The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-01
The Weeks Business Has Been
Unsatisfactory
DEMAND STILL RETARDED
But There are Definite Signs OF
improvement.
THE BOND QUESTION SETTLED
The Continued Uncertainty of Con-
gressionaI Action Still Affects Both
industries and Commerce
UnfavorabIY.

New York. Jan. Sir. G. Dun q
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade. which
issues tomorrow, will say:
Though business is still waiting.
there are some signs of definite i'm
prOyement 1t is now believed that the
first payment for bonds will cause no
further pressure and the money mar
kets are easier, as respects loans on
collateral though the difficulty of
making commercial loans still checks
operations. Bur large uaturitics at
the end of January have been met
more satisfactorily than was expected
and merchants and bankers report
that the signs promise good spring
trade. No increase appears as yet in
the demand for the principle products,
unless for some forms of iron and
steel, i'm which good contracts have
been made this week, and uncertainty
as to Congressional action still affects
both industries and commerce but the
increase in inquiry and the reports Of
dealers are deemed assurance of large
trade coming whenever the uncertain
ty is over.
Signs of improvement i'm the iron and
steel business are gratifying even
though they spring from combinations
which have raised the price of coke
and all of them puC up lake iron ore.
There is also better demand for wire
nails after long sta@nation and also
for sheets. Pig iron is rather weaker,
Southern works competing sharply
while speculative buyers OF some
months ago are selling below present
furnace prices, bat the average for all
products is practically yIunchanged, and
ia per cent below the highest last
year.
The cotton mills are discussing cur
failing Of production, as goods con-
tinue weak, with an output largely eX-
ceeding distribution. though the weak
has brought considerably more in
quiries and a larger spring trade is
still hope for. Cotton is lower
than week ago, Notwithstanding
strong arguments by Neill and others,
but receipts from planters go on at
the same rate, spmners taldngs fall
behind last year rs before and the
marketing of goods does not support
the brilliant estimates Of increased
consumption this year. Exports in
January have been - per cent less,
spinners takings 35 per cent less and
receipts from plantations so per cent
less than last year and receipts have
been larger but spinners takings and
exports both smaller thar in 1923
from crop Of 6,700.0) bales.
Failures this week have been i04 in
the United States, against 35i last
wear. and 20 in Canada. against 81 last
year
BRADSTREET'S REVIEW.
New York, Jan. Bradsreet's to-
morrow will say:
The features of the week are cOntin-
ued retarded demand for merchandise
and checked industrial operations.
Least satisfactory is the waiting at
titude of some of the more important
industries. Shoe factories at Phila
delphia are shutting down or run
ming on part time; cotton goods MAX
ers regard the outlook for their pro-
duct unpromising; there is a reaction
in the price of steel billets; among
fifty pig-iron furnaces in the Pittsburg
and Shenango districts fourteen are
idle, and the position of the woolen
goods manufacturers is shown by the
fact that foreign woolen goods are
most active.
General trade at close Of January
proves disappointing, particularly in
Central Western, Western and North
western States, where the movement
of merchandise from iobbers has been
slow and unsatisfactory, it being only
fair at a few points.
Exports Of wheat (hour included)
from both coasts of the United States,
this week, show marked falling off,
amounting to only 2,55O,OOO bushels,
week.