Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-05-10
DuN's TRADE REVIEW.

Long List OF Adverse Conditions Calcu.
lated to Depress Business, Borne Up
Against by the People OF tho United
States. Sustained by . Sublime Faith In
tho Future of Thor Country.
NEW YORK, May 5.-R. G. Dun &
Co. s weekly review of trade, issued to-
day, says:
It is now. as It has been for nearly year,
the amazement Of intelligent observers that
the United States suffers so little from the re-
verses which other lands share, but which fall
more heavily here than anywhere else The
past week has seen events which would suf-
nee to cause or to explain much disaster,
such as strikes Of all bituminous Goa.
mines and coke workers, with numerous
riots; strikes of many thousands. OF men in
other employments; stoppage of many manu-
featuring works In consequence; arrest Of traf-
nc on several great railroads by lawless pro-
ceedtngs. and the march OF discontinued mon.
In all mum bertng several thousands. toward the
national capital In the hope OF controlling leg
1slation; the lowest price ever known for
wheat, and almost the lowest prices ever
known for commodities as o whole; exports Of
IS. 400 900 gold instead Of abnormally cheapened
prospects. and the fall OF the treasury gold re-
serve below the 800 900 900 limit are significant
OF widespread difficulty. Yet the volume OF
business Is but 3l3 per cent. less than year
ago. and in some directions signs OF improve.
ment appear even now and the sublime faith
OF the people in their future is shown in the
general belief that the strikes and disorders
will quickly.disappear.
Favoring weather has brought a DIS
tinct change in reports as to condition Of
winter wheat and as to acreage in corn and
cotton. 1t is also important that prices OF
iron and steel products promptly advance. in
answer to the stoppage Of some works through
strikes, since it indicates that the recent i'm
provement in the apparent demand was OF
substantial character. At Pittsburgh, Chi
cago. Philadelphia and New York. prices
have generally advanced. though ir-
regularly, and In bar iron quota
tions appear a shade weaker Bessemer pig
has advanced IS cents to 81, steel billets 81 to
Sl50, and plates and structural iron and steel
and wire rods are stronger. Many reason
that the advance may be maintained at least
for q time, because cost will rise ii strikes
succeed. and If they fail. because Of the
demonstrated existence of demand, sub
stantially equal to the full product of works
thus far started.
The shoe industry. which has fallen behind
the shipments Of last year only II per cent in
April, Is somewhat less active than OF late, but
a fair business is reported In heavy shoes. and
some improvement In the demand for womens
wear.
Another point of encouragement is the heavy
buying OF wool. amounting to GOD pounds
for the week at the three chief markets. against
4,661.0OO last year; and In April sales were
81 .838, $50 pounds. against $50 last year
As these sales have for years been in
steady relation to the entire consumption OF
wool. 1t is fair to infer that. in spite Of the
stoppage OF some important works. and in
spite of uncertainties as to labor and as to leg
islation. sumption will continue large for
some weeks at least.
The enormous unsold stock Of wheat, which
has made lower average OF prices in Febru-
airy. March and April than was ever known in
any previous month, has depressed May wheat
to the lowest point on record, although west
ern receipts were 1850. 738. against 2.4ss.o50
last year. and Atlantic exports 1143 2s5. against
1.5lselO last year. The decline for spot has
been slight. with no change for
July. Corn yielded quarter. exports
falling suddenly below. while western receipts
nearly doubled last years. and pork products
were lower. Cotton spectators. who havs
seen larger receipts from plantations in April
than year ago. have lost faith and grip with
favoring accounts of acreage planted, and the
price declined an eighth.
Railroad agreements promise better things.
as usual, but the gross earnings OF all roads
reporting in April were 1877 per cent. less than
last year. following decline OF 1876 in March
and 14.6 in February. Such returns are but
encouraging. 1t Is more impor-
tant that the Great Northern strike has
ended, and that vigorous action by the au
thorities prevents interruption Of other lines
by bands of tramps. In view OF strikes and
BOlu cApoElS IL 10 Vi
that railroad stocks have declined only IS cents
per 800 during the week. while reports al out
legislation have lifted trust stocks 81 cents,
legal proceedings begun In
Illinois and threatened here.
Money markets have not been disturbed by
the large outgo of gold. which was taken
mainly from the treasury through redemption
Of notes. The continued flow OF unemployed
m oney hither is not q sign Of health nor the
outgo of gold instead of wheat at 81 cents. or
cotton at 70. The demand for comm ercial
loans of the better class does not increase. but
there are more numerous applications for
loans on questionable paper from the interior.