Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-03-21
puN's COMMERCIAL REVIEW.

Not to be COMPARED with the Prosperous
Times of Two Years Ago-A Feeling of
Confidence Gradually Returning.
NEW YORK, March 16.-R. G. Dun &
Co. s weekly review of trade, issued to-
day. says:
Substantially all Indications of the
state of business are rather more IA
vorable. Farm products are little
higher, railroad earnings shade bet
ter, clearinghouse exchanges small
percentage larger in comparison with
two wears ago than in February, and
most of the industries show some
what better front, though their gain
is not large. Money markets continue
undisturbed, the operations of the
gold, and Withdrawals from the
treasury have of late practically
ceased. There is not much
enthusiasm about the situation, how
ever, because the gain is slow, and
business is yet long way from what
was once considered prosperous con-
dition. Further, the gain is in some
cases due to obviously temporary
causes, and in some to causes which do
not make for prosperity.
The higher price of cotton, which
has risen to 6. o. cents, results from be-
lief that the acreage this year will be
greatly reduced. The quantity of
American now in sight, in this coun-
try and in Europe, is about 4,400, 900
bales. 800, 900 larger than in 1892. after
a crop exceeding 5000, 5000 bales, and
about as much more than half the
greatest consumption ever known OF
American in a year.
Wheat has arisen ~ cents because
government reports only 100000
though practically nobody in the trade
thinks the estimate correct. and the
accepted estimates are about 100000
bushels higher. Western receipts
have again risen above and exports
continue below last years. Corn has
risen 1 cent. following wheat; pork,
SIPS per barrel, and hogs 10 and lard
80 cents per 100 pounds.
Railroad earnings for March compare
better with last years than those early
in February, when storms blocked
traffic, but are per cent. smaller than
in 1898. The complete earnings for
February are IA per cent less than
last year, and 15.1 per cent. less than
in 1893. East-bound tonnage for two
weeks has been ia, 1872 tons against
154, 9O5 last year, and 165, 700 in 1898.
The volume of payments through
clearinghouse for the week is ST per
cent. larger than last year, but 26.9
per cent. less than in 1898.
Imports are just now running lit
tie smaller than in February, while
domestic exports for two weeks from
New York show decrease compared
with last year of IL per cent.
The output of pig March 1 was 1885,
go tons, a decrease since February
of 6,412 tons weekly, and the increase
of unsold stock was $4,000 tons in Feb
ruary, or 1925 weekly. Since Janu-
airy 1 the weekly output has decreased
IL, 435 tons, and the accumulation of
unsold stocks has been 1855 tons.
Prices do not rise, and except at Chi
cago there seems to be no general in
crease of demand. There improve
ment is observed in nearly all parts of
the industry, particularly in materials
for agricultural implement works, and
at Pittsburgh the demand for struc-
tural forms continues large. Bessemer
pig is weaker at Pittsburgh, and while
demand for bar improves, it falls short
of the supply. Sheets are active, and
also wire rods, without change in
prices.
The boot and shoe manufacture ia
doing better, not merely in shipments,
which show the rapidity with which
past orders for spring trade are being
filled, 15e, 176 cases having been moved
in two weeks of March, against 163,.
9O7 in 1898, but also in obtaining new
| orders for fall at somewhat better
prices.
In the cotton manufacture there are
signs of improvement, apparently
caused by the advance in raw cotton,
giving greater confidence that present
values for goods will be maintained, SO
that the fall in print cloths has been
checked, and there is more buying of
other goods. In the finer and fancy
wooden goods there is a moderate bust
ness, while agents for low and medium
goods are waiting for recorders, though
some have already sold enough for the
season if no cancellations come. Sales
of wool were 1858, 200 pounds, against
5,351, 700 last year, and markets are
quiet without change.
Money is in better demand, the mar
ket hardens as usual before April 1,
and much more commercial paper is
offered. The west is drawing from its
balances here and there have been con-
siderable sales of stocks on foreign ac-
count.
Liabilities thus far reported in fail
ures for the first week of March
amount to 81 1888, 052, against So. 276. 292
last year; in manufactures 1885, 396,
against 1913, $50 last year. and in trad
ing 1897, CSC, against $1.254, 93S last
year. The final returns for February
make the aggregate s11 ,414, 374, against
ST., 49,, $40 last year.
Failures for the week have been EGG
in the United States. against 264 last
year, and 81 in Canada, against SIS last
year.
Died.
NYAcK, N. ", March 16.-George M.
Van Mort, ex-commissiouer of public
works Of New York city, died at his
home in this city Thursday night OF
paralysis, aged 65 years.