Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1896-03-12
TRADE REVIEW.
Business Situation According to Dun and
Ryas or

Business Situation According to Dun and
Bradstreet.
New York. March 7.-R. G.. Dun G.
Co.'s weekly review of trade says:
1T must yet be broadly stated that busi
ness appears to improve only in prospect
and in the confidence which future
transa ctions may be based, but not as yet
in actual sales accomplished. The indus
tries all report a slightly lower range of
prices. except for iron and steel products.
The demand for no class of iron products
Is at this time brisk. but large structural
business is expected In the spring. and there
Is still much hopefulness about railroad
orders as earnings continue to improve.
The reports OF the boot and shoe interest
are not on the whole more encouraging
this week, shipments from the east being
still nearly ~ per cent less than last year,
but there was no further decline in prices
No important change appears in the leather
market. and hides are somewhat weaker.
Prices of wool have declined an average
of "a per cent. within, the month Of Feb
ruary, presumably because of the failure
of the proposed tariff bill, which included
duties on wool. At present the sales are
the smallest recorded for years. There is
no Improvement whatever in the demand
sor wooden goods, and number of estab-
ishments have closed OF reduced their
working force in order to give the market
opportunity to clear itself. Speculation in
breadstufrs has not been particularly &C.
tive, nor has a change in prices been i'm
portant. With continuing large receipts,
corn remains substantially unchanged in
price.
The Cuban resolutions and the appoint
inent Of receivers for the Baltimore &
Ohio were events OF sufficient Importance
to affect almost any genuine market, es-
peclally for securities. 1t therefore argues
either remarkable strength Of conditions
or an entire want OF life and gcnuinenesa
IN the market that the prices Of the 80 M st
active railroad stocks, which averaged $40
"A per share February l, have never fallen
lower than $40. Sc, nor risen above $50 IS per
share. The market is largely under the
control of operators who cannot afford to
see 1t decline much, but it is also true that
the vote on Cuba and the receivership had
both been discounted. The strength of the
market is largely due to more satisfactory
reports of railway earnings.
Failures for the week have been 2S5 in
the United States, against 234 last year,
ana bS IL Canada, against 53 last year.
The volume of business reflected by
clearing house exchanges is not materially
improving, the weeks returns showing
gain OF only 65 per cent. over last year,
and a decrease of 17.6 per cent. in COM
parison with the same week OF 1897
Bradstreet's says:
General trade began the week relatively
less favorably; with the change from high
winds and extreme cold which checked
trading to nilder weather, increased pur-
cllases and brighter prospects for bust
ness have appeared. Makers of wooden
goods report spring trade over, fall trade
not yet begun and much men's-wear woole,,
machinery idle. Iron and steel have had
an unsatisfactory demand and prices of
Dillets and southern pig are shaded There
are also reductions in quotations for cot
ton, print cloths, petroleum, hides, and for
wheat, Indian corn and. oats. Mercantile
collections are generally unsatisfactory
notably in Chicago, where there are more
complaints than for a year past