River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-07-09
Trade REVIEW
The Situation as Seen by Du n and Brad
street.-The Failure Record.

New York, July Ar. G.. Dun e. Co.,
in their weekly review of trade. say:
Current movements Rave been so large
~ OF teInpors ry character or else purely
speculative on the day by day plan, that
they are nct hishly instructive. Thrs an
extensive snus down of cotton mills is
solely In the hope that half production In
July and August may clear largely over
stocked market. Stocks fluctuations were
still more ephemeral. including two sharp
declines and Partial rallies within a week,
both laboriously ascribed to various po-
iitical causes. but mainly due TO keen OPP
orators who saw chances for e. quick turn.
Extended reviews Of the half years OPP
erations In leading branches Of manufac-
lures go far to explain numerous stoppages.
In woolens they are without concern. Mills
are waiting for orders. the sales of wool
having been not a third of last years for
the same week. Prices are depressed. but
still depend on foreign possibilities. In
cotton goods the closing of many mills, both
north and south. for half of July and
August, is In effect recognition of the fact
that heavy stocks of goods manufactured
from cotton costing between ~ and sh
cents could not be expected to show profits
II the mills go on manufacturing until a
new and probably heavy crop of cotton is
ready. The reduction of prices has brought
out large demand In many cases. but not
enough 10 meet the output of the mills. A
further decline In print cloths to ga cents
Is significant. when such decrease In
production is assured.
Having begun by reducing prices to the
lowest ever known, boot and shoe produce
crs are doing shade better I'm prices with
leather little cheaper on the whole. thouf h
hides have mounted to about the level Of
January /. The output of iron has largely
decreased. and there is a quite general
stoppage of works for repairs. but the tn
nual controversies about wages have in
most cases been settled. and IT is believed
Will be settled in all without strikes.
Wheat declined one-half cent and re-
covered one-fourth cent. but western re-
ceipts continue remarkably large. The
stocks In sight are greater than a year ago,
and though winter wheat yields less. spring
wheat seems likely with fair weather to
yield more than last year. Germ promises
remarkably well and also oats. Cotton
greatly needs rain in parts of Texas. but
better reports come from most of the other
sections and large increase In acreage is
generally reported.
Complete failure returns for the second
quarter of 1896. April to June 80, inclusive.
cover 1896 In the United States. against
2.s55 in the same quarter of last year. Fall
ures for the week have been 257 In the
United States. against 1876 last year. and q
in Canada, against "a last year"
Bradstreet's says:
General trade, I'm both commercial and
Industrial lines. is duller. but the failing is,
in part. the usual midsummer dullness.
Comparatively few changes are noted, but
most of them are decreases in either price
or demand. Quotations for wheat. Indian
corn, cotton, oats. iron and steel are lower.
Sugar has reacted after the decline of last
week. leather remains conspicuously firm,
with shoe factories busily employed. and
petroleum and anthracite coal are higher.
The sentiment of the trade at many points
is that the immediate outlook for business
10 not favorable. At some western centers
complaint is made that the purchasing
power of the agricultural community is cur
tailed by prolonged low prices for farm
products. The general Industrial situation
shows no renewal of activity"