The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-03-11
TRADE REVIEW.
business Situation According to Dun and
Bradstree.


Bradstreet
New York. March 7.-R. C. Dun &
CO. 5 weekly review of trade saws:
"It must yet be broadly stated that b,.si
ness appears TO improve only in prospect
and in the confidence on which future
transactions may he ba sed but not q vet
In act,mg sales accomplished. The IND US
tries a. report slightly lower range of
prices, except for iron and steel products.
The demand for no class of iron products
IL at this time brisk. but large structural
business is expected in the spring, and there
Is still much hopefulness about railroad
orders, as earnings continue to Improve.
The reports of the boot and shoe interest
are not on the whole more encouraging
this week. shipments from the east being
stin nearly ~ per cent less than last year.
but there was no further decline in prices.
No important change appears in the leather
mark0, and hides are somew hat weaker.
Failures for the week have been 2S5 In
the United States, against 234 last year,
and 6S in Canada, against IS last year.
Prices of wool have declined an average
OF "a per cent within the month of Feb
ruary, presumably because of the failure
of the proposed tariff bill, which included
duties on wool At present the sales are
the smallest recorded for years. There is
no Improvement whatever in the demand
for wooden goods. and a number of estab
working force in order TO give the market
opportunity to clear itself Speculation In
breadstuffs has not been particularly ae-
tive, nor has a change in prices been in
portant With continuing large receipts
corn remains substantially unchanged il
price.
The Cuban resolutions and the appoint
ment of receivers Tor the Baltimore &
Ohio were events of sufficient Importance
to affect almost any genuine market, e.
pecially for securities. 1t therefore argues
either remarkable strength of conditions
or an entire want of life and genuineness
IN the market that the prices of the 60 most
active railroad stocks. which averaged $40
"a per share February ], have never fallen
lower than $4s Sc. nor risen above $50 S. per
share. The market is largely under tie
control of operators who cannot afford to
see il decline much, but II Is also true that
the vote on Cuba and the reeeivership had
both been discounted. The strength of the
market Is largely due TO more satisfactory
reports of railway earnings.
The volume Of business reflected ny
clearing house exchanges is not materially
improving. the weeks returns showing a
gain of only IS per cent over last year.
and q decrease of H.t per cent in COM
parison with the same week Of 1888
Bradstreet's says:
General trade began the week relatively
less favorably; with the change from high
winds and extreme cold which checked
trading to milder weather, Increased pur-
chases and brighter prospects for BUSH
ness have appeared. Makers of wooden
goods report spring trade over, fall trade
not yet begun and much men's-wear woolen
machinery idle. Iron and steel have had
an unsatisfactory demand and prices of
billets and southern pig are shaded There
are also reductions in quotations for cot
ton, print cloths. petroleum, hides, and for
wheat, Indian corn and oats. Mercantile
collections are generally unsatisfactory.
notably in Chicago, where there are more
complaints than for year past"