The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-04-10
A Great improvement.
Dun & Co. Review The Condi.
tons of Trade in March.

LlOQS Oh 1rdQe LII mdICu.
NEW YORK. April 5.-R. G. Dun
& Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade to-
morrow will say: Returns of the
highest Importance given this week
show the condition of retail trade in
March throughout the country, and
the distribution of goods to final con-
sumers in comparison with the same
months in 1894 and 1898. While the
returns cannot be condensed into a
single comparison, and in view Of
widely differing conditions in differ
ent sections and branches. might in
that form be the less useful, there is
gratifying evidence that in most
trades and districts marked improve
ment over 1894 is realized. though en-
the whole, trade is smaller than in
1893. The best news from the in
dustries is that labor troubles have
heen settled or avoided. Mahoning
iron and Eastern woollen mills being
again in active operation. Next in
importance is the demand for manu-
featured products. which gives
greater reason to hope that recent ad-
vances from the bottom may prove
successful.
Following the rise in coke there
have been this week sales of 2.00O,-
600 tons lake ore at about Is per
cent. advance, and finished products
are no longer inactive, Bessemer iron
rising to $1,000, grey forge to 50 rs,
common bar to IS cents, structural
angles to s1.05 and plates 81 per ton.
Chicago shares in the rise, and the
Illinois Steel Company has achieved
notable success in taking a contract
for steel plate at the ship yards at
Newport News. Eastern works gain
more slowly, Notwithstanding the
low price of anthracite coal. The
production of Connellsville coke for
the week, l68,l01 tons, was the lar
gest on record, but there is some fear
that higher coke aud ore may close
some works. Copper is frmer. as
sales of the stock taken from the
French syndicate removed load over
the market for the past six years, and
the tin has been stronger with tin
plates because of purchases for Pacific
Gamers.
The cotton manufacture, once
stimulated by the rise in raw cotton,
goes on gaining, though cotton has
halted. A better demand appears for
many qualities and in come eight
advances in rice. The commercial
failures in the first quarter Of 1895
numbered 1892, with liabilities Of
ST ,Sl3,6S3, averaging sl2. 900 each.
There were also IS bank failures. with
liabilities of So, 6S2. 537, or $500, 900
each. If both were Jumped together,
as they are in other reports, the ag-
gregate of liabilities here reported
would be 60,496,220.
The demand for money is some
what better, but since April | less in
crease is noted in commercial loans
-BRADsTREEr's STATEMENT.
New YoaK, April 5.-Bradstreet's
tomorrow April 81 will say: The ap-
pearance of more settled weather,
together with the continued strength
of cotton, stimulating manufacturers
to demand higher prices for fall de-
livery, rains in the northwestern
wheat regions, where greatly needed,
further increase in wages of indus
trial employees, heaviest shipments
of wheat abroad, ard the rush of the
volume of the weeks bank clearings
above the SIS, 900, 900, 900 mark, are
evidences of the continuation ola bet
ter feeling in trade circles and re-
turning confidence in many lines of
business. Rather less of improve
ment i'm feeling and volume of distri-
button of merchandise mas been felt
at the South, proportionateIy, during
the past few weeks, than elsewhere,
the Central, Western and some East
ern industrial and commercial centers
continuing to report relatively the
greatest increases in demand and
prospects.
Trade has been fair at Charleston,
where the demand is relatively best
for pllosphates, and there is improve
ment at Nashville and Memphis un-
der the weather stimulus. No change
IS reported from Augusta. At
Savannah business is quiet, except
for naval stores, while at Jackson
vile the volume of trade has decreas-
ed. There is a better request for dry
goods, shoes and groceries at Allan
ia, where cotton mills are doubling
their capacity. Reports from Biz
minpf,am and from Chattanooga are