The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-03-15
FINANCIAL.

4 ~ W. DON ~ COS WEEKLY REVIEW.
NEW YORK, March 9,-E7idences of
present improvements in business
multiply but confidence in future i'm.
provement does not seem to increase.
There Is more business and larger
production by industries, for the SEA,
son has arrived when greater activity
is necessary if dealers stocks are to
be replenished, and those who cannot
make calculations beyond a few
months are the more anxious to crowd
as much trade as they safely can into
those months. In some branches of
distribution, however, there are mai.
cations OF Il diminishing demand for
| goods, and the evident preference for
medium low-prioed articles with the
known reduction in wages and family
expenditures, lead many to feel some
what less confident that business will
soon recover its former volume. I'm
dertakings reaching beyond short
time are not made with greater free.
dom and in spite of larger present
demand prices of manufactured goods
tend downward.
The most distinct gain is in iron
and steel manufacture. The output OF
pig iron increased per cent, though
1t is still 81 per cent, less than a year
ago. Trade in bar iron is very unsat-
istactory; rails are flat and with q
larger production of coke contracts are
made at as low price, as ever. Tin
Is lower, with q fall at the London
market, being quoted here at 1871 and
copper does not improve, though lead
is slightly higher.
shipments Of boots and shoes from
the East are IA per cent. smaller
than year ago for the same week,
and purchases are still mainly OF
medium or low priced goods.
In textile manufactures and dry
goods there is increased activity and
replenishment of stocks, as is natural
| at this season. But the demand thus
, far fails much short of expectations
and its character indicates great econ
omy in consumption. Ip wOolens also
manufactures are increasing produce
ton, mainly in a testative way, iron
orders which are little more than SUI
ticient to test the market. In
the past five weeks the decrease
has beer only II per cent, which is a
marked improvement, in part due to
the iact that the mills having any or
ders are buying at once what wool
they expect TO need for months to
come. Breadstuffs and oils have been
stronger, provisions weaker and Cot
ton hesitates. Wheat advanced lie;
western receipts being only 2,l16,0
bushels, against 3,S59,10 last year,
and Atlantic exports 1852 10 against
775, 1872 last year. Corn receipts at the
West were 3,S15,1 $50 bushels, against
2, 40, 9S1 last year, but price rose
nearly l cent. Lard and hogs both |
declined, nevertheless. Sales of cot
ton were larger at first with some de. |
cline, which afterwards recovered. |
The recovery in the price of bar silver,
which fell to 27d, but recovered to o.
81, has affected prices.
The volume OF domestictrade shown |
by clearings decreases tor the week
only II A per cent outside of New York,
and 34.9 per cent compared with last
year.
In foreign trade changes are also for
the better, exports having been large |
and for four weeks IA per cent larger |
than last year, while the decrease in
imports for February was 81 per cent
Failures are growing less important
and somewhat fewer also For the
week ending March 1, the liabilities
thus far reported were only s., 1897 ,S32
and for foul weeks of February, $l4,-
S86,09l of which $6,792,615 were of
and $7,767 ,127 OF trad
ing concerns. The number of failures
during the past week has been 248 in
the United States against 1913 last
year, and go in Canada against 80 last
year.
Trade in merchandise lines at
Pittsburg il further restricted; collec-
tions are unsatisfactory and manufac-
turers of iron, steel and glass claim
that little or no profit results from
sales at present prices. At Cincinnati
man ufacturers do not report an i'm.
provement, although some jobbers do.
A fair trade is experienced in few
lines at Cleveland, although better
outlook in manufacturing lines is an
nounced at Louisville, Detroit and In
There is more inquiry for
lumber at Minneapolis and the pro-
duction of flour is increasing. In
creased activity is also reported from
Duluth and Portland, OIe. Business
at Nashville is smaller than year
ago. Mem phis reports moderate gains
in sales of plantation supplies, hard I
ware and dry goods.
BRADsTREET'S WEEKLY REVIEW.
NEW YORK, March 9.-Bradstreet's
tomorrow will say:
The comparatively less favorable re-
port as to the volume o! sales and dis.
tribution of general merchandise en-
phasized last weeks returns with
some exceptions, practically I'M
changed. Bright and warmer weather
has stimulated retail lines at num-
Der of cities. Eastern shoe manufac.
turers report a slightly improved
and at number of larger
centers jobbers in grocer
les, dry goods, hardware, hats, shoes
and millinery report steadily main.
tanned inquiry, yet, with exceptions,
numerous orders for small amounts
for immediate wants continue TO rule.