The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-18
BUYERSSTAND BACK
LESSON OF LAST YEAR HAS BEEN
LAID WELL TO HEART.
Unusual Conservatism in the Matter of An
ticipating Future Wants Is a Marked
Feature of the Situation, Especially
Where Combinations Have Been
Formed or Prices Advanced-Iron and
Steel Products Given a Specially Wide
Berth-Tin Plate Makers Propose In
Observation-Disclosures in 8 Bad Way.

Stcei IrouucIs UiSen d SpecIeIy "loc
Berth-Tin Plate Makers Propose In
dependence-Textfles in 8 Bad Way.
New York, April 17-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade which issues
tomorrow will say:
The sudden change from sleighing to
midsumer heat, with fair skies in most
cities, has tested the prevalent idea
that good weather only was needed to
bring general improvement of businss
Everywhere there has been more retail
buying and in some branches better de-
mand at wholesale and at the works
has resulted, but not as yet in most
lines. There is no abatement Of the
almost universal disposition to deal
with unusual conservatism and not TO
anticipate future wants and this has
been especially conspicuous where COM
binations have been formed or prices
advanced. The comparative infrequen-
cy OF serious failures, with money less
disturbed since gold exports began
than might have been expected, helps
to give encouragement, but dos not
kindle speculative fires, that such i'm
provement as appears is mainly a heal
thy sort
To many interested in iron ore and
coke, steel billets, bessemer pig and va
rious forms Of steel it may be disappoint
ing that the forming of combinat atoms
and liking Of prices have not started
again the rush TO buy ahead of needs.
which made last year so memorable.
But IT is not easy to forget the les
son which the past year taught. In
stead Of increasing. purchases have on
the whole rather slackened, though a
little better in tank plates at the east
end in sheets at Chicago. Bssemer
pig and greyforge are a shade lower
at Pittsburg. as is the average of all
iron and steel quotations and obstacles
to some attempted combinations have
not been overcome. The greatest con-
sumers of lake ore have not FASTENED
10 make contracts at advanced prices
and the output of coke is stationary
Tin plate makers are meeting and some
propose to produce steel for their trade
at plants Of their own. Unsold stock
increased in March, 1858 tons more
than was reported last week At the
west almost every town seems TO want
steel for some building and good or
ders have been placed for bars by i'm
plement and car makers. Heavy pro-
duction Of copper defeats heavy exports
and 10Z cents is quoted for lake, and
spelter has broken to $40.
Shipments of boots and shoes from
Boston thus far have been per cent
less than last year, though larger than
in previous years. Textile works are
less fortunate. The Silk association
states that 40 per cent of the machinery
and thousands in the country are idle
partly on account of japanese competi-
ton. Several more wooden mills have
shut down and some have reduced
wages 10 per cent while many are work
ing only half time but recent advances
by appraisers not only discloses heavy
undervaluations in the past, but tend
to check future imports. The demand
for goods does not improve and sales
of wool for two weeks of April at the
three chief markets have been only
5,464,6O0 pounds, against IL 1853, 200 last
year and 1912, 500 in 1892. Somewhat
more demand for staple cottons has
been aroused by bargain prices but the
closing of many mills for time is urg-
ed as necessary and one of the largest
and oldestm ills, the Lawrence. aban-
dons production Of heavy goods and
turns to hosiery.
Wheat rose a bout cents last week
met some reaction but is a shade high
er than week ago. Later accounts
are more promising as to winter wheat
and western receipts in two weeks of
April are 3,S3S. SOP bushels, against 3
234,302 last year, while Atlantic exports
for the same weeks have been only p
301, 81. flour included. against 3,71S,SSS
last year. The small exports so late
in the season and western receipts pro-
wing tina the yield last year much ex-
ceeded the estimates, have left little
confidnce in predictions of scarcity. At
ter remaining unchanged for many
days, rumors either way having no eff
feet, cotton rose a sixteenth on Thurs
day. Heavy commercial and mill
stocks hinder most buyers and possibil-
tiles of injury TO the coming crop retard
sellers at current prices.
Failures for the past week have been
223 in IN United States. against PA last
var, and So in Canada, against "a last
year.
BRADSTREETS TRADE REVIEW
New York. April 17.-Bradstreets to-
morrow viii say:
Favorable weather. except in some
Of the northwestern states, has stimu-
lated demand for saSouable merchan-
disc, notably light summer clothing
On the whole the week presents a dis
unct gain. This is not so much ap-
parent at eastern centers, except Bal
timore and Pittsburg, as in the central
Mississippi river valley. At some