The herald., 1896-11-07
CONDITIONS
Volume of Business Shows
Small Increase
MAJ rnc, lAf crAnuE CnnnC
DEALERS IN STAPLE GOODS
Confidently Expect the Early Revival of
Jobblng Trade
But the Season Is Late and No Boom
May Be Expected During the
Current Year.
Associated Press Special Wire

crease in the volume since the election
compared with like periods in the pre-
ceding week. But manufacturers and
jobbers are more inclined to purchase in
advance instead of for nearby wants
only and in a few lines, notably WOOL
cotton, iron and steel, larger volume
of purchases is reported. The mer-
chants generally share the belief in the
early revival as indicated by hardening
staples and in the increase in quotations
in addition to those given in preceding
weeks. Sales of cotton goods have been
freer and some mills are better employ
ed. Wooden mills also report more or
ders and a tendency to proffer higher
cost goods. Numerous industrial estab-
lishments which have started up within
two days report being offered large Of
fers If they would sell for 1897 delivery
at present prices. Many Rhode Island
manufacturers are making prepara
! tions for larger output than anticipat-
ed and that orders contingent on election
results, notably in the lumber and jewel
ry lines, are now being filed. Owing
to the lateness Of the season, few have
regarded the outlook as promising much
in the nature of boom during the cur
rent year. At few northwestern COM
mercial centers large orders have been
received from country merchants within
a few days and in Georgia farmers have
met their obligations this autumn more
promptly than for years past and south
ern merchants and manufacturers are
reported looking ahead confidently to
marked improvement in business in the
near future. The total exports of wheat,
flour included, from both coasts of the
United States and from Montreal this
week amounts to 3,47200O bushels,
against 3,62S,000 bushels last week; g.
| 566, 900 bushels in the week one year ago;
as compared with 3,SS5,00 bushels in the
| corresponding week in 1892. Exports of
Indian corn amount to 2,247,000 bushels
this week. about 100000 bushels less
| than last week. nearly twice as much as
in the corresponding week year ago
and more than in like weeks in the three
next preceding years.
Business failures throughout the Unit
ed States this week number 1923, 23 few
er than last week, SO less than in the cor
responding week Of 1895, IS fewer than
in the like period of 1894 and ITO less than
in the first week in November, 1893.
There were so business failures re-
ported from Canada this week, as COM
pared with 81 last week, SO in the corre-
spending week year ago, AZ two years
ago and with % in the first week of No
vember, 1893.
DUN & CO.'S REVIEW.
r. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of
trade tomorrow will say: A great rev.
olution has been effected this week in the
conditions that control business. 1t
could not be in any fair degree reflected
as yet in transactions or in records, but
there is ample evidence already that
crushing weight has been lifted and roll
ed away and the business world has be-
gun to adjust itself in state of freedom
and security which it has not known for
years. 1t was not strictly logical that
wheat advanced cents, reaching so
cents for November and S5 cents for De-
cember, and heavy realizing of profits
showed perception of the fact. Western
receipts We're only 6,OS7,159 bushels.
against S,019,000 last year, and Atlantic
exports, flour included. were only $685.
357, against 1,790S75 last year. A grow
ing disposition appears among farmers
to hold wheat for better prices thannow
realized, although at present any ad-
vance checks buying for export. Spec
ulation in cotton was also excited on the
theory that the mills would start up, as
many have done and would meet large
demand for goods. But the advance was
met by realizing sales and slight reac-
ton. 1t will be all the better for busi-
ness if bright hopes do not hoist prices
too fast. The election Immediately stiff
fened prices of pig iron, which reached
S12 at Pittsburg for Bessemer and the
certainty that many large orders for
buildings and bridges and other finish
ed forms would not become operative,
justifies some advance.
The future of this trade now depends
upon the extent Of increase in demand
for finished products of iron and steel,
which is likely to be materially affected
by the course pursued by various COM
binations. The billet pool. which is still
openly undersold at Pittsburg and has
caused no end of disturbance in business
by favoring one class of producers to the
detriment of another, have been in ses-
sion here and is said to have changed
it's basis of allotment SO as to secure
fairer results The nail combination is
now threatened with hostile league of
jobbers and producers and is openly
undersold. The bar combination not
withstanding it's large rebate, is still
demanding more than the prices at which
steel bars are sold in great quantity A
slight advance in sheetings and print
cloths is the only change which yet ap
pears in the market for cotton goods.
Practically no change has yet appeared
in woolens but the reported purchases
OF wool, including one of 1,000,0 900 pounds
Of territory, said to have been made by
a syndicate, amounted to 1851 900
pounds, against 5.621.S50 last year,
and s.215.000 In 1882 The aver