The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-19
TRADE A LITTLE BRlSKER.
But Buyers Are Prudent and Not In
clined to Speculate.


cIined to Speculate.
New York. April 1S.-R. G. Dun & Co. 8
weekly review of trade says: The sudden
change from sleighing to midsummer heat.
with fair skies in most cities. has tested
the prevalent idea that good weather only
was needed to bring general Improvement
in business. Everywhere there has been
more retail buying and in some branches
better demand at wholesale and at the
works has resulted. but not as yet in most
lines. There is no abatement of the almost
universal disposition to deal with unusual
conservatism and not to anticipate future
wants, and this has been especially con-
spicuous where combinations have been
formed or prices advanced. The compare
tive infrequency of serious failures, with
money less disturbed since gold exports
began than might have been expected,
helps to give encouragement. but does not
kindle speculative fires. However. such
Improvement as appears Is mainly of .
healthy sort.
To many interested in iron ore and coke,
steel billets, Bessemer pig and various
forms OF steel, it may be disappointing
that the forming of combinations and fix
ing OF prices have not started again the
rush to buy ahead of needs, which made
last year so memorable. But 1t is not easy
to forget the lesson which the past year
taught. Instead Of increasing. purchases
have. on the whole, rather slackened,
though little better in tank plates and
sheets at Chicago. Bessemer pig and gray
forge are a shade lower at Pittsburg, as is
the average of all iron and steel quota
tions, and obstacles to some attempted
combinations have not been overcome.
The greatest consumers of lake Gre have
not FASTENED TO make contracts at ad-
vanced prices. and the output Of coke Is
stationary. Tin plate makers are meeting.
and some propose to produce steel for
their trade at plants of their own. Unsold
stocks increased in March 1S,5SS tons more
than was reported last week. At the West
almost every town seems to want steel for
some building, and good orders have been
placed for bars by implement ard car
makers. Heavy production of copper de-
feats heavy exports. and los. cents is
quoted for lake, and spelter has broken
to s4.10.
Wheat rose about Sc last week. met some
reaction. but is shade higher than a week
ago. Later accounts are more promising
as to winter wheat, and Western receipts
in two weeks Of April are 3,s3S.5o2 bushels.
against 2.234 1902 last year, while Atlantic
exports for the same week have been only
sol l7. -four included. against 3.7lS, sSS
last year. The small exports so late in the
season. and Western receipts proving that
the yield last year much exceeded all esti-
mates. have left little confidence in predc-
tons OF scarcity. After remaining I'M
changed for many days. rumors either way
having no effect. cotton rose a sixteenth
on Thursday. Heavy commercial and mill
stocks hinder most buyers. and possibil-
ties of injury to the coming crop retard
sellers at current prices.
Failures for the past week have been 223
in the United States. against 24l last year,
and IS in Canada, against "a last year.
Bradstreet's Review of Trade.
Bradstreet's says: Favorable weather,
except in some of the Northwestern states.
has stimulated demand for seasonable mer-
chandise, notably light summer clothing.
On the whole the week presents distinct
gain. This Is not so apparent at Eastern
centers. except Baltimore and Pittsburg as
in the central Mississippi valley. At some
Northwestern cities the movement of mer-
chandise has declined: at a number in the
East IL Is unchanged. while Southern cities
in most instances report business quiet and
in other portions of the country less favor
able. There Is a demand for hardware.
machinery and locomotives. Preparations
are making at most lake ports for the OPEN
| ing OF navigation. one of the first effects
| Of which will be TO release 10 0o0.0So bushels
| OF grain In store at Chicago. Increased
volume of business is most conspicuous In
the West at St Louis. Chicago. Kansas
| City. Omaha. Milwaukee and Memphis.
Less gain Is shown on the Pacific coast.
| except in export lines. shipments of lumber
from Portland and San Francisco being
conspicuous. Tacoma continues 10 send
| -four. lumber and cotton across the Pacific
and to South Africa.
Exports Of wheat. -four included as
| wheat, from both coasts Of the United
States this week amount to 2.0i7.0eo bush
els, against l,754.sa last week and Sis5. 81
In the week a year ago Exports Of Indian
corn amounted to 10000 bushels this
week. against /. geo 90 last week ana 77a. 90
in the week year ago.
Total business failures in the United
States are 24i this week. against 81 las,
week. 2is in the week of 1895. 2l2 IN 1894 and
2l7 in 1888. which is a smaller excess than
the average increase weekly during the
first quarter of the current year
Bradstrcct's Financial Review
Bradstreet's weekly review says: In
creased activity and advancing quotations
have given a more healthy appearance 20
speculation The movement which deyel-
oped this week has been attended by a
number OF gratifying circumstances,
among which leading place should he
given 10 the temperance OF public In
terrsr ard TO the fact tina, attention has
turned from the manipulated fnduStrta!s
to railroad shares and the more legitimate
speculatives generally. Bullish demon
strafton Is TO a certain extent based upon
the expectation Of greater business aetiE-
| iry with the progress OF spring, ana the
prevalent impression that. despite me