The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-28
Collections slow and Gold Experts -
Europe Feared.

New York, March s---R. @. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade will say: No i'm
port2nt change has occurred in the general
condition OF business during the week. and
IL trade in some respects looks worse. in
other respects 1t looks better. Some fall
ures OF magnitude have occurred. which
have caused rsnch apprehension. and I'M
willingness TO lend among bankers. and
there have been somewhat less favorable
features in the dry goods market Bat in
iron and steel conditions are slightly i'm
proved. and in boots and shoes considera-
bly, more hopeful. Foreign trade is a little
more satisfactory, exports from New
York for three weeks showing an increase
over last year OF psr cent, while imports
have shown nearly the same rate OF de-
crease. and there are not wanting signs
that the domestic markets have been some-
what overloaded with many kinds OF for.
eign goods. In general. the course Of do
nestle prices tends TO favor the market
ing OF staples abroad.
Wheat has gained about point. while
corn and cotton remain unchanged. Re
ceipts OF wheat at Western ports continue
surprisingly large for a most unfavorable
season. anq mako IL hard to believe thar
tho crop OF 1895 was as small as estimates
represent IL, for such receipts amounted
during the past week to e,si. IA bushels,
aSains. l.s4s. ia2 last year. There has been
a slight increase in Atlantic exports this
week. but In four weeks the exports. hour
included, were 5.&ss.lis bushels. against
6,iss,i09 bushels last year.
The ircn and steel markets have dis
closed a singular feature. for a little Ala
bana pig has been sold for export by the
Sloss Company, though few imagine that
much business OF that sort is possible.
The combination OF lake ore producers has
at last announced its prices for the coming
season: 81 for frst-ciass Dessemer. $40 TO
sS.75 for Mesaba. and 50 for nom Bessemer
ores, and IL is calculated that, with coke
at 50 per ton. Bessemer pig can be pro-
duced at about sle - at Pittsburg. which
is now the current price there. But the
slow marketing OF finished products is
still the main trouble. There has been a
little more activity this week, and tha
Carnegie works have sold 1890 steel rails
to Japan. thus scoring a noteworthy sue
cess, but In the main the market Is as
inactive and insufficient as IT has been.
A heavy failure in Texas VIII also swell
the aggregate of returns for the past
week. which includes 80 in the United
States. against "a last year. ana % In
Canada, against &2 last year
Bradstreet's Review of Trade.
Badstreet's tomorrow will say: Tho
week has brought more favorable weather,
which tends to create bitter feeling. But
trade. except at Baltimore. Minneapolis.
st. Paul and Chicago. and TO a moderate
degree at other points. remains dull and
unsteady. The most encouraging feature
is the advance in the prices OF wheat In
dian corn and Bessemer pig iron. the lat
ter being based on the higher value placed
on lake ores. While there have been larg-
er sales of dry goods. shoes. hardware.
iron and leather at Chicago. business in
other lines continues slow. San Francisco
exports to Asia have fallen of. but those
heaviest on record. Portland. Or. is
sending large quantities Of lumber to the
west coast OF South America. and Tacoma
COTTON cloth. -four and lumber TO fhe trans-
Pacific markets..
One of the most unpleasant features II
lack Of improvement in mercantile collec-
lions. This. with the commercial calm at
many OF tho more important trading CEN
tiers. points TO some OF the effects OF the
prolonged period OF withdrawal OF capital
from enterprises In the United States, and
TO the unwiiingness Of accumulated do
nest4c capital 10 seek new ventures at
present.
Exports OF wheat. -four Included, from
both coasts OF the Cni;ed'States this wscts
are only slightly heavier than last week.
and far below the usual weekly average.
amounting to 600 bushels. compared
with Lee 900 In tho previous week. Ono
year ago tho corresponding weekly aggre-
gate was g III. eoa.
Only 2s5 business failures are reported
in the United States. compared with so
last week. but an unusually large proper
ticp Of them are OF cosupdrativeiy heavily
capitalized concerns. There are forty.four
BUSINESS failures repoptcd from the Cma-
dian Dominion. compared win fsfty last
week.
Bank Ciearancc%.
The following table. complied hy Brsd-
streets. shows the total ciesrantes a. the
principal cities and the peecsntaee d tn
crease or decrease. - compared WITH the
corresponding week iast year;
Inc ner