Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-04-26
a BRIGHTER OUTLOOK

Which Extensive Storms and Numer0us
Strikes Have Checked But Not Arrested
-Dun's Review Of the Commercial and
Industrial situation ON the Whole
Rather More Encouraging Than Lass
Weeks Report The Weeks Failures
Etc.
NEW York, April 21.-R. G. Dun &
Co. s weekly review of trade, issued to-
day, says:
Extensive storms checked improvement In
business only for time, and numerous striker
have not vet arrested 1t. Distribution OF PROD
ucts to consumers seems larger. for more pec-
Eie are earning, and therefore more people are
able to buy. But it is less clear that the IN
crease of working force will continue, or that
orders for products will further expand.
The improvement thus far realized IL
based on actual increase in orders Tor
consumption, but part of this was to cover De-
lated demands for the spring season con-
siderable portion OF the industrial force Is stlii
unemployed, and with wages much lower than
q wear ago consumption is not as large. Pay
ments through all clearing houses for the week
I.are 272 per cent. less than last year, $50 at
New York and 81 elsewhere. New orders for
future distribution are still materially re-
stricted by uncertainty about action at w ASH
ington, and about the extent and outcome OF
labor difficulties.
The strike OF coke workers. though virtually
over still affects output and deliveries.
Strikes in building trades at many cities re-
strict EMPLOYMENT of labor and demand for
materials, and during the past week there
have been numerous strikes in textile and
other manufacturing works, most OF them BE-
cause restoration of wages to rates formerly
paid is not yet conceded. Most of the recov.
cry realized In business has been made posi-.
BILE by consent OF workers to accept lower
wages for time, and II they insist on restora-
ton Of wages before consumptt on has restored
prices, many works must STOP
The great strike threatened by the btu
minous coal miners and strikes of associated
employees some railroads make the future
less hopeful Out of twenty-nine textile and
Woodworking concerns which stopped during
the past week about third closed because Of
trouble about wages Otherwise the number
resuming work or increasing force, which was
twenty-five, would have been larger. Enough
orders have been taken in iron and steel to
keep employed for time the works now in
operation; but this week no definite increase
is seen. Structural work ut the west is linn
tied. and new business at the east hardly
makes up for orders filled. Rails move slowly,
and completion Of orders for wire. nails and
barbed wire is followed by weakness in prices
The great sales OF Bessemer iron at Pittsburgh
have been at such low prfces-about 100000
tons going at a little over $40. with part below
$D-as to suggest that the expected dema nd
for this material has not been realized.
Shipments of boots and shoes for the week
are not quite per cent less than last year,
but the weeks shipments last year were
usually low, and it is estimated that produc-
ton is about sixth less than usual New or
ders are not large, but numerous enough to
keep most Of the works fairly busy
Textiles look little weaker. in spite of
somewhat better distribution Sales of goods
already made are stimulated as better weather
comes, but orders for the spring season
are running out. and in orders for the fall there
is rather more uncertainty. except in dress
goods. for which the demand continues fair.
In mems woolens no improvement is seen. and
quite number OF mills have stopped or are
about to stop. orders being insufficient for profit
able production. In few grades OF goods lower
prices are quoted and in none an advance, al
though strikes for higher wages are not in
frequent. The attempt to advance print
cloths has been followed by slight Decline
and while the cotton business has not mater
tally changed dimensions, the tone is rather
less confident.
1t is a healthy sign that speculation is re-
stricted. Industrial stocks have been Tightly
as usual. and the average of prices has ad
vanced SO cents per share, while the average
for railroad stocks has declined IS cents per
share. Exports of gold had some influence. and
continuous loss in earnings some Earnings
for April thus far decreased 1874 per cent,
against AL in February and 1874 in March.
Decentralization of lake freights already d.
verts much bulky east-bound tonnage from
railroads, though the movement of other mer-
chan disc is well sustained.
Wheat has scarcely changed in prices dur
ing the week, though exports were about 50
per cent Of last years and western receipts
about 66 per cent. Predictions OF q short crop
are treated with Indifference, and though only
80, 100000 bushels have come into sight since
January 1. against 100000 last year, it Is
felt that farmers would naturally retain
wheat at current prices ii they could
Corn moves less freely advancing half .
cent. western receipts being little larger
than year ago, and exports 80 per cent. lar G.
er. Cotton has changed scarcely q fraction,
though receipts from plantations have been
larger and exports smaller this week than q
year ago. and men consider stories of de-
creased acreage entitled to little confidence.
Spinners are not taking largely, and the sup
ply of cotton is enough for the worlds max.
imum production.
1t Is expected that $500 900 gold will go
abroad to-day. owing to British investments in
the Paris loan, which is another way OF saying
that this is q withdrawal OF foreign capital
from this country.
Exports in March showed a moderate in
crease. with great decrease in imports and in
April thus far exports from New York have
been about 40 per cent smaller. Commercial
loans do not increase. and the rate for the
best paper drops to 81 cents, the lowest on
record.
The failures of the pass week have been
somewhat more important than usual. but
were 2l9 in the United States, against 1Se
year. For the first half of April liabilities re.
ported have been "a, 1853 4l6, of which $2O89 $50
were of manufacturing and si,904,3 1857 OF trad