Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-03-16
TRADE REVIEW.
Dun and Brsdstreet Say business IL I'm
proving.
New YORK. March 12.-R. &. Dun q
Co. S weekly review OF trade SAYS:


proving.
New YORK. March 12.-R. G. Dun &
Co. S weekly review OF trade says:
Evidences OF present improvement In bust
ness multiply, but confidence In future i'm
provement does not seem 10 increase. There
Is more business and larger production by In
dustries for the season has arrived when
greater activity is necessary II dealers stocks
are TO be replenished, and those who cannot
make calculations beyond few months are the
more anxious 10 crowd as much trade Is they
safely can into those months
"In some branches Of distribution. however,
there are indications ofa diminishing demand
for goods and the evident preference for medi-
um and low-priced articles, with the known re
duction in wages and family expenditures leads
many to feel ewhat less confident that bust
ness will soon recover It's former volume. Un
dertakings reaching beyond short time are
mss made with greater freedom and in spite OF
Q larger present demand prices OF manufac
tured goods tend downward
"The most gain Is in iron and steel manu-
facture. The output OF pig iron increased 10
per cent, though II Is s.,ll 81 per cent. less
than year ago.
shipments OF boots and shoes from the east
are las per cent smaller than year ago for
the same weeks, aud purchases are still mainly
OF medium or low-prlced goods.
In textile manufactures aud dry goods there
stocks, as is natural AZ this season But the
demand thus far falls much short OF expecta-
tions and rs character indicates great economy
In consumption In woolens also manufacturers
are increasing production mainly in q tentative
way, or on orders which are little more than
sufficient to test the market
'Breadstuns and oils have been stronger,
provisions weaker and cotton hesitates. Wheat
advanced half cent and corn rose nearly
cent. Lard and hogs both declined, neverthe-
less. Sales OF cotton were larger at first with
some decline, which was afterwards recovered
The recovery in the price OF bar silver which
fell TO ed but recovered 10 -. Sid, has affected
prices The volume OF domestic trade shown
by clearings decreases for the week only IA
per cent outside New York and "a per cent.
here compared with last year In foreign trade
changes are also for the better, exports having
been large. and for four weeks IL 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 the liabilities thus far reported were
only g., 93'. S32, and for four weeks in February
Sl4 1901, Of which 80. 49,, 65 were OF manu-
featuring and 81, 697 III OF trading concerns
The number Of failures during the last week
have been PAS In the United States against
1893 las year, and % IN Canada, against 81 last
year
Bradstreet's says:
The comparatively less favorable report as
10 the volume OF sales and distribution OF gen
eral merchandise emphasized last week re-
mains, with some exceptions pracu-
cally unchanged Bright and warmer weather
has stimulated retail lines at num-
Der OF cities. Eastern shoe manufacturers
report a slightly improved demand, and at q
number OF larger distributing centcrs iobbers
IN groceries. dry goods, hardware, hats shoes
and millinery report steadily maintained In
quiry, yet, with exceptions, numerous orders
Tor small amounts for immediate wants contlne
the rule
While wheat, Indian corn and oats advanced
&c, lc and a C in price respectively this week,
and cotton and sugar remained unchanged.
domestic feeces have again beer shaded,
cutting Australian woods out OF the mar
ket SO far as competition as 10 price is
Pig and shaped iron, steel
billets, and rails and iron ore have also
been shaded again in some instances, making
new low records, and pork has gone OF .
cents and lard Is Chicago advises that loans
OF national banks there have increased s. oJO-
900 and total deposits sl3,0JOOO0 since Decem-
Der.
Favorable trade conditions center at Chica-
90 and St. Louis, the former reporting the best
weeks sale OF dry goods for months, bringing
the total for the year into favorable compar-
ison with that In the like portion OF last
goods at St Louis also report continued i'm.
provement, with u favorable comparison thus
far during the year with last year. Milwaukee
bankers report increased demand for accommo-
lation and other evidences OF Improvement
in trade, while at 81 Paul spring trade, al
though m oderate, is IN full swing. Kansas
City and Omaha make reports which suggest
a strong underlying demand. At Cincinnati
do not report an Improvement,
although some iobbcrs do. a fair trade y ex-
in few lines at. Cleveland, although
\ better outlook in manufacturing lines is an
bounced at Louisville Detroit and Indianap.
oils There is more inquiry for lumber at Min
and the production OF flour Is increas.
ing. Increased activity is also reported from
Duluth and Portland Ore
Gross earnings OF eighty-three railroads IN
February reported 10 Bradstreets show q loss
OF u per cent compared with February 1893,
that being little greater than in January,
when II was ga per cent less than in that
month the year before. Southern and south
western roads present heavier proportionato
losses, the granger lines doing better than in
Ia