The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-10
STILL HANGING FIRE
Dun & Co. Find Little Sign of the
Promised Improvement.
Buyers, According TO Bradstreets. Ara
Figuring OH Present Demand and
Taking Few Risks.

NEW YORK. March Or. c. Dun a
Co.'S weekly review OF trade SAYS: Evil
dences of present Improvement In business
multiply but confidence in future improve
ment does not seem TO increase. There is
more business and a larger production by
industries, for the season has arrived wher
greater activity is necessary If dealers
stocks are to be replenished, and those who
cannot make calculations beyond a few
months are the more anxious to crowd as
much trade as they safely can into those
months. In some branches OF distribution,
however, there are indications OF dimin-
ishing demand for goods. and the evident
preference for medium and low-priced
articles with the known reduction in wages
and family expenditures lead many TO feel
somewhat less confident that business will
soon recover its former volume Undertake
ings reaching beyond a short time are not
made with freedom, and in spite Of
larger present demand prices OF manu.
featured goods tend downward. The most
distinct gain is in iron and steel manu-
facture. The output OF pig iron increased
10 per cent, though it is still SIS per cent
less than year ago. Trade In bar iron
is very unsatisfactory, rails are fiat, and
with q larger production Of coke contracts
are made at as low prices as ever.
Tin is lower, with London being quoted
here at 1850. and copper does not improve,
though lead is slightly higher.
Shipments Of boots and shoes from the
East are 14.S per cent. smaller than year
ago for the same weeks. and purchases are
still mainly OF medium or low-priced goods.
In textile manufactures and dry goods
there is increased activity and replenish-
ment OF stocks. as is natural at this sea-
SON But the demand thus far falls short
OF expectations. and its character indicates
great economy in consumption. In woolens.
also, manufacturers are increasing produc-
ton, mainly In a tentative way, or on
orders which are little more than sufficient
TO test the market. In the past five weeks
the decrease has been only u per cent,
which Is marked Improvement in part
| due 10 the fact that the mills having any
| orders are buying at once what wool they
expect TO need for months to come
Breadstuffs and oils have been stronger,
provisions weaker ana cotton hesitates.
| Wheat advanced &c, Western receipts be-
ing only 2,llSOd bushels, against 3.359 100
| last year. and Atlantic exports llO2I 10
bushels. against 1912 last year: Corn re-
| ceipts at the West were SSl5, $50 bushels,
| against 2.140.9S1 last year. but the price rose
nearly cent. Lard and hogs both declined.
| Sales Of cotton were larger at first, with
| some decline. which afterwards recovered.
The recovery in the price OF bar silver,
which fell to I'D, but recovered to 27;sld. has
| trade shown by clearings decreases for the
week only Ia per cent outside of New
01.y
last year. In foreign trade changes are
also for the better. exports having been
large. and for the week IA per cent. larger
| than last year, while the decrease in i'm
ports 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 s2,93II So, and for four weeks OF Feb
ruary sliSSSog. Of which 9dc %, S65s2 sl5 were OF
Germs. The number of failures during the
past week has been 24S in the United States.
against 1913 last year, and sixty in Canada,
against thirty-two last year.
Bradstreefs Review of Trade.
NEW YORK, March 9.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: The comparatively less
favorable report to the volume of sales and
distribution OF general merchandise empha-
sized last week remains, with some excep-
lions, practically unchanged. Bright and
warmer weather has stimulated retail lines
at a number OF cities. Eastern shoe man
ufacturers report a slightly improved de-
mand and at number OF larger distribute
ing centers Jobbers in groceries. dry goods.
hardware hats, shoes and millinery re-
port a steadily maintained inquiry. yet,
with exceptions, numerous orders for small
amounts for immediate wants continue the
rule. Favorable trade conditions center at
Chicago and St Louis, the former report
ing the best weeks sale Of dry goods for
months, bringing the total for the year into
favorable comparison with that in the Ike
portion OF last year.
Jobbers in hats, millinery and dry goods
at st. Louis also reprt continued improve
ment, with favorable comparison thus far
during the year with last year. Milwau-
kee bankers report increased demands for
accommodation, and other evidences of inn
spring trade. although moderate. is in full
swing. Kansas City and Omaha make re-
ports which suggest strong underlying
demand.
Gross earnings of eighty-three railroads
in FEBRUARY reported TO Bradstreets show
a loss Of 12.6 per cent. compared with Feb
ruary, 1893, that being a little greater than
in January, when Ii was 12.4 per cent less
than in that month the year before. South
ern and Southwestern railroads present
heavier proportionate losses, the granger
lines doing better than in January.
While wheat, corn and oats advanced &c,
1c and sc in price, respectively, this week
and cotton and sugar remained unchanged,
domestic feeces have again been shaded,
cutting Australian woods out OF the mar
ket, so far competition as TO price Is
concerned. Pig and shaped iron, steel bill
lets 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 15c. Chicago advises that
the loans Of national banks there have in
creased 100000, and total deposits $13, Co.,
600 since December.
Bradstreets cable and telegraphed re-
ports of available wheat stocks in the
United States and Canada afloat for and
in Europe and in Australia show a net de-
cline for last week OF 100000 bushels. Ex-
ports OF wheat C1our included), both coasts,
United States and Canada, amount TO .
Sd. 900 bushels this week against 2g72OOO
bushels last week, 2s9i.c6O Bushels in the
week year ago and $4,000 bushels In the
week two years ago. There are 1900 bar
rels OF flour included. shipped from San
Francisco to Vladvostock
Trade in merchandise lines at Pittsburg
is further restricted, collections are un-
satisfactory and manufacturers OF iron
steel and glass claim that little or no profit
results from sales at present prices AT
Cincinnati manufacturers do not report an
Improvement, although some jobberS do A
fair trade is experienced in a few lines al
Cleveland, although better outlook in man.
ufacturing lines is announced at Louisville.
Detroit and Indianapolis.