The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-14
LIVING IN HOPES
LARGER BUSINESS IN THE sPRISG
IN EXPECTATION.


Industry Waits for a Larger De
msnd-Cotton Goods Sell SIowly-Com-
petition in Wooden Goods - Wheat
Weaker on the Government Report
Railway Earnings for February More
acknowledgements Weather.
New York, March I'D. G. Dun &
Co. s weekly review Of trade, which is
sues tomorrow will say:
Waiting is still the rule. Large hopes
but little actual business. explains the
strength Of some markets and the weak
ness of others. The feeling that the
spring of 1896 ought 70 bring larger
business viii not suffice to meet expen-
ses all the season if the larger business
does not come. Il is especially note
worry that prices of materials have var
led quite differently from prices if man
ufactuTed products, although in most
cases the advance last fall was com
menced by extraordinary uplifting OF
prices for materials. Thus, cotton is
27.9 per cent higher than a year ago,
but cotton goods average only 10.7 per
NC4ll. Ntcl - Dul Do per cent -A5llCA
than a year ago, but wooden goods are.
on the whole, about 4 per cent lower.
Pig iron is only Il per cent higher than
a year ago, while finished products OF
iron and steel average As per cent high
er. These comparisons are important
because they disclose something Of the
grave dislocation Of prices which made
quate consumption and combinations
have produced
The output Of pig iron March l was
1883 tons weekly, against $3.50 tons
February l, but the unSold stocks have
risen 69.764 tons during the past month,
or 17,4H tons weekly. and the unsold
stocks of the great steel companies are
not included. There is reason TO believe
that actual consumption is still at least
ten per cent smaller than the production
Of pig, and the price of bessmer at Pitts
burg has again declined slightly, to
s1225, which exceptionally large sales
even below that figure. Prices of finish
ed PREDICTS are not quotably lower, al
though all markets are weak in tone.
The industry is waiting for larger de-
mand, which it is hoped may soon come,
to clear away the accumulation of sur
plus stocks. Of the minor metals, cOp-
per is in moderate demand t Hip cents
1874 cents, while lead is slightly weak
er at 3.15 cents. Tin plates are weak,
in part because of little demand but
American bessemer /. c. II $50 fun
weight, are quoted at $50 cents against
$50 cents for similar foreign brands.
Aluminium rolling ingots are now Of
fered at 8 cents a pound in ton lots. the
Harvesting of Niagara having already
reduced the cost of this metal for the
world
Cotton goods sell but slowly not
withstanding recent reductions in price,
and the enormous accumulation OF I'M
sold 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. In clay
worsteds the manufacture has been so
far overdOne that StOppage of some
most important works is considered not
improbable. The great need Of more
effective law to prevent undervalua-
tons of imports is now realized by all
parties, and one has been unanimously
recommended by the committee. Sales
Of wool a the three chief markets are
the smallest in five years. and for two
weeks have been only 6,6S3. 900 pounds.
~
9541 500 last year. of which $50. 500 were
domestic. and 12.0t7.676 in 1892. of which
1868. 425 were domestic. Prices are still
maintained, with increase in Australian
supplies
The market for wheat is weaker, with
no better reason than the government
report of wheat in farmers hands. which
is altogether out Of keeping with the
government estimates a year ago, and
yet is probably more nearly correct.
Western receipts still exceed last years
and for two weeks have been 4. So. 1872
bushels, against 1886, 10 last year. while
the Atlantic exports, -four included. this
week, a little smaller than year ago,
have been for two weeks 1921 .097 bush
els. against 3.510.152 last year Corn is
a shade frmer, without apparent rea-
son, and cotton gained sixteenth, al
though the prospect Of yield this year
is at least as good as it has ben at any
time
Failures for the week have been 50
911.775. against 81, 693. 052 last year, and
s.. 276. 292 in 1894. Manufacturing were
s966.915 against S7S5.296 last year and
trading were $2,005,560, against $S97, 800
last year,
Failures for the week have been 600
year, and 60 in Canada, against 81 last
year.
BRADSTREET'S TRADE REVIEW.
New York. March 13.-Bradstreet'
tomorrow will say:
The only conspicuously favorable fea-
ture of the general business situation is
the report of February gross railway
earnings throughout the country. Re
l..
larger, with a single exception. than in
any preceding month for more than
three years. the February for 1896 being
S34. 4S4 600. a gain over that total last
year of nearly IA per cent. These re-
suits are due in part in favorable wealth.
er conditions. large grain traffic and
the inclusion Of one more business day
General trade shows no marked
change. Distribution Of merchandise
is most active for dry goods. hardware.
shoes and millinery. paints. oils and
heavy chemicals, but has been ulsatis>
factory. Johbers report spring trade
Of waiting character, due to belsts1
snow storms and unusually cold wealth
er. Collections, with few exceptions,
are no better. and in many instances
less sa tisfactory, which tends . -etard
the movement as whefTf. aia-stog. ea.t.so
the movement Of merchandise.
Total exports Of wheat, -four included
as wheat. from both coasts OF the United
States during SIX business days ending
March =. amount - 2.4ol COO bushels.
against . 409, 90 vast week. 2.79l 600 bush
els in the corresponding week last year.
3.2S5.000 in the second week Of March
1924. and as compared with :. SS5 900 in
the like week OF 1888
Total exparts Of Indian corn IN the
same week amount n los GO bushels
a little more than 1.00o 600 bushels less
than in the previous week. and as com
pared with $4,000 bushels IN t1e Ike
week last year. and with l.2.S.G3) n The
correSnoniint. week % 1Sat