Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-04-21
THE HOT WAVE.
Injeots New Life Into the Bust
ness World.
More Fetal Buying and in Some
Branches Better Demand at Whole
sale-The Trade Situation.

New York, April 1S.-R. G. Dun & Co.
in their weekly review of trade say:
1.-THE sudden change from sleighing to
midsummer heat has tested the prevalent
idea that good weather only was needed to
bring general improvement Of business.
Everywhere there mas 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 uni
versal disposition to deal with unusual
conservatism and not to anticipate future
wants, and this has been especially con-
spicuous where combinations have been
formed or prices advanced.
ITO many interested In iron ore and coke,
steel billets, BeSSemer pig and various
forms of steel, 1t may be disappointing
that the forming of combinations and fix
ing 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 lesson which the past year
taught. Instead of Increasing, purchases
have been on the whole rather slackened,
though little better in plates at the east
and in sheets at Chicago.
1.-The boot and shoe makers have put
some quotations shade lower sinceleather
has fallen below the average year ago,
and hides at the lowest average since No
vember, 1884. having declined three per
cent. this week. The northern and north
western demand is backward, though he
south has bought freely. The silk associa-
ton states that 40 per cent. of the machin-
cry and hands in the country are idle, part
ly because Of increasing Japanese compe-
tition. Several more WOODEN mills have
shut down and some have reduced wages
ten per cent, while many are working only
half time, but recent advances by apprais-
ers not only disclose heavy undervalua-
tons in the past, but tend to check future
imports. The demand for goods does not
improve. Somewhat more demand for
staple cottons has been aroused by bar
gain prices, but the closing of many mills
for time is urged as necessary.
Wheat rose about five cents last week,
met some reaction. but is a shade higher
than a week ago. After remaining I'M
changed for many days. rumors either way
having no effect, cotton rose sixteenth
on Thursday. Heavy commercial and mill
stocks hinder most buyers, and possible
| ties of injury to the coming crop retard
sellers at current prices.
Partly because of low prices, which
were again the lowest ever known, the
volume of business represented by clear
ing-house exchanges. SIS per cent larger
than last year, is 2O.4 per cent smaller
than in April 1S93 Railroad earnings fol
| April thus far show gain of only 2.6 per
| cent over last year. The stock market
| has grown stronger on stories about things
| done abroad, few foreign purchases help
| Ing though trusts weakened on the sign
| Ing of an antitrust law by Gov. Morton.
| March imports were s3.912,455 smaller
| and exports sl2,SG6, !07 larger than last year
and the excess of exports was $9,14i,O15.
Failures for the past week have bee.
| year and &c in Canada, against "a las,
|