Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-04

power 70 cause alarm q ti'ey had ~
re gigantic s,eel combination e e.
pected g have great 'n s'sra,si,nr con-
iidsnce. and though such operations o, Yen
rrsiss fhs s,cceas they seek. they rare'y
fall to kindle speculative puyins. ,,svs :
time. Toe sudden advance N J,'1sI Al
pi n and the demand for structure,
forms increases. In the exgectauon. . Sn :
prices Will rise The nall associst.o ~
have given notice OF another advanGHs . ~
have been demoraiized. but some maze .,,
now hope to rc-estabilsh the compinatSy,l'
as steel bars Will become dearer. bu. ~ y.
foundry K , asnssl demand for finish
ed products does not yet improse. duo.
steel concerns propose TO restrict prvou..
ton by allotment. those producing I""s :,
than their share paying " per toA "
those who produce less. . -.
I4ss encoura cement appears In the po0s
and shoe trade, as buyers hesitate thous =
leather IL still firmly held The woos' ~
manufacture does not gain IN ordets ELY
a large part of the machinery is stoppeu-
The prices OF wool have fallen LIZ per
cent. the average OF 10l quotations peing
1850 cents. Cotton-mills stiil pile up
goods In advance Of orders, as ss,ro',Iate
Speculation In product has been tame.
Cotton continues TO come forward 20 iarbe-
iy that former predictions OF 6.5oo.oo Daies
are remembered with derision, ana tne
outlook for the next crop continues goou.
Bradstreat's tomorrow will say: stormy
weather at the Northwest. continued re-
str!ction OF distribution OF staple mer-
chandise, and unsatisfactory melea ad,ne
characteristics OF general trade, Inc con-
spcuous change Is In the steel and IRON
markets. The formation OF pool OF
manufacturers OF steel TO regulate pro
duction and maintain prices resulted IN
an advance of s. per ton In quotations Tor
steel billets and BIS per ton for Bes.
semer pig-iron. A corresponding stimulus
Is given. qaototions for other forms OF
metal markets were dull and depressed
q week ago. activity is now reported.
with a prospect for further advances.
This must naturally tend to stimulate
kindred industries. The movement In the
eteel and iron markets during the next
lew weeks will attract an unusual share
OF. attention.
Additional favorable features are re-
ports that at Baltimore the quarters
general trade has been the best for years;
that there has been slight increase. In
the volume of business at Pittsburg; that
at Kansas City the distribution of gene
raj merchandise Is fair, and that demand
for dress woollens, autumn delivery, has
been sufficient TO stimulate manufac-
turers 10 buy raw material more freely.
The first quarter of 1896 presents the
largest list Of actual commercial and in
dustrial failures In business In the United
States, those in which the liabilities snd
assets are the greatest ever reported for
q like period. The total Including finan-
clal institutions), is 45l2 or 700 more than
In the like portion of 1895. The largest
preceding like total 1880 was reported
in 1885. The liabilities OF those falling
this year amount to So, 5l3. 900, an increase
of 30 per cent, as compared with year
ago.
In addition to advances for iron and
steel and products thereof, wheat. Indian
corn, and graduated sugar are higher,
maintaining the tendency of week ago.
Wheat, flour, cotton. wool. print cloths.
and rye are substantially unchanged, but
oats, barley, pork. lard, butter, and cheese
are all lower, as Is coffee. The move
ments Of dry goods from jobbers' hands
has not improved. Wool is dull and de-
pressed. and some mems wear mills In
New England and In Pennsylvania have
closed
March bank clearinge are In contrast 10
those of February, when the total was
20 per cent larger than the corresponding
total one year ago The March agpn egate
Is sfl0800o, only / per cent more than
the total for February. an increase over
the March total a year ago of only %
per cent