The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-06
THE WORLD OF TRADE
Bradsf eet's Report on the Bus
mess Situation.
THE FEATURES OF THE PAST WEEK.

Stormy Weather In the Northwest. Re-
strlction of Distribution OF staple Mer-
chandise, and Unsatisfactory Collections
the Leading characteristics Of General
Trade-some Favorable Features Report
ed-Many Failures for the First Quarter.
NEW YORK, April 6-Brad streets says:
Stormy weather at the northwest, contin-
ued restriction Of distribution OF staple
merchandise and unsatisfactory mercan-
tile collections continued to be the leading
characteristics u general trade. The
conspicuous change Is in steel and iron
markets The formation OF a pool Of
manufacturers Of steel TO regulate pro-
ductIon and maintain prices results in the
advance Of S3 per ton in quotations for
steel billets and S. 25 per ton for bessemer
pig-iron A corresponding stimulus Is
given quotations for other forms of iron
and st eel. Whereas leading metal mar
kets were duh and depressed a week ago,
activity is now reported with a prospect
for further advances This must natural
ly tend TO stimulate kindred Industries
The Best for Years.
Additional favorable features are re-
ports that at Baltimore, the quarters
general trade has been the best for years;
that there has been a slight increase In
the volume of business at Pittsburg;
that at Kansas City distribution OF gen
eral merchandise is fair (but commission
houses admit being overrun with coun-
try consignments which are slow Of sale).
and that demand for dress woolens, aut-
Hs1t, saffieianf \ m
stimulate manufacturers TO buy material
more freely. Exports OF wheat (hour in
cludcd as wheat) from both coasts o. the
United States this week aggre gate l,OJo,'
0J0 bushels. against l,7l4,00O bushels last
week 2 s53, o. 0 bushels in the week year
ago, 2,77S 90 bushels in the week two
years ago, and US compared with ., 3j5,OOO
bushels in the like week in 1898 Exports
of Indian corn have increased, and
amount To 9, 100 00) bushels this week,
three times what they were in the week
year ago.
Largest List OF Failures.
The first quarter OF 1886 presents the
largest list OF actual cOmmerci VI and In
dustrial failures in business in the United
States those in which Liabilities exceed
assets, ever reported for like period. The
total Qncluding financial insdtutions) Is
4,5l2 or 100 more than in the like portion
OF 1895; 543 more than In 1894, l. ABB more
than In the flrst quarter of 1898. This Is
an increase OF Is, IL and AZ per cent re-
spectively. The largest preceding like to-
tai, A. 050, was reported in 1885. Liabilities
of those failing this year amounted to
$62 5l3 600. an increase of 80 per cent. as
compared with year ago, "a per cent as
compared with the first quarter of 1894,
and 60 percent as contrasted with three
years ago. Business failures in Canada
number ISL for the last quarter, against
bS1 in the first quarter of 1895, with total
| liabilities of 5573 0OO, against si,253,oOc
last year.
The Speculative Market.
A marked change was apparent in tho
temper and tendency of speculation this
week More confident feelings have
taken place of the depressed sentiments
which prevailed only a fortnight ago.
The Improvement in prices has not been
very great, but it is in contrast with the
bearish manifestations of the last month.
Though the most noticeable movement OF
the week was again In one of the manipu-
lated ndustrials-American Tobacco COM
mon-the fact that the railroads share list
exhibited certain amount OF activity
was taken as an indication that the mar
ket was getting inio a more healthy state.
The trading was however, still profes-
sional, and the buying mesmainlysfrom
the covering OF shor5 contracts Europe
and the public arr still standing aside,
whilo it would seem that some OF tho
larger interests in the market have again
taken their stand on the bull side.
Due 10 seasonable Weather.
This sudden reversal of speculative con-
ditions is apparently due to the advent OF
more seasonab.e weather and It's effects,
| not only upon crop prospects, but ON bust
ness activity rs we'll AT the same time
| the fear OF in n;ortcrencc with business and
| financial an hrs through congressional
| action in connection with our fore gl TO-
| lations has vsibly decreased and at the
same time apprshensions in regard 10 an
extension o. current troubles in trade
| have appeared to be unfounded or exag'
gerated IL may be noted that the ut
| most Il rts of the professional operators
| failed 20 create any decided selling move.
mont, and chat during the last few weeks
| every attack on values simply increased
| the outstanding short interests Rail
road earnings. too, have continued to In
crease at generally fair ratio.