Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-23
THE SAME OLD STORY.
No Material Gain in the Bulk of the
Whole Country'S Business.
BEST REPORTS FROM THE WEST.
The Iron Trade Not Expected to Pick Up
Until About Next Fall.
WH4TBRADSTREETs AND R. G. Dun SAY

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.1
NEW YORK, April 22-There is nc
material gain in the volume of general trade
as reported to BrddStreet'S, notwithstanding
Chicago and few other Northwestern
in excess of that in April a year ago.
At ST. Louis, notwithstanding some draw
hacks, spring trade has been fairly salts.
factory, but country produce tn ere is bring
ing only about one-half of last wears prices.
Cincinnati claims a moderately larger
volume of trade than year ago, with 9
better demand for iron. Lumber is in ac-
tive demand at Duluth, where thaws have
checked inroads upon the new iron district
Rains in regions tributary to Kansas City
and Omaha have rendered country roads
almost impossible in many directions
Cattle are stronger, and hogs are in better
demand at the West Washouts of railways
at the South have checked trade in some in
stances.
At the Far South, Far West and East.
New Orleans reports the outlook for an
increased volume of business better since
the State election. Business is quiet on
the Pacific coast, where the outlook is for
an average wheat harvest, large crop of
fruit and probably fair yield from the
vineyards.
At the East former conditions prevail.
Iron is no stronger, although the tendency is
toward Improvement. Few among those
best informed claim to expect any advance
of iron prices prior to next fall.
The distribution of staples, such as cloth
ing, shoes, hats and general drygoods, con-
tinues of good proportions, though not as
large in many instances as anticipated
Leather and hides are not in quite as good
demand, but lumber is more active in all
markets. Petroleum is dull, but a little
stronger, and anthracite coal Is firm, with
higher prices W est.
Wheat prices have reacted about &c per
bushel this week, the advance being due to
stronger cables, renewed interest in the
home market and to somewhat augmented
exports. Total shipments of wheat, includ-
ing flour as wheat, from both coasts for the
week ending April q, equal 8, l07, 600 bushels,
about 2O000 bushels more than in the week
before. and 100000 bushels more than in the
like week in each OF the two preceding
years.
Corn Exports and Railway Earnings.
Exports OF Indian corn this week equaled
100000 bushels. The wesk before they were
I742,OO0 bushels; one year ago, 2s6 900 BUSH
els and two years ago, S55O.oOO bushels.
February's total net earnings by lA rail-
way companies aggregated Sl4, ,2s9, more
than l9 per cent in excess of February's
total in 1891 This was after gain in Feb
ruary gross earnings this year over last of
nearly Il per cent For two months net
earnings increased 6.5 per cent as compared
with 1891 Last year they were II per cent
larger than in 1890.
Bank ciearings for six DAYS ending April
81 aggregate ST. OI3, 900 co., decrease of 80 per
cent from the preceding week, due in part
to the partial observance of Friday of last
week as holiday. The decrease from the
like week year ago is Is per cent.
There were 206 business failures in the
United States this week, against ls5 last
week and lS9l in the like week last wear. OF
the weeks total 81 per cent were of concerns
having only 5000 capital or less, while 13
per cent were OF those with from $1,000 to
$4,000 capital.
The Week on Wall Street.
A renewal of the foreign pressure for gold,
81 900 having been engaged yesterday for
shipment to the tinent, ,suppresses actfv.
ity in share speculation at New York. The
market has already suffered from bearish
attacks on the Coal stocks, based on the
prospect OF a coal rate war with the Penn
sylvania, and reports OF strike among the
Readings employees. A sudden rise of New
England, attributed to the late consolida-
tlon Tumor, was another feature Foreign
interests have been free sellers of the mar
Ret, but now show less DeariSh attitude
Such operations, however, combined with
the scarcity of commercial drafts, account
for the strength of exchange, which is at
81 SS for demand sterling.
Silver has advanced sharply on the report
OF an international monetary conference
and tnaJ the British Indian Treasury will
raise gold loan and curtail its offerings of
bills on India.
Wool is not much more active but prices
are hrmer, as the London sales reopened at
the advance. There IS fair amount of
business. New clip domestic has been COM
ing forward, but only in small lots. Raw
cotton has advanced 1%c per pound within
the week, on better consumption as well as
speculative demand at home and abroad.
Receipts have declined sharply
There is no snap to the general drveoods
trade. Cotton goods are strengthened by
the advance in cotton. Print cloth stocks
are increasing. Domestic all-wool fabrics
are selling fairly well. Blanket mills are
busy.
The Outlook according to z. G. Dun.
Il. G. Dun Co.'s weekly review says: Bad
weather has interfered with the trade at
many points and delayed seeding at the
West. In that section, nevertheless, signs
of improved distribution continue, pros
poets are bright and business is much
greater than last year. At the South there
is a distinctly better feeling owing to the |
advance in the price of cotton, but much |
the greater part of the crop has been mar
keted and general business is now but mod |
erately affected.
General conditions of trade remain favor |
able. Merchandise exports from New York |
Tor the month show gain of but per cent,
while the imports for the month thus far |
exceed by 10 per cent those OF last April, |
which were the largest ever known.
Very little change is seen in the great in |
dustIies, though the demand for iron at some |
points distinctly improves. The market at |
Philadelphia is disappointing, vet there is |
less pressure to sell pig iron: good demand
for sheets, with an advance asked at chi |
cago, and structural iron is in large demand, |
and especially active at the West. Heavy |
electrical consumption has strengthened |
copper, which sells at Il cents for lake; tin |
is rising at 20 cents, and lead is steady. |
Pittsburg Still Forging Ahead.
The following table, compiled by Brad
streets, gives the Clearing House returns for |
Z ba ,raaL- apdad Anvil 81 on5 ,bo ,oou.o.