River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-04-23
AN AID TO TRADE.
seasonabie Weather Brings improvement
In business.
New York, April Is.-R. q. Dun & Co.

New York, April Is.-R. q. Dun & Co.
in their weekly review of trade say:
THE sudden change from sleighing to
midsummer heat has tested the prevalent
idea that good weather only was needed TO
bring general Improvement OF business,
everywhere there mas been mere reta'I
buying and In some branches batter 1e-
mand at wholesale and at the works has
resulted. but not as yet I'm most lines.
There Is no abatement of the almost uni
versal disposition to deal with unusual
conservatism and not to anticipate future
wants. and this has been especially con-
fpicuous where combinations have been
formed or prices advanced.
Partly because OF low prices. which
were again the lowest ever known, the
volume of business represented by clear
ing-house exchanges, 5.5 per cent. larger
thar last year, Is 204 per cent smaller
than in April 1898. Rairoe J earnings fol
April thus far show gala OF only 26 per
cent. over last year The stock market
has grown stronger on stories about things
done abroad. a few foreign purchases help
ing, though trusts weakened on the sign
ing OF an antitrust law by Gov. Morton.
ITO many interested In iron ore and coke.
steel billets. Bessemer pig and various
forms of steel, 1t may be disappointing
that the forming of combinations and fix
ing OF prices have not started again the
rush to buy ahead OF needs. which made
last year so memorable. BUTT is not easy
taught. Instead of Increasing. purchases
have been on the whole rather siackeneu.
though little better In plates at the east
and I'm sheets at Chicago.
THE boot and shoe makers have put
some quotations a she lie lower since leather
has fallen below the average a year ago,
and hides at the lowest average since No
vember. 1894. having declined three per
cent this week. The northern and ORTIZ
western demand is backward, though he
south has bought freely. The silk associa-
ton states that 40 per cent. of the machin-
cry and hands In the country are idle. part
ly because of increasing Japanese compe-
tition. Several more wooden mills have
shut down and some have reduced wages
ten per cent. while many are working only
half time, but recent advances b. apprais-
ers not only disclose heavy undervalua-
lions in the past, but tend TO check future
imports. The demand for goods does not
improve. Somewhat more demand for
staple cottons has been aroused by bar
gain prices, but the closing of many mills
for time is urged as necessary.
wheat rose about five cents last week.
met some reaction. but is a shade higher
than a week ago. After remaining TN
changed for many days. rumors either way
having no effect cotton rose a sixteenth
on Thursday. Heavy commercial and mill
stocks hinder ost buyers. and possibili-
ties of injury 20 the coming crop retard
sellers at current prices
March imports were S3,912.455 smaller.
and exports 1866. l07 larger than last year.
and the excess of exports was $9.14i.0l5.
Failures for the past week have been
223 in the United States. against 241 last
year and Sc in Canada. against "a last
wear"