis and St. Paul trade
is excellent, especially In lumber: at Dem
yer fair. business at Little Rock is de-
pressed; at Nashville and Memphis dull;
somewhat improved at Montgomery, but
rather fat at New Orleans n slackening
at Savannah.
Speculative markets have been more act
i've. wheat falling size. with sales of a.
OOO. 200 bushels here. and corn 1c, while oats
are slightly higher. Western receipts of
wheat continue at the rate of $500. 900
bushels weekly, with exports shrinking.
but Western receipts of corn have been
10000 bushels in three days. and exports
10000. Cotton exports have started mp
again. exceeding last years, and the price
has advanced 3sc during the week. with
enormous speculative transactions. being
no less thar $50. 600 bales In New York. No
change Is seen in pork products; coffee is u
lac weaker, and oil 10 stronger. The tinan-
cial situation is remarkably free from I'M
favorable signs. Collections In nearly all
parts of the country are better than usual.
The business failures occurring through
out the country during the last seven days
numbered 226, as compared with totals of
EOS last week. For the corresponding week
of last year the failures were psi.