The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-03-18
STILL WAITING.
Business shows But Little Sign of Inn
proyement-Hope for the Future.


Business shows But Little Sign of I'M
provement-Hope for the Future.
New York, March Ar. q. Dun q
Co., in their weekly review of trade,
say:
waiting is still the rule. Large hope,
but little actual business explain the
strength of some markets and the weak
ness of others. Thus far there is decided
increase in the demand for boots and shoes
secured by considerable concessions in
price but in other branches of business
concessions are made in vain, or are not
Eade. Meanwhile, it is encoura ging 10
know that one of the most important in
terests has realized definite inpro Tement-
The insurance companies show larger
business and larger income than Ever be-
fcre and also a remarkable souncness of
mortgage loans and other investments
las prices about February q were on
the whole. the lowest ever known in this
country, considerable space is given this
week to comparison of quotations in the
most important branches of manufacture.
which show rhe extent of reaction since the
rise last fall 1t is especially noteworthy
that prices of materials have varied quite
differently from prices of manufactured
products Thus cotton is 2.9 per cent.
higher than a year ago. but cotton goods
average only l0.7 per cent. Wool is but
So per cent. higher than year ago. but
wooden goods are on the whole about four
per cent. lower. Pig iron is only IL per cent.
higher than a year ago, while finished
products of iron and steel average IS per
cent. higher. Boots and shoes are prac-
tieally not higher than year ago, while
leather has risen LIS per cent, and hides
at the moment are only p per cent higher
These comparisons are important because
Trey disclose something of the grave dis.
location of prices which Inadequate con-.
Si1mnriOn and combinations have rra.,
duced-
Cotton goods sell but clowly, notwith-
standing 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.
THE market for wheat is weaker, with no
better reason than the government re-
port of wheat in farmers hands, which
is altogether out of keeping with the gov
eminent estimate a year ago. and yet is
probably more nearly correct
Corn is shade nrmer without apparent
reason, and cotton gained 1-16, although
the prospect OF yield this year is at least as
seed as it has been at any time.
Failures for the week have been 800 in
the United States against go last year, and
60 in Canada against 81 last year
Bradstreet's says:
1.-THE only conspicuously favorable fea-
ture Of the general business situation is
the report of February gross railway earn
ings throughout the country. Receipts Of
In companies last month were larger, with
a single exception, than in any preceding
month for more than three years, the
February total for 1896 being $34, 49,. 0Oo-a
gain over that total last year of nearly IA
per cent These results are due in part to
favorable weather conditions. large grain
traffic and the inclusion of one more BUSH
ness day"