The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-16
BUSINESS is QUIET
NO PROSPECT FOR IMPROVEMENT
UNTIL AFTER CROPS ARE ASSURED.
Dun & Co.'s and Bradstreet's Weekly
Reviews Of Trade Show a General
Depression Prevailing.

NEW YORK, May 15.-R G. Dun & Co. S
weekly review of trade, which issues to-
morrow. will say: 1t is now the middle of
MAY. too late for business TO change mate
rally until the coming crops are assured.
and definite shape has been given TO the
presidential contest by the conventions. In
til the future is more clear there is pru-
dent Discrimination to produce much beyond
orders or to order beyond immediate and
certain needs. If this waiting spirit pre-
walls two months longer 1t will crowd into
the last half of the year am enormous bust
ness if the outlook then is good. For the
present there is less business on the whole
than year ago. though more in some
branches. and the delay following months of
depression is trying to many, and causes
numerous failures. An attempt was made
to manufacture excitement in cotton out of
the government report. but the price closed
exactly as IL began the week, and the port
receipts have been actually larger than last
year. All current arguments based on the
assumption that the quantity used in man.
ufacture has been or is now at a minimum
rate are dsproved by the closing OF many
mills for want of demand and the general
effort TO reduce wages, which has caused
some strikes.
Wheat is unchanged, in spite of all ru-
mors and the Atlantic exports, -four in
cluded which were last year greater than
against 2.9l7, 3O5 received, have this year been
only half as large. 1.096.fl4 blu exported.
against 4019. 239 Western receipts.
The most fortunate or the chief industries
at present is the boot and shoe manufacture.
which Is not only shipping 10 customers
within per cent of the largest number of
cases ever forwarded in the first half OF
May. but Is getting many new orders, and
there are many urgent requests 10 anticipate
orders for June and July delivery indicating
that distribution to consumers has much
outrun expectations. The iron and steel in
dustry, on the other hand. is pronounced
as dull as 1t ever has been In its whole his
tory at Pittsburg, in part because OF doubt
about the maintenance of prices recently adj
vanced and the demand is so small that in
spite OF such advances prices average L.
per cent. lower for the week. Bessemer pig
being no higher than Ii was three months
ago, at S12.6 while No. l anthracite is also
lower. $3.50 at New York. The attempt to
hold common bar IRON at lie leads many
large consumers to prefer steel bars. which
sell at LIE and prices Of nails are expected
TO be reduced because of scanty demand.
There is much promise for future structural
work. but orders are deferred.
Sales OF wool have been little larger the
past week. 3.543.200 lbs at the three chief
markets but for two weeks only 1888, 200 lbs.
against over 100000 lbs last year and in
1892 The large drives in clothing have
cleared out stocks of some readymade con-
Germs but check new business. and the gem
eral disposition 10 postpone orders as far
as possible.
Failures for the week have been 22i in
the United States. against I'll last year. and
thirty-three in Canada. against thirty-seven
last wear