The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-30
ROSY VIEW OF TRADE
GENERAL SITUATION STEADILY M
| PROVING FOR THREE WEEKS.
Both Dun d Co. and Bradstrcet in
Their Weekly Reports Note Bet
ter business Prospects.


NEW YORK. March Or. G. Dun's
weekly review of trade will say to-mor-
row: Signs of Improvement are all the
more satisfactory because neither accom-
panied nor apparently produced by a spec
ulative craze. Dealings in stocks, cotton
and wheat are not diverting all the interest
and capital from productive industry and
legitimate trade, though the products are all
shade stronger. But railroad earnings,
bank clearings and industrial indications
are more encouraging this week. 1t is a
remarkable feature that the lifting this
year begins at the bottom so to speak;
raw materials raised before there is
any larger demand for their finished prod
uctsa thing not often done with success.
Hides rose, then leather, and then shoes;
cotton rose, and afterwards cotton
goods; coke was advanced, and afterwards
Bessemer pig. In all these cases it is rea-
soned that the larger demand for consump
ton, though yet wanting must come when
1t is seen that prices are going up. Higher
wages for coke workers have been followed
price, and now Bessemer pig has risen 50
cents at Pittsburg and % cents at Phila-
delphia.. So far there is no answering in
crease in demand or in prices for manu-
featured products, and the whole the
range is slightly lower than a week ago,
little. The general belief is that dear ma
terials will kindle more buying of products
1t is sign of strength that an Eastern
mil has secured in competition with Brit
ish makers, who had an advantage of $3.50
In freights, the contract for L, oCo tons of
rails for a California road, and other con-
tracts for about the same quantity have
been placed.
Raw cotton has been hoisted until a
stronger market for goods resulted. with
some advances in prices. The tone of the
dry-goods market has been decidedly inn
proved, though it does not yet appear that
retail distribution has correSpOndingly in
creased. But stocks of retail dealers are
light, and when they feel that prices are
bound to rise the demand may grow rap
idly. In the wooden business cancellations
in some lines have been startling in mag
whole product sold finding themselves in
great need of customers This seems 10 be
mainly in low grade goods, inferior quality
being the common complaint, but delays
through strikes also play a part while
overlooked quite large orders have ave been en-
taken by foreign agents for finer worsted
and woolens, and all the way, from the poor
est shoddy to the best goods the COMPETE
ton will doubtless be sharp for more than
one reason. Sales of wool for the week
against 4,07s, 200 last year. partly because a
quantity held for a loan was forced to
sale. But sales III four weeks have been
19,54e,200 pounds, against 1880 last year,
and 211S 400 in 1892.
Cotton speculation reached a halt with
sales have been third smaller, with no
advance. The season is really late and
factors and traders being able to exert a
powerful influence II they choose. But the
sepPy Of eotn now n sg or in spin
than the worlds requirements for this year
with receipts for five months yet to come
Guesses about the condition of wheat have
varied widely this week, and prices are not
much higher, the net advance being IA
cents
Atlantic EXPORTS flour included have been
1891 09l bushels. against J. 446 6l3 last year
and nd for the month 6,51170s bushels, against
X Ct1eal, luCt
Western receipts for the month have been
7.474,s6l bushels. against 7,os45l3 bushels
last year. Corn is a cent lower, while pork
is 70 cents per barrel and lard and hogs
10 cents per 100 pounds higher.
The failures this week have been 2S4 in
the, United States, against 22S last year,
and forty-two In Canada, against thirty
last year. But the recent increase indi-
Gates past rather than recent conditions Of
unSoundness
bradstreet Agrees with Dun & Co.
NEW YORK, March 29-Bradstreet's re-
port tomorrow will say: General trade for
the third week in succession continues to
show evidences of Improvement In no
other direction is this so plainly indicated
as in the tendency of prices week ago
encouragement had been obtained from a
generally unexpected advance in cotton and
wheat Following their slight reaction the
week has witnessed firm cotton market.
further improvement in wheat with a
sympathetic influence on corn and for Bes-
semer pig iron. for steel billets and actually
for manufactured iron at Western markets:
higher quotations for cut meats West and
the outcome of restricted supplies of cat
ne. an. ana this il behind increased demand
ior SHOES Tor fall delivery, as quota tons for
leather continue upward on the conpara-
tive scarcity of hides. Firmness in cotton
ana the late advance has shown itself in
higher quotations, not only for print cloths
but other varieties of cotton goods some
of them tsd4c higher than a fortnight ago.
m 3frr aI1y1 on
for reduced output have pushed prices up
and higher prices for hogs at the West
nave brought like quotations for pork and
lard. In addition. advances are reported
on butter and eggs. Such a list of in
Wlthin three weeks. tells its own story
Among staples reported firmer with I'M
changed n prices are wool although moving
in larger volume; cotton, sugar, coffee, leaf
tobacco, rice, lumber and millinery
AS important as any other information
bearing on the condition Of trade are re-
ports from Minnesota South Dakota Ne
braska and Iowa that the soil is greatly i'm
need of more moisture which with tho IN
seasonable warm and dry weather MON
Uses restricted area of wheat, particularly
in South Dakota To some extent these
mer heat is reported The better feeling in
general trade circles which characterized
come more widespread. and even wncre no
actual gain in movement of staples is re-
ported Increased confidence in better de-
mand is marked.
Exports of wheat including flour as
wheat. from both coasts this week are
smaller than for four preceding weeks
So, 900 bu. This total is comp arei with ex-
ports of practically 100000 bil last week.
Z $50 600 blu in the week one year ago o.
$4,000 Blu two years ago, 2,597. go bu three
years ago and 2.164000 bu in the fourth
week of March, 1891.
Shoe business Picking Up.
HAVERHILI, Mass, March 2e-The rec
ODD of shoe shipments from this city dur
ing the past week is claimed by the manu-
lecturers to be the largest for one week
ever made by any city In this country The
shipments of the week was $3.50 cases. or
] 906 more cases than for the corresponding
week last year, and 5Sf more cases than the
record which was made last week. The
business IS increasing. and during the next