Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-03-17
THE SAME STORY.
Large Hope, But Little Actual Bust
ness Defines Trade Situation.
Waiting Still the Rule = Insurance
Companies Noe Increase in
Their Business.

New York, March 14.-R. q. Dun &
Co.. in their weekly review of trade,
say:
waiting is still the rule. Large hope.
but little actual business explain the
strength of some markets and the weak
ness of others. Thus far there is decided
increase In the demand for boots and Shoes
secured by considerable concessions in
price. but In other branches of business
concessions are made In vain, or are not
made. Meanwhile, 1t Is encouraging to
Know that one Of the most important in
terests has realized definite improvement.
The insurance companies show a larger
business and larger income than ever be-
fore. and also a remarkable soundness Of
mortgage loans and other investments.
AS prices about February q were, on
the whole. the lowest ever known in this
country, considerable space is given this
week to comparison OF quotations in the
most important branches Of manufacture,
which show the extent of reaction since the
rise last fall. 1t Is especially noteworthy
that prices of materials have varied quite
differently from prices of manufactured
products. Thus cotton Is N.9 per cent.
h1gher than year ago. but cotton goods
average only 1911 per cent Wool is but
s.3 per cent. higher than year ago, but
wooden goods are on the whole about four
per cent. lower. Pig iron is only II per cent.
.hlgher Than year ago, while finished
products OF hon and steel average As per
cent: higher Boots and shoes are prac-
t1caliy not higher than q year ago. while
leather has risen Ills per cent. and hides
at the moment are only 2.2 per cent. higher.
These comparisons are important because
they disclose something of the grave dis
location of prices which inadequate con-
sumption and combinations have pro.
duced.
Cotton goods sell but clowly, notwith-
standing recent reductions In price and the
enormous accumulation of unsold stocks
causes apprehension in many quarters In
woolens the demand is very largely for low
grade goods. and fierce competition AFFECTS
the prices of the better grades materially
III clay worsteds. the manufacture has been
30 far overlone that stoprage of some
most important works Is considered not
improbable. Sales of wool at the three
chief markets are the smallest In five
years.
The market for wheat Is weaker, with no
better reason than the government re-
port OF wheat In farmers hands, which
is altogether out Of keeping with the gov
eminent estimate year ago. and yet Is
probably more nearly correct.
Corn is a shade lrmer without apparent
reason. and cotton gained 1-16 although
the prospect of yield this year Is at least as
good as II has been at any time.
Failures for the week have been 800 in
the United States against 2te last year. and
Gu Ill Canada against 81 last year."
Bradstreet's says:
1.-THE only conspicuously favorable fea-
ture Of the general business situation is
the report of February gross railway earn
ings throughout the country. Receipts of
l2t companies last month were larger, with
single exception. than in any preceding
month for more than three years. the
February total for 1886 being 1874. 4S4, OOO-a
gain over that total last year of nearly IA
per cent. These results are due in part to
favorable weather conditions, large grair.
traffic and the inclusion OF one more busi-
ness day.