The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-03-21
DUN'S COMMERCIAL REVIEW.

Large Hope but Little Actual Business Re-
pOrted-ReactiOn of Prices from Febru-
ary-Th- Output of Pig Iron Still E1-
ceeds consumption of Manufactured
Products-Whea Weaker and Corn q
Shade Firpler.
New YORK, March 14.-R. q. Dun q
Co. say to-day:
Failures for the week have been 3OC
in the United States, against 266 last
year, and 90 in Canada, against 81 last
year.
Waiting is still the rule. Large
hope, but little actual business, ex-
plains the strength of some markets
IL the weakness of others. Thus far
there is a decided increase in the de-
mand for boots and shoes, secured by
considerable concessions in prices, but
in other branches of business conces-
sions are made in vain, or are not made.
MEANWHILE, it is encouraging to
know that n OF the most important
business interests has realized definite
improvement. The insurance COM
panles, OF which returns are given in
detail this week, show a larger bust
ness and larger income than ever be-
fore, and also d most remarkable
soundness of mortgage loans and other
investments.
As prices about February 81 were, on
the whole, the lowest ever known in
this country, considerable space is
given this week to comparison of
quotations IN the nos 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 from prices of
manufactured products. Thus cotton is
21.9 per cen higher than a year ago
but cotton goods average only 1917 per
cent Wool is but 4.3 per cent. higher
thai a year ago, but wooden goods are
on the whole about four per cent. low
er. Pig iron is only II per cent. higher
than a year ago, while finished prod
ucts of iron and steel average 10 per
cent. higher. Boots and shoes are
practically not higher than a year ago,
while leather has risen lis per cent.
and hides at the moment are only 20
per cent. higher.
These comparisons are important be-
cause they disclose something of the
grave ~dislocation OF prices which in
adequate consumption and combina-
tons have produced.
Cotton goods sell but slowly, not
w~ithstanding 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. In clay
worsteds the manufacture has been so
far overdone that stoppage Of some
most important works is considered
not improbable. Sales of wool at the
three chief markets are the smallest in
five years. Prices are still maintained
with decrease in Australian supplies.
The market for wheat is weaker,
with 40 better reason than the gov
eminent report of wheat in farmers
hands, which is altogether out of
keeping with the government estimate
a year ago, and it is probable more
nearly correct. Western receipts still
exceed last year, and for two weeks
have been 1867, 1872 bushels, against
1886, lis last year, while the Atlantic
exports, flour included, this week a
little smaller than ia year ago, nave
been for two weeks , ,92I, O97 bushels,
against 3,51O, 152 last year.
Corn is a shade firmer without ap-
parent reason, and cotton gained a
sixteenth, although the prospect of
yield this year is at least as good as
if has been at any time