The Indianapolis journal., 1896-04-25
ONE WEEK In TRADE
DEMAND STILL TOO WEAK TO
GREATLY IMPROVE BUSINESS.
Strikes and Factories Closing Increase
the DepressiOn-Dun & Co.'s and
Bradxtreet's Reports.

NEW YORK, April 24-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade. which issues to-
morrow. will say: Business has been Ia
vored by seasonable weather, AMI the dis
tributicn of products has made fair progress.
not yet reducing retail or wholesale stocks
far enough, however. to materially improve
the position of industries. All the great in
dustries are embarrassed by lack Of demand,
and In some cases the accumulation of goods
in anticipation CT demand has gone about as
far as it can. Strikes of some Importance
are threatened in building and window-glass
trades. and the working force Is lessened by
stoppage of some factories because orders
are light. Again, prices Of commodities are
on the whole lower than ever, having de-
ciined about 2 per cent. since April ]. and
IL per cent. since July, 1890, or october, 1892.
The fall in manufactured products is little
less than it was April l. but farm products
greater. Speculation is swayed by trifling in
huence when markets are very narrow. The
recent advance checked buying of wheat
for export, and Atlantic exports for the week
were only 1,0S1, ,264 bu, flour included. against
1,76S,S73 bu last year, while Western receipts
were 2,094657 bu, against 1,S57.4OS bu last
year. Since July 1 Atlantic exports. includ-
ing flour, have been only 72,9Oo,OOo bu. against
S7.500,O0O bu last year to date. though West
ern receipts have been about l77,coo,o0o bu.
against 139. 900 bu to date last year. With
generally fair prospects as to winter wheat,
the price has dropped about &c, nearly half
the rise based on g.oomy reports early this
month.
Corn-Receipts continue heavy and the
price is a shade lower.
A single enterprising buyer was able 10
push up the price OF cotton 1sc, though the
progress of planting gives promise of large
yield, and the receipts continue as large as
In 1S93 about 3S6, 900 bales larger for the year
thus far. Cotton goods were bought .ess
freely last week, and the Northern mills
have taken scarcely any cotton this month:
The feeling Is more hopeful because retail
trade is better
The situation in the wooden goods does not
improve, though women's dress goods are
selling fairly. especially since invoice prices
of some French goods were advanced, but
the mills for mems wear, hosiery and car
pets are rapidly decreasing production. Sales
and some domestic for export, but were
in all only 4,063 100 lbs and for three weeks
have been s,527, 200 lbs. Of which bic 800 so lbs
were domestic. against II, ,4C9, 800 lbs last year,
of which 9.292. 500 lbs we're domestic
Leather is weaker. with heavy sales. aver
aging about per cent lower for the week,
although hides at Chicago are shade
stronger. Neither pig iron nor manufac--
tured products have improved in demand
yet, though further combinations have raised
bars sell at H.15. and nails are to be l5c
higher after May /. Brokers at Pittsburg
are still selling steel billets Soc below pool
price though IL was formed more than three
weeks ago, and Bessemer pig has declined
there to sl3. with gray forge stronger Struc-
tural angles are shade lower though some
have been sales Of 1900 tons steel rails and
1000 tons cast pipe for Newark. Many con-
sumers of copper are working part time. and
lake is offered at 10.65c Tin is dull, but
shade higher at f3.40c. and lead. with large
Western sales. at 30711c. Makers OF tin
plates have agreed to maintain prices, $2- 20
being still quoted for Bessemer coke, full
weight.
Failures for the week have been 2ss in the
United States. against 230 last year, and At
in Canada. against 81 last year.