Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-05-24
DuN.s TRADE REVIEW.

DUN.S TRADE REVIEW.
The Obstacles to Improvements DO Nos
Lessen, Yet the Recuperative Energies
OF the Country, Which Are So Great -
to Constantly Amaze Observers. Con-
finue TO Maintain q General S0undness
Of Trade.
New YORK, May 19.-R. G. Dun q
Co. s weekly review of trade, issued to-
day, says:
The obstacles to improvement do not lessen.
The strikes of coal miners and coke workers
have not ceased but have caused the stoppage
of numerous works this week and embarrass-
ment to some RAILROADS.. The conference Mt
Cleveland exhibited much angry feeling ana
wider difference than had been expected.
and seems to render agreement more distant.
Proceedings in the senate do not indicate that
the latest form of tariff revision had made
speedy final action more probable. Yet the re-
Operative force of the country Is so great that
observers are constantly amazed at the volume
OF business being transacted. the tonnage be-
ing transported, the number OF works resumfng
operation. and the general soundness OF trade.
notwithstanding Influences which in any
other land would produce dire disaster.
Some industries are clearly doing better.
For the first time In many months the ship
ments of boots and shoes from the east exceed
those OF the corresponding week last year. and
while the new orders are not very promising,
and the majority of the factories are dong
about half as much as usual, there is sensible
Improvement in the demand for woman's
goods. especially from the south, though the
west is backward. Some shading of prices in
leather has not brought out increased bust
ness. Once more the sales of wool, 1855, 500
pounds for the week at the three chief mar
ketS, against 2,C46,OOO last year, indicates pre-
paration for more manufacture, and re sump-
tion OF work by some mills is announced, al
though there are many others which expect
to close with this month If samples now be-
ing distributed do not bring satisfactory Or
ders. To q remarkable extent 1t is q hand-to-
mouth business, manufacturers wait for
clothiers, and clothiers wait for retail
ers. In dress goods fair proportion OF
the producing capacity for the season is sold,
though the volume OF orders is still much
smaller than usual Excessive stocks and low
prices of cotton. a misfortune to growers
keep many mills in operation which would
otherwise stop, but attempts to advance some
kinds OF goods have brought no better trade.
So real calamity, the long strike OF miners.
results in better prices for bessemer iron.
steel and many steel products, and to iron
making concerns Of the east partly compen
safes for the overwhelming advantage which
the Pittsburgh and Ohio regions had secured
in the fierce competition for some months
Foundry and mill iron are in abundant sup
ply, with little change in price. and though the
demand for finished goods is not large. firmer
prices appear where there might be demorllza-
tion ii part OF the works were not forced to
close.
best for months, with structural and iron
plates sitter. At Pittsburgh the demand has
raised Bessemer iron s. per ton. Foundry
coke. which sold at 80 cents, sells at 81; wire
nails have advanced to Sl.05, and there has
been heavy buying OF black sheets and barbed
wire. But it is feared that more of the mills
must suspend If the strike continues
Last March, shortly after wheat fell for a
single day below 80 cents for the first time.
prices OF all commodities were the lowest ever
recorded in this country. But this week even
that low-water mark as been passed, and the
average of prices is 1879 per cent. lower than
a year ago. Wheat has sold at 81 cents
May. and 57H for July, though western
receipts have been only 1215,543 bushels
for the week. against 2,313,O46 last
year. Exports were but 791727 against $780,
1854 bushels last year. and the fact that gold
goes instead OF wheat at 81 cents or cotton at
719 cents, has more weight than the rapid
Frightening prospects OF yield next fall
While wheat has fallen cents and cotton one
eighth. corn has declined a cent with large re-
ceipts and Insignificant exports; pork has de-
clined SO cents barrel, lard 10 cents, hogs 5
cents per 100 pounds, and coff>r is an eighth
lower.
There is no scramble for gold" visible
abroad. and the reserve In the Bank of En-
gland is the largest ever known, but Sc 25).0O0
gold has been shipped this week. following
about as much in each of the two preceding
weeks. Most of the gold is drawn from the
treasury through presentation of notes for re-
demption, and the gold reserve Is falling rap
idly.
Customs receipts are again SO per cent less
than a year ago. and internal revenue per
cent less, and the proportion paid In gold Is
Insignificant Banks hold large reserves, but
are sure to be called upon for movement OF
crops. which promise to be larger than last
year, and while no increase in CONNER
c1al loans is yet seen, and that market
is said to be the MOST stagnant ever
known there must be a large demand when
business revives. Hence it is questi oned
whether the treasury could readily effect
further loans under existing laws, and feel
ing OF disquietude has weakened stocks, the
average for railroads having declined 81. 43 per
share and of trusts SOS per share for the
week. Railroad earnings in May thus far are
ia per cent smaller than last year. although
east bound tonnage is quite large.
The decrease in domestic trade represented
by clearings is EFT per cent. for the week. and
only H.. outside New York, which is less than
about third smaller than last year, notwith.
standing large increase in sugar and coffee,
the decrease in other merchandise being very
heavy, and exports again decrease, for the
week lis per cent.
The soundness of the commercial world is
shown in the diminishing Importance Of fail
ures, the liabilities reported for the second
week of May amounting to only S1937. 538. OF
which 81 400. 932 were of trading and 1892 606 of
concerns
The failures this week have been 220 in the
United States. against 247 last year. and "a
in Canada, against Il last year.