The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-10
IMPROVEMENTS SLOW
Many Industries Struggling to
Resume, but Business Bad.
Dun & Co.'s Review of Trade Not What
Was Generally Expected-Brad-
streets Interesting Summary.

NEW YORK. Feb. 9.-R- C. Dun e. Co.'S
weekly review or trade says: improvements
in business still appear in many directions,
but it seems to be in part balanced by loss
in others. The gradual gain which began
some time ago, and was strengthened a
little by the success OF the treasury loan.
has scarcely answered. expectations. Re
ports of resumption of work continue to in
dicate that the industries are doing more
than in December, and yet the record Of
their actual gain is disappointingly small.
Crop reports were expected TO cause a
great advance in wheat, but the price has
dropped to 631sc cash. the lowest point ever
known in this market, and at Chicago May
wheat has gone lower than ever. Receipts
have been larger at the West, l,919,5I7 bu,
against 2,1S6, $40 blu for the same week last
year, while Atlantic exports are not a third
Of last years. Stocks in sight diminish lit
tie, and are so great that bankers. after
their trying experience OF last spring, ara
not in haste to carry them for speculations-
The fall for the week was about 2 cents,
with sales of 100000 bu in one day and
Il, OO0,O 600 for the week. Sales OF corn were
small, and the price declined less than a
cent, though Western receipts were 4,1f7,-
266 bu, against 2,55S. pa last year.
Hog produces and coffee were substan-
TALLY unchanged. Cotton rose a sixteenth
in spite of visible stock exceeding half the
worlds consumption for a year. and a de-
crease of ~ per cent COMPARED with last
Speculative forces on either side, rather
than the facts OF supply ana demand. gov
ern the markets. Inc oomesuc urdee eoes
not materially increase, exchanges indicate
ing a decline compared with last year %
1875 per cent. and 149 per cent
at New York.
The actual production OF pig iron Feb.
1 was 90, PAP tons weekly, against 97,cS7 tons
Jan. /, and 171.201 a year ago. Textile man
discloses larger stocks of cotton goods held
by dealers than was supposed, and quite
a large proportion OF mills likely TO close
before long unless orders increase, but the
number reported starting is again several
times the number reported closing. Sales
of wool were decidedly larger last week.
5,776,040 pounds against 6,S5, 80 last year,
and the markets were all more active. but
this week are comparatively quiet
Foreign trade does not improve, domestic
exports at last falling below those OF the
corresponding week last year, though for
the year thus far the increase is 1917 per
cent. while the imports are 50 per cent.
less than last year.
| The failures for the week were 3S in
the United States, against 222 Est year. and
sixty in Canada, against. forty-four last
year, several being of more than Ordinary
Importance. Out Of 2.1SS commercial fail.
against 1,4O9 for the same month last war.
liabilities have been reported amounting to
$Zs.SiS,02S, of which 81, $50. 7I5 were OF map
ufacturing and N7,234,07 OF trading coh-
Germs.
Dradstreets Trade Review.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9.-Bradstreet's. 70.
morrow, will say: Unfavorable features in
general merchandise lines are conspicuous
In reaction on the raw wool market. fol-
lowing the squirt given sales OF that staple,
particularly at Boston in the preceding two
weeks, when the quantity sold exceeded T.
100000 pounds, and in the appearance OF
unreasonable weather South and West,
and reports from Baltimore that general
trade for February opens disappointment,
results being smaller than expected. There
are forty odd assumptions of important
industrial establishments this week con-
trasted with announcements of the shutting
down of only six similar concerns. Aa
easier wool market at home, emphasized by
a weaker market at London, may be con-
trasted with the fair jobbing movement in
general dry goods amongst leading houses
at Eastern ~centers, which report the vol
ume of trade for January fair, notwith-
standing sales were In small lots. A favor
able surprise is in results OF the public sale
OF home and foreign silks at New York,
prices paid, instead OF resulting in a loss,
as predicted, furnishing a fair margin Of
profit and pointing out the Willingness OF
dealers to replenish stocks in advance OF
Immediate demands. There IS n gain also
in movement OF mems wear woolens from
Eastern centers. The increased demand
for steel billets at Pitsburg and Chicago Is
such that prices are nearly If not quite 81
O ton higher, and more than. forty thousand
tons of steel have been contracted for. De-
mand for rods, wire and nails have In
creased as we'll and some mills have re-
fused further orders at current prices
Sales Of Southern pig iron have been in
creased at the West.
Exports OF wheat from both coasts (hour
included) amounted to 2,67S,WO bushels, a
moderate gain over last week. when the
total was 2,0S3,0 600 bushels, but a much
smaller total than one year ago or two
years ago. when the aggregates were, re-
spectively, 1881, 600 and 3,64l.0O bushels.
During the first five weeks OF the calendar
year 1892 total stocks Of available wheat
here and in Canada east or the Rockies
declined about 100000 bushels net: In a
like portion of 1893 they increased net about
LOO. 600 bushels. but this year there is a
net decrease OF more than 100000 bushels.
A good deal of Eastern money has been
sent West, it's use being noticeable at
Omaha and Duluth.
The volume of trade is fair at Cleve-
land, but sales are in small lots. At Gin
cinnati there is no change, except the
manufacturers report more life In Inquiries.
There is a Sigh. increase in business az
Louisville, particularly in leaf tobacco.
saI 5 of which are satisfactory and prices
higher. Shipments of dry goods are more
conspicuous from Chicago, although sales
of hardware have improved. There Is a
on improved conditions. and a better de
mand for iron, steel and leather. A fairly
active trade is reported from Kansas City
by both tobbers and retailers, which is
true OF wholesale dealers In groceries ano
provisions at Omaha Business generally
Is quiet at Milwaukee,. although a slight
Improvement is reported at the banks