Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-10-18

Dun's Review.

The price barometer SNe' 'h"io
tions that are not entirely favorable.
Cotton goods 60 up with increasing
evidence that the crop OF cotton Is
short. Prices of other manufactured
products, of wool, hides and leather,
all show some decline, a general abat-
ment in new orders being the pr1nci
.ple cause. With An immense volume
of business, not much exceeded in
the largest month Of the exceptional
year 1892, and with evidence that IN
several important branches the vol
ume has surpassed that of any pre-
vious year, there is a growing un-
certainty about the near future OF
industries. Money markets are
neither strained nor threatening,
foreign exchanges no longer raise
apprehension, and all fears about the
great Northern crops are past. There
have been few advances in wages OF
labor within the past month, and
only a few works have been closed
bv strikes FOR an advance.
The main cause of decreased or
ders has been repeatedly pointed
out by this journal during the past
half year. When business began to
revive, million traders were in haste
to order, not only the goods each
expected to sell within given time,
but enough more to replenish stocks
which had been cut down almost to
bare shelves by two years of prostra-
ton. Thus the buying was much in
excess of real consumption within
the given time. Also, as prices rose
many fastened to buy in advance of
visible needs, hoping that every pur-
chase would mean a gain, while mul-
titudes hurried to get in their orders
before competitors could buy rs
cheaply. Under such conditions
buying continued for six months.
and still continues in cotton goods,
which have risen less than the ma
terial. But in most manufactured
products buying for the same reason
can no longer be expected, and the
steady and regular consumption is
not yet known.
The production of pig iron, Oct
lst, was the largest in the history of
the country, 20l,414 tons weekly,
against 194.029 September lst, 1885,
900 having been the highest in 1896.
Stocks unsold are not stated, but
substantially the whole production
is in execution of past orders. On
the other hand new orders are ex-
ceedingly small. There is marked
decrease in almost all finished pro-
ducts, tank steel is lower, bar iron is
offered by some ut concessions,
plates are not firm, the structural de-
mand has greatly decreased, and
wire rods decline 81 to 800, with
lower wire and much reduced de-
mand for nails. Bessemer pig has
fallen 81 to SIS at Pttsburg, and
Grey Forge 25 cts, and prices of
iron products average ] per cent
lower for the week. Discontinuance
of a demand, which could not be en-
pected to continue at the same rate
aitcy prices has risen $40 per cent.
leaves actual consumption IN ques-
tion.
Boots and shoes have a very mar
row demand, partly because consnm
rs have not taken all the goods al
';s'ributed to the trade. and
.ew wish to buy after
Is nave risen so largely. Many
factories arc at or near The ehd oi
their orders, and il they go on. must
take leather when prices are declin-
ing and hides arc sinking below the
price reached May Tth. Shipments
on past orders were for the week
2O.5 per cent. less than last year. \
considerable demand still appears
for goods Immediately deliverable.
but buyers generally hold back, ex-
peeting lower prices. In weolen
manufactures a ,le,asHa f,r dress
goods and sems specalties keeps
many fully employed, hut most of
the works making mems woolens.
for which new orders are seantly.
find not enough to keep them run>
ming. 10 pile M goo'ls In advance
wholly IN the dark as to future fnr>
eisn competition, involves such risks
tha. some coaevrns may close for a !