Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-26
ROUGH RURAL ROADS
Are About the Only Clog on a Promis-
inc Business Situation.
EVEN IRON SHOWS A LITTLE LIFE,
Share Speculation Dull and Silver Falls
Through the Record
Dun NOT SURE OF THE TREND OF TRADE
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH


seasonable staples by jobbers, as reported
by wire TO Brddstreet'S, and the outlook is
for further improvement; but the bad con-
dition Of country roads is said to delay de-
mand from farmers, as well as mercantile
collections. The election in Louisiana has
also acted as check to business in that re-
giOn, but the continued declining tendency
of prices of leading staples cereals, iron,
wool, cotton, petroleum and other products
appears to have as much effect as anything
else in delaying a prompt and widespread
revival in the demand.
Spring trade sales are over in some re-
gions and travellers are off the road for a
month. As noted in preceding weeks, rela-
lively the most active business is doing in
drygoods, shoes, hardware and groceries by
jobbers at Chicago, Omaha, Kansas City,
st. Joseph, Minneapolis, st. Paul and Du-
luth.
In the West and South.
81. Louis merchants are looking ahead to
an early reduction of stocks of staple goods
held there. Trade on the Pacific Coast is
not OF full volume and considerable coin is
being shipped East in settlement of trade
1HASASNS. lN pOAlo
in demand for plantation supplies
Orders for drygoods from the West and
New England received at New York and
Boston have declined a little, probably only
temporarily. Print cloths are not as firm,
one manufacturer having offered his supply
al a concession. Makers of ginghams are
behind on orders, and woolen and worsted
dress goods are in good movement Carpets
are advanced.
Lumber is in better demand and firmer.
Copper and rubber are both in good de-
mand from manufacturers and higher in
price.
Wool has been in better demand this
week. but at no better prices. In fact the
London sales next week are expected to e1-
ercise a depressing influence on quotations.
Cotton declined Lice this week.
The Export Movement of Grains.
Exports of wheat from both coasts, includ-
ing flour as wheat. are equal to 2, S14, 600
bushels, exclusive of the San Francisco
total, which points, nevertheless, to a SUBJ
stantial decrease from the aggregates sent
abroad in each of two preceding weeks,
though much more than was exported in
like weeks in four preceding years. Exports
OF Indian corn, too, fell away from 3, 101 900
bushels last week to 2,202, 600 bushels this
$780, but four times that sent abroad in the
week one year ago
The discussion of the Bland silver bill in
Congress had a restricting influence on the
speculative share market, and though the
apparent check in the progress of that
measure causes revival of confidence, the
market has been affected by bearish manipu-
lation operations in Northern Pacific, Rich
mond Terminal and other stocks. On the
IL III, ,,,1r a1,,l,
Sugar and Cordage, have made marked ad-
vances. The bond market has been dull
and inactive.
Silver Breaks the Record Again.
Foreign exchange is strong, with an ad-
vance Of nearly 1c on the pound, but with
out, as vet, inducing exports of gold. Silver
this week reached the lowest figures on
record, SS1sc per ounce here and 10 7-16d
per ounce in London, the uncertainty about
the Bland bill checking the buving demand.
There were 191 business failures in the
United States this week, few less than
last week, as well as in the like week a
year ago. This points TO about Il fewer
for three months than in the first quarter of
1891, and 500 fewer than in like portions of
1890 and of 1889. About 81 per cent of the
weeks failures were of firms employing
s. 900 capital or less, and IL per cent of
those having between $1,000 and $4,000.
There were only Is failures this week
where more than $4,000 capital was en-
ployed.
Bank clearlngs at IS cities this week
aggregate 81, 149 000,00G a decrease from
last week of 4 per cent, but an increase as
compared with the like week year ago of
% per cent,
r. G. Dun's Report Rather Muddled.
r. G. Dun's weekly review saws:
Business indications are not quite so clear
There is, on the whole, less evidence of i'm
provement in distribution, and yet the pros
rect in the great industries seems brighter
The movement OF grain and cotton falls off
and the sharp decline in prices is is felt in
many quarters; but the tone in the iron,
wooden, cotton and shoe manufactures is
rather improved. The money markets are |
ahundantly supplied. With unusually con-
fiicting signs, the confidence which prevails |
in business circles is still unabated. |
Wheat has dropped to 951Sc, a decline of |
nearly SC for the week, though stronger in |
tone at the end, receipts having been 800 600 |
bushels, and exports only $4,000 in four |
davs. Corn is nearly cent stronger, with |
exports of ], ,344 O3O bushels in four days, but |
oats is &c lower: pork and lard shade |
lower: oil has declined 234c, and coffee &c. |
Cotton is down to CSC for middling uplands
although receipts this week have been
much less and exports greater than year |
ago The stocks at ports have diminished, |
DlU are SIlll 4f7,UVU DdtcS greater tDel at the Il
same date last year. Prices of commodities, |
as a whole, nave declined q of / per cent /
during the week, and are now Is per cent |
lowe1 than year ago at this time.
Trade at the Leading Cities.
At Boston bad weather affects the dry |
goods trade, which is yet quite satisfactory. |
At Bridgeport plush works are stopped bv a |
strike At Hartford the wool trade is lair. |
At Philadelphia sales of drygoods are |
smaller than of late, though equal to last /
years. At Baltimore manufacturers of cot |
ton duck and architectural iron are busy
with an abundance of orders.
At Cincinnati machinery is brisk surpass-
ing the trade of former years, and retail bus
iness is brighter. At Cleveland rolling mills |
are full of work, though at prices 10 to Is 1
per cent lower than ever before. Business |
in drygOOds and hardware is good and in Il
other brances fair. At Detroit trade is
equal to last years, but has no snap.
At Chicago, increase is seen in receipts of L
brea dstuffs, dressed beef cheese and butter,
but decrease in provisions, cattle, hides and /
wool. Merchandise sales are equal to last /
wears Unfavorable weather affects sprino
trade at Milwaukee, and seriously hampers
trade at st. Louis, though the feeling is
hopeful. At Minneapolis trade is good
business is brisk; at Omaha very active and /
at Kansas City improving in retail business,
though receipts of cattle and hogs are light
Improvement is seen at Denver and also /
at Louisville; but Memphis reports no i'm
provement: Montgomery a moderate trade, /
and Savannah some decline. At New Orleans
business is quiet, though there is a better
movement OF cotton, and sugar is active.
Iron Shows Signs of Picking Up.
The iron trade shows a better tone in /
spite of very low prices Larger sales of pig
ns,, @l,n