Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-12-17
TONE OF TRADE.
laiet for tho Week, But Greater Activity
Expected After the Holidays.

ExpcCtcu <AIJcT Luo 1AOAtAhyos
New York, Dec. AR. G. Dun s. Co.,
in their weekly review of trade, say:
''It has been very quiet week without
any disturbance. Prices of MANUFACTURED
products slowly recede from the highwater
mark of speculation. and no material In
crease in demand is now expected until
after the holidays. but there Is general con-
fldence that greater activity will then ap-
pear. Speculation in products Is not very
brisk, and in stocks decidedly inactive. OK
cept in few industrials. The outgo OF
gold does not expand, and the outward
movement of products is a shade larger.
Clearings are 1914 per cent. more than last
year.
Wheat continues to come forward so
rapidly that past estimates of yield,
whether official or unofficial, are discred-
tied. Prices for the week show little
change Iron furnaces in blast last De-
cember turned out 216.197 tons weekly,
against 217,306 November l. with increase
of 5000 tons in stocks unsold. But actual
consumption is much smaller than the out
put at present, and prices again decline.
1.-THE shoe manufacture is getting rather
more new business, mainly in cheaper
goods, by a reduction in prices which has
averaged nearly four per cent. since the
last week of November. The demand for
leather is little better, with prices aver
aging two per cent. lower for the week,
though unchanged as to hemlock soles.
Wool has not advanced with London sales,
as was expected. The slow market for
goods binders dealings Business in cot
ton has not gained, and print cloths are
lower at 3h cents, while a few more re-
auctions are noted in prices Of other goods.
Failures for the first week of December
show liabilities Of $3,l04, S3l. against =, 036-
S66 last year. and 81. 761, 400 in 1893. In manu-
featuring, $1.157,76O. against $1.427.4l6 last
year, and s., 73O, 044 in 1893; and in trading.
$1,S92,S21, against s2.4ol,45l last year. and
1851 1865 in 1893. Failures for the week have
been 1886 in the United States. against 3A9
last year. and 81 in Canada, against 40 last
year.
Of the commercial situation Brad
streets says:
with the exception OF mild weather at
cities in Missouri. Kansas Nebraska and
Minnesota, colder weather has stimulated
sales of seasonable merchandise at nearly
all points, but only by contrast with pre-
ceding weeks. Wholesale trade Is dull.
merchants preferring to reduce stocks at
the end of the year to make ready for an
nual inventories. In retail lines. particu-
larly in holiday specialties. there has been
a marked increase in demand. though thus
far in some instances not equal to expecta-
TONS 1rregularty is shown in mercantile
collections, general trade throughout the
country being relatively most satisfactory
in the central Mississippi valley
THE total earnings OF III railroads Tor
II months were s449, 0O0, 600, a gain over year
ago of as per cent This follows decrease
for II months year ago from 1898 of 10.7
per cent.
Among more conspicuous trade fea-
lures are the disappointing Christmas
trade at several cities. smaller volume of
business. except in Christmas goods. at
Chicago, increased distribution Of heavier
textiles, shoes and rubber goods at St.
Louis and continued depression in certain
lines at Kansas City. Omaha and Mime
apolis. because Of milder weather"