The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-05-04
DUN'S COMMERCIAL REVIEW.

Industries than in Speculative Prices-A
Brighter Outlook.
New YORK, April 2T.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review of trade, issued
to-day, says:
Neither the rising in speculative
markets nor the steady gain in indus
tries has ceased. and it is wholesome
that there are fewer signs of hesita-
ton in the productive industries than
in speculative prices. Wage strikes
grow more numerous and cause some
trouble, and retail demand lags be-
hind WHOLESALERS, and jobbing pur-
chases behind production in some
branches; but through many conflict
ing reports the fact shines out thai
the industries are gaining. 1t is less
clear hat railroads are increasing their
earnings, or that over-production of
cotton will be cured by the advance of
1s5 cents in price, or that cornerlng
short sellers of wheat will help to
make less the large surplus. But re-
vival of activity in all these directions,
if possible excessive in some, helps
confidence to take the throne so long
held by distrust.
Quite a number of works have adj
vanced wages during the week, but
strikes to compel an advance for some,
but not for others, have grown much
more numerous. Some shops are clos
ing for want of orders, but a larger
number are resuming work.
Prices of shoes and cotton goods are
rising; wool and wooiens are lower.
1t would be a distinctly unnatural
movement, inviting only distrust, if it
were sympathetic and with equal step
in all branches. Doubt whether hides
and whether leather would be held at
higher prices hindered shoe manufac-
turers for a time, but now jobbers
want to give more orders than manu-
facturers care to take who have
their leather yet to buy. The him
drance is the advance in hides and
leather, for while ~ to 10 cents more
is paid for shoes, the present cost of
leather makes many 10 to IS cents
dearer. and 5 cents paid for western
hides is said TO mean higher prices net
for some kinds of leather. Shipments
from Boston for the month have been
294, AT cases, against 2S4,Gl5 in 1899.
Cotton mills are getting more money
for goods, and have quite generally
advanced wages. Consumption of
northern spinners, at the maximum,
would be, in eight months, 1850, OOC
bales, but they have actually taken
1850, 900, and have a profit on GOO, OOO
The consumption is large, and ad-
vances seems to be warranted.
Wool has sold at the lowest price on
record this week, 16 cents for Ohio M,
and 9 cents for this years Texas, and
offers to clear off stock before new
supplies come forward tempt manu-
facturers to purchase beyond present
needs. Sales of foreign s,117,3O
pounds in three weeks of April,
against 9.292, 500 domestic, make the
total 17,4O9, 800. against Is, 9OG, 100 in
1892, and less, of course, in 1903 and
1894.
The demand for dress goods con.
tinues large and improving, but un
certainty in mems wear continues
somewhat increased by numerous
strikes. Colored fannels are 5 to 50
per cent. lower.
London bought about $1,000, OOC
worth of stocks and bonds here this
week, and prices average so cents
higher for railroad and Sl.34 for
trusts. But the coal roads again
failed to agree, and the low
est prices of the year pre-
walls for that product. Loss
in earnings by Granger roads is very
great, and the aggregate of all roads
reporting in April is but 1.6 per cent.
better than last years and 1874 per
cent. less than in 1898. In March
United States roads earned SIS, S29,7 41,
showing a gain of 2.3 per cent. over
last year and a loss of 1879 from 1893.
Higher prices for wheat, nearly 3
cents above last week, tend to check
Atlantic exports, which, flour incluG-
ed, were only 1,S6S,s73 bushels for the
week, against 2,6?O,445 last year,
though for the previous two weeks,
about equal to last years.
Cotton touched { cents, receding to
G. 90, and 1891. BOG bales came to sight
last week, and British exports of goods
were 100, 900, 900 yards less in the first
quarter this year than last. With
such facts, the rise does not help to
lessen southern acreage.
Bank exchanges in April thus far
average daily l1.6 per cent. more than
last year, but 1914 per cent. less than
in 1898. Money is coming .hither from
the interior and a larger demand for
loans appears, especially
manufacturing towns in New
England and from importers.
Imports last week were 81 per cent.
than last year, and for the
22.7 per cent, the increase be-
ing heavy in dry goods, while exports
from New York were s per cent.
smaller for the week and 4 per
for the month than last year
buying of stocks made ex-
easy, but government revenue
does not improve, falling $40, 600, 900
exports in April thus far.
Failures for Is days in April showed
liabilities Of s.. 975, 592, of which 81, 632,-
20 We're of manufacturing and S3,2SS,-
I'D of trading concerns.
The failures for the week have been
go in the United States against 179
last year, and - in Canada, against 90