The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-09
DUN & CO.'SWEEKLY REVIEW
Business Better, but the Calamity
HOwler Continues to Earn His Salary.
He Has Brilliant Theory to Prove That Low
Prices in the East Mean the Arrival Of an
Indefinite European Hard Spell.

NEW YORK, April S.-R. G. Dun 81
Co.'s weekly review of trade says: An
other week brings additional proof Of
actual improvement in business at many
points. while slackness at a few is ex-
planned by causes obviously local and tenn
porary. The money markets continue
abundantly supplied and easy. Two the
cries exist regarding the state of business.
That trade has disappointed expectations
to some extent is obvious. and there are
some who claim that reaction has begun
of unknown duration. which appeared in
Europe last year, and was only in part de-
ferred here because of extraordinary crops.
These have to support them unusually low
prices, and In some departments q shrink
age In sales. But others argue that disap-
pointmenr is due to excessive ex-
pectations, and especially TO the
failure to take into account the
great volume of indebtedness left from
real-estate speculation at the West and
South. and the influence here of bad crops
and financial depression abroad. These
have to support them much evidence that
the actual business transacted. all branches
considered, is greater than ever before at
this season. In spite of oil obstacles and
complaints.
The reports from other cities are on the
whole favorable. At Boston there is
further Improvement, dry-goods jobbers
being active and mills very well employed.
Western reports are favorable and South
ern better. At Philadelphia, the failure OF
an iron-house, following that of the Lehigh
Iron Company, depresses that trade. At
Pittsburg iron stocks increase. and there
is no improvement in products. shipments
of coke being the lowest for the year thus
far, but the glass trade is steady and trade
in hardware 10 brighter At Cincinnati
the hat trade exceeds last years. but in
building prospects are clouded by o threat
ened strike. at Cleveland all lines i'm
prove, except pig-iron, and money IL in
more demand. At Detroit trade equals lass
years, but freights are less firm. Chicago
reports largely increased sales Of MERIDIAN
Receipts of corn and barley increased
three-fold, of wheat. oats and rye two
fold. compared with last year; OF dressed
beef one-half. and of flour one-third. and
some increase is seen in hogs, cattle and
wool, with decrease in lard, butter and
cheese and especially IN cured meats. At
st. Paul the jobbing trade Is brisk, and at
Minneapolis there is q marked increase.
with unusual prospects for the lumber
trade, but flour is dull and low. At St.
Louis trade is reasonably strong. with
especial improvement In all building ma.
terials. in spite of bad country roads and
is quiet. though receipts of grain and cattle
are light because of bad weather. At
Omaha business in dry goods and shoes is
very active and other trade Is fair. AZ
Louisville business is quite satisfactory,
butdull at Memphis, Stacking at Savannah.
though prospects are bright, and only fair
at New Orleans, though In cotton there 10
some Improvement and sugar is strong and
active.
Payments through clearing -houses out
side New York are larger than ever at this
season. Railroad earning s show substan-
tial increase over last year. Receipts OF
breadstuffs still exceed all past experience.
and receipts of cattle at Western cities are
II. .6l5 head for the first quarter a gain
of IL per cent over last year. Sales of wool
at all principal markets for the year thus
far exceed last years. indicating a larger
manufacture. Shipments of boots and
| and shoes now exceed last years. though
for tho year thus far per cent behind. but
| some shops are now morking overtime.
Coal is dull. and the sellers gradually
getting up to schedule prices.
A better tone is seen In iron. for the out
put has been reduced 1900 tons weekly,
and improved demand Is seen for plate,
structural and sheet iron. Copper is dull.
with indications that the combination has
and tin plates Lead Is dull. but tin rises
q little. Speculation has been stronger.
wheat advancing 81 c: corn. &c. and cotton
| 1l16c. with smaller receipts. Oil Is lc high
CT. but coffee &c lower.
The business failures occurring through
out the country during the last scven DAYS
number 20S AS compared with a total OF 2ls
! last week. For the corresponding week OF
last year the figures were 2iS.