The San Francisco call., 1896-03-14
DUN's REVIEW OF TRADE.

NEW YORK, n. Y, March 13.-R. G. Dun &
Co. will say tomorrow IN their weekly review OF
trade: Failures for the week have been 800 in
the United States against 266 last year, and so in
Canada against 81 last year.
Waiting Is still the rule. Large hopes, but little
actual business explains the strength OF some
markets and the weakness of others. Thus far
there is decided increase in the demand for boots
and shoes secured by considerable concessions in
price, but in other branches of trade concessions
are m ade in vain not made. Meanwhile. it
is encouraging to know that one OF the most i'm
portant business interests has realized definite
improvement
The insurance companies, of which returns are
giveE in detail this week, show larger business
and larger income than ever before, and also
remarkable soundness of mortgage loans and other
investments.
AS prices about February 21 were on the whole
the lowest ever known in this country consider
able space is given this week TO comparison of
quotations in the most important branches Of
manufacture which show the extent of the reaction
since the rise last fall. It is especially noteworthy
that prices of materials have varied quite differ
emily from prices Of manufactured products.
Thus cotton is 27.6 per cent higher than year
ago, but cotton goods average only 1917 per cent.
Wool s but 5.3 per cent higher than year ago,
but woolen goods are on the whole but per cent
lower. Pig iron is only II per cent higher than a
year ago, while finished products of iron and steel
average As per cent higher. Boots and shoes
practically no higher than ago, while leather
has risen Ills per cent, and hides at the moment
are only ~ per cent higher. I hese comparisons
are important because they disclose something of
the grave disocation of prices which inadequate
consumption and comb binations have produced.
The output of pigiron March was lS9, 5S3 tons
weekly, against l98,599 February l, but the un-
sold SOCKS have risen So 764 tons during the past
month, or Il, AL weekly and the unsod stocks of
the great steel companies are not included. There
is to believe that actual consumption is
still at least 10 per cent smaller than the produc-
ton of pig, and the price of Bessemer at Pittsburg
has again declined slightly to $l2 %, with excep-
ticnaly large sales below that figure. Prices of
finished products are not quotably lower although
all markets are weak in tone. of the minor me-
ais copper is In moderate demand at II. l2c, and
there Is more movement in tin at 13 &c, while lead
is slightly weaker at 3.15c Tin plates are weak
in part because of light demand.
Cotton goods sell but slowly, Notwithstanding
recent reductions in price, and the enormous ac-
emulation of unsold stocks causes apprehensions
in many quarters. In wooleDs the demand is very
largely for low-grhde goods, and fierce competition
In clay worsteds the manufacture has been so far
overdone that stoppage of some most important
works is considered not impossible. Sales of wool
the three chief markets the smallest in five
years. Prices still maintained, with decrease
in Australian supplies
The market for wheat is weaker, with better
reason than the Government report of wheat In
farmers hands which is altogether out of keeping
with the Government estimate OF YER ago. and
yet is probably more nearly correct. Western
ceipts still exceed last years and for two weeks
have been 4,567 1892, against 3,636,715 last year
while the Atlantic exports, flour included, this
week, little smaller than year ago, have been
for two weeks 2,92l.091, against 3,510, l52 last
year,
Corn is a shade frmer, without apparent reason,
and cotton gaint sixteenth. although the pros
pect of the yield this year is at least good it
has been At any time.
The stock market has not been much changed.