The San Francisco call., 1896-02-29
DUN's REVIEW OF TRADE.

NEW YORK, Y. Y, Feb. 2S.-R. G. Dun d Co.
VIII say to morrow in their weekly review of trade:
Failures in three weeks of February show liabili-
ties of Sl0ss9,936 against SS 523,O2S last year
and S11 ,420.418 in 1894. Failures for the week
have been 27S in the United States against $50 last
year, and SO in Canada, against rs last year
In some quarters there are gains at the West
rather than at the East but there is no general
change for the better, although hopefulness still
predominates. Foreign affairs grow more pacific;
the public turns more resolutely toward sound
money. but the want of sufficient demand for the
products OF great industries still retards actual i'm
provement.
There are strikes of some Importance in gar
Matchmaking and kindred lines of the manufac-
turing trade in Chicago and Baltimore, but there
are fewer labor difficulties than usual existing
conditions warn wage earners that controversies at
this time are unwise. The speculative markets
not improve. Exchanges threugh the principal
clearinghouse show 1877 per cent gain over last
year, but the months comparison with 1893 is tn
only instructive one, and shows decrease of 20 7
for February. Railroad earnings for the third
week Of February exceed last years ST per cent,
and for February thus far have been 1l0S per
cent greater than last years.
Stock speculation has been irregular, and Cuban
war talk on Friday caused break in railroad
stocks averaging SO points, Disappointing indus
trial statements together with the general break,
lowered the trusts 81 AS.
Wheat has taken fight upward, advancing 81 c
for casn and 2ssc for May, with rumors of foreign
supplies as the only basis. Estimates OF wheat in
farmers hands are lower than last year. but still
indicate, with visible stocks, supply that is be-
yond probable needs. Cotton has been weaker,
with only fair receipts, the important decline in
Great Britain having much influence. The price
OF middling uplands has declined a sixteenth and
pr paration for large increase Of acreage is still
reported.
The market for textile goods is disappointing.
Material reductions in coltons have not brought
out the needed demand, and further decline in
Lawrence L. L. Brown sheetings this week of 41sc
corresponds with reports that mills of some i'm
portance may prefer to arrest production for a
time until the demand improves. Wooden mills
are receiving considerable orders for spring goods
but business Tor the future does not mend Clay
worsteds are again a shade lower The range for
all woolens is scarcely l per cent higher than q
year ago, although wool is more than per cent
higher, and GOOD many mills are closing or re-
ducing time. The feature in the iron market has
been the large demand Tor wrought and cast pipe.
Large orders for structural work are received at
Chicago and executed at the East, building
plans are unusually large, but sheets sell slowly
and rails very little though bar is fairly active
with many orders coming for cars. Iron quota
tlons average per cent lower for the week be-
cause of the drop in bessemer at Pittsburg 70
$12 so and in gray forge TO so 75 The demand
for boots and shoes gains very little. Exports OF
domestic products from New York for three weeks
show gain OF 16 per ceut over last year. while
imports in the same time scarcely increase. But
export bills diminishing rapidly this season
while larger imports naturally come in succeeding
months and many security bills have to be met in
the near future. 1t is therefore believed by many
that gold