The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-04-18
TREND OF TRADE.
R. G. Dun 8 Co.'s Weekly Review
OF Business Interests.
HEALTHY IMPROVEMENT NOTED


NEW YORK, April 17,-R, g. Dun
& Co.'S weekly review OF trade, which
issues uD-morrow. win say:
The sudden change from sleighing to
midsummer heat, with fair skies In
most cities, has tested the prevalent
idea that good weather only was need
ed to bring general improvement OF
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 lS
abatement Of the almost universal olA-
position to deal with unusual conserva-
tiSn, and mot to anticipate future
wants. and this has been especially
conspicuous where combinations nave
been formed or prices advanced. The
comparative infrequency Of serious
failures. with money less DISTURBED
since gold exports began than might
have been expected, helps to give en-
couraRement, but does not Gndle spec
Native firey; that such Improvement
as appears Is mainly OF healthy sort
To many interested in iron, coke
steel billets. Bessemer pig and various
forms of steel, It mt y be disappointing
that the forming OF combinations ana
fixing OF prices have not started AGAIN
the rush to buy ahead OF needs, whlcn
made last year so memorable. But II
Is easy to forget the lesson which the
past year taught. Instead OF increasing,
purchaBes have on the whole rather
slackened, though little better IN
tank plates at the east and In sheets
at Chicago. Bessemer pig and Gray
forge are a shade lower at Pittsburgh,
as is the average Of all iron and steel
quotations, and obstacles to some at
tempted combinations have not been
overcome. The greatest consumers OF
lake ore have not hastened TO make
contracts at advanced prices and the
output Of coke is stationary.
Tin plate makers are meeting, and
some propose to produce steel for thelr
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 70
want steel for some building and good
orders have been plced for bars by
implement and car makers. Heavy
productions Of copper defeats heavy
exports and 10% cents is quoted for
lake, and spelter has broken to 4.lV
Shipments Of boots and shoes from
Boston IN April thus fur have been 3
per cent less than last year, though
larger than in previous years. Textile
works are less fortunate The silk as
ISOLATION states that 40 per cent Of the
machinery and hands in the country
are idle, partly because Of increasing
Japanese competition. Several more
woolen mills have shut down and some
have reduced wages 10 per cent, while
many are working only half time, but
recent advance by appraisers not only
disclose heavy undervaluations In the
past, but tend to check future imports.
The demand for goods does not improve
and sales of wool for the two weeks
Of April at the three chief markets
have been only 5.464,O00 pounds, against
ii,559, 200 last year and 10,1s2,500 in 1892.
Wheat rose about cents last week,
met some reaction, but is q shade high
eh than week ago.
Heavy commercial and mill stocks
hinder most buyers and possibilities of
inquiry to the coming crop retard SELL
ers at current prices,
Failures for the week have been 223
in the United States. against 241 last
year, and So In Canada, against 81 last
year,