The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-11
1t Is THE DEMAND
THAT Is WHAT AILS THE BUSINESS
OF THE COUNTRY.

Which is to Say, the Lack of It, It Bein,
stiil Below Observation-Disclosures o
No Greater Volume, Nor Prices Appre
eiabiy Better T!lao at the Record Low
Point, April Low Crop Condition rs
timates-SteeI Pool Raises Prices Bu
Not Demand-wooI and Cotton Mills
Reducing Product-FaiIures.
New York,April 1e-R. G. Dun & Cos
weekly review of trade, which issues to-
morrow. will say:
The volume Of business has not on
the whole increased, nor have prices ap-
probably advanced since April l, when
the range for all commodities was the
lowest ever known in this country
Breadstuffs and iron products have ris-
en- slightly, but some other articles have
declined and the root of the matter is
that the demand for consumption is
still below expectations.
The weather has not favored active
distribution Of spring goods.
The injury done TO winter wheat by
storms and frosts at the west would
appear from reports Of state officers to
have been considerable. Remarkably
low estimates Of condition are reported
by some state authorities, which tends
20 lessen purchases of farmers and of
dealers in farming districas. But the
reports are not more gloomy than a
year ago and the quantity of wheat
which has come from farms since Au-
gust /, has been 1853, Isl, 594 bushels,
q rr1,i inc J.
year. Western receipts for the week
are about so per cent larger than last
year, and for two weeks about so per
cent, while Atlantic exports, flour in
GUIDED, have been for the week only
soy, 900 bushels, against /, 759,0O6 last year
a decrease 70 nearly half. These con-
oftlons tend to check the advance,
which reached three cents, but was fol-
lowed by a reaction of l cent Corn
rose "a cents with wheat and on ac-
count Of small stocks. Cotton has not
changed.
The billet pool and other combinations
have raised prices of pig iron and steel,
but finished products have gained
scarcely anything, nor has demand for
them increased. Prices for lake ore
are announced as SL70 higher than last
year and the coke combina ton makes
put While purchases Of pig to an
tfcipate future wants have been heavy,
actual consumption is but moderate
Minor metals are dull, but lead is weak
er at 3-O5 cents on forced sales west
Wool is weaker, with sales for the
week only 100000 pounds at the three
chlef markets, the smallest for many
years Prices tend lower except for
me washed fleece, and manufacturers
are rapidly reducing production. There
IS fair demand in the dress goods
branch, especially due to important
steps by customs authorities to stop
INTERPRETATIONS of French and erman
goods, but 1t is estimated that not 40
per cent of the mems wear machinery
IS at work, There have also been cot
ton mills stopping or reducing time
this week. Further reduction in shirt
ing prints TO the lowest point ever
touched failed TO increase the demand
materially.
Failures for the past week have been
200 in the United States, againset POI
last year, and 43 in Canada, against 27
last year.
a MORE CHEERFUL VIEW.
New York, April 10-Bradstrcet to-
morrow viii say: While there is no
general increase in business, there are
several encouraging features. First
the advance in prices of -four, wheat,
corn, oats, pork and sugar. together
with that for steel billets and beams
and other iron and steel products. The
advance in wheat has continued SO
much longer than expected, that the
trade are again discussing the likeli-
hood Of this being the beginning of the
long expected advance for cereals which
they believe must come after the eX-
IRENE depression of the past few years
UnfavOrable crop reports from central
western states, confirmation of previous
short crop reports from Argentine and
Australia, small supplies in Europe and
afoat therefor, a revival of speculative |
interest in wheat are underneath cereal |
prices.
Bradstreets regular quarterly exhibit |
of comparative prices Of los staple arti-
cles, including livestock, shows higher
quotations for IS products on April 1,
1SS6, compared with IS which are lower /
and IS which are unchanged in con-
trast with corresponding quotations on |
January l, COntrasted with one year /
ago there are increases Of quotations /
for As items. while five are unchanged |
and AZ are lower.
Exports of wheat (fiour included as
xheaD from both coasts of the United
States amount to 1.764 900 bushels this !
week, compared with 1888, 600 last week !
2,SS4,O00 in the week last year, 1855, 900 /
in the week two years ago, and with |
2, e4S,00G in the corresponding week OF |
1888. Indian corn exports amount 10 |
], so, 900 bushels this week. compared
with 2,199. 900 last week and with S14. 900 /
in the week one year ago and 2,O40, 900 /.
two years ago.
Business failures in the United States |
this week number 23l, compared with |
236 last week. 225 in the week a year ago
oil two years ago and with 196 in the |
first week Of April. 1898. There are |
thirty business failures reported thro'- 4
out the Dominion of Canada this week. |
comapred with 4S last week. IS in thre 1
week year ago and IS two years ago. /