The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-16
PROSPERITY.
Trade Showing a Move in
the Right Direction.
=. Higher Prices for Products-Reyiew
OF the Business Situation.

New York, March IS -R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review OF trade says:
Substantially, all indications of the state
Of business are rather moro favorable
Farm products are a little higher; railroad
earnings a shade better; clearing house
exchanges small percentage larger IN
comparison with two years ago than In
February, and most of the industries show
a somewhat better front, though their gam
IS not large.
Money markets continue undisturbeu,
the operations of the syndicate still pre-
venting exports OF gold, and Withdrawals
from the treasury have OF late practically
ceased. There is not much enthusiasm
about the situation, however, because the
gain is slow and business is yet long
way from what was once considered
prosperous condition. Further. the gain
Is i'm some cases due to obviously teu-
porary causes and some TO causes which
do not make for prosperity.
The higher price of cotton, which has
risen to SOC cents, results from belief that
the acreage this year will be greatly re-
duced.
Higher Prices For Cereals.
Wheat has risen / a cents because the
government reported 70, ,00O,000 bushels in
farmers hands March ], though prac-
tically nobody IN the trade thinks the es-
timate correct and the accepted estimates
are about 60, 600 100 bushcls higher West
ern receipts have again risen above and
exports continue below last years. "A
partial loss of the cotton and wheat crop,
or great decrease in production, would
hardly be a blessing TO the country.
Corn has risen l cent pork, sl.25 bar
rel. and hogs 10 and lard 80 cents per 100
pounds.
Metal Market Lower.
The output OF pig iren March was 1856.
979 tons, decrease since Feb l OF 6ll2
tons weekly, aud the increase of unsold
stocks was 81 800 tons in February, or 49,
225 weekly. Since Jan. the weekly out
nut has decreased 1l.345 tons. and the ac-
cumulation of unsold stocks has been 1885,
l55 tons Prices do not rise, and, except
at Chicago, there seems to be no general
increase of demand.
Tin Is a shade stronger. but copper Is
lower at g. 81 cents for lake.
Outlook For Boots and Shoes Brighter.
The boot and shoe man ufacture is really
doing better, not merely in shipments,
which show the rapidity with which past
orders for spring trade are being hlled,
156, l76 cases having been moved in two
weeks Of March, against 1d3,y07 in 1893
but also in obtaining new orders for fall
at somewhat better prices A further ad
vance in some kinds of leather has led
many jobbers TO believe that the higher
prices asked cannot be escaped by waiting
so that orders taken at some advance have
been more numerous. Most jobbers still
refuse, but in womenis shoes some are pay
ing part OF the rise asked, and i'm boots
there is quite a large volume of business,
though mostly in the cheaper grades.
Cottons and woeiens Improving.
In the cotton manufacture there are
signs of improvement, apparently caused
by the advance in raw cotton, giving con.
fidence that present values for goods will
be maintained so that the fall i'm print
cloths has been checked, and there is more
buying OF other goods.
LIN the fine and fancy wool goods there
Is a moderate business, while agents for
low and medium goods are waiting for re-
orders, though some have already sold
enough for tho SEASON, If no cancellations
Sales of wool were 46S3,200 pounds,