The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-01
STILL IS WAITING
VET THERE ARE SIGNS OF Def
MITE IMPROVEMENT.

Ing ..Matter-Money Markets Easier
January's Maturities Well Net No Par
ticular Increase in Demand for Pro
ducts, Unless of Iron and SteeI-Uncer-
tainty as to Congress-spriDg Expecta-
ton in Cotton Goods-woOI Sales Dimin-
ishing-Wheat and Cotton for the Week
New York, Jan. 31-R. G. Dun & Cos
weekly review Of trade which issues
tomorrow viii say: Though business
is still waiting, there are some signs
of definite Improvement. II is now be-
lieved that the first payment for bonds
viii cause no further pressure, and the
money markets are easier as respects
loans on collateral though the diff
Guilty Of making commercial loans stlII
checks operations. Bat large matur-
tiles at the end Of January have been
met more satisfactorily than was X
pected, and merchants and bankers re-
post that the signs promise good
spring trade. No increase appears as
yet in the demand for the principal
products unless for some forms OF iron
ard steel, in which good contracts have
been made this week, and uncertainty
as to congressional action still affects
Industries and commerce, but thief IN
Grease in inquiry and the reports Of the
. dealers are deemed assurances Of large
trade coming whenever the uncertainty
is over.
Signs Of improvement in the iron and
steel business are gratifying, even
though they spring from combinations
which have raised the price Of coke and
allotted the output of lake iron ore
There is also a better demand for wire
nails, after long stagnation, and also
for sheets. Pig iron is weaker, south
ern works competing sharply, while
speculative buyers Of some months ago
are selling below present furnace pric-
es, but the average for all products is
practically unchanged and ia per cent
below the highest last year. Coke
production has again been cut down
I0,975 tons in a single week. Minor
metals are strengthened a shade by
speculation.
The cotton mills are discussing cur
tailment of production. AS goods con-
tinuing weak with an output largely eX
ceeding distribution through the week
has brought considerable more inquir-
les large spring trade is still hoped
for. Woolens are practically unchang-
ed as each passing week Of open wealth
er diminishes the prospect Of proffta-
bic business, while jobber clOthiers and
retailers have considerable stocks of
heavy goods remaining. Sales of wool
at the three chief markets have dimin-
ished Of late, manufacturers buying
only for present needs.
Wheat has again advanced about 5
cents for cash, but only IL cents for
May, although Atlantic exports are
little larger than year ago and for
four weeks. -four included, have been
sos, 765 bushels, against 1888 last
year. Neither this fact nor the con-
tinued excess of western receipts for
the week, 2,381, 912 bushels, against l.
226, OH last year, explain an advance
for which the basis or the excuse must
be sought in the foreign advance.
Cotton is a shade lower than a week
ago, Notwithstanding arguments by
Neil and others, but receipts from plan
tiers go on at nearly the same rate.
- Spinners' takings fail behind last year
as before, and the marketing Of goods
does not support the brilliant estimates
Of increa sed consumption this year. Elk
} ports in January have been 80 per cent
less, spinRers taking Is per cent less,
! and receipts have been larger, but spin
) ners taklngs and exports both smaller
3 than in 1928 from a crop Of 6, 100000
81 bales
Failures this week have been 4O4 in
& the United States, against 354 last year
and 20 in Canada against 81 last year.
BRADSTREET' TRADE REVIEW.
New York, Jan. 31-Bradstree't to-
morrow viii say: The features of the
week are continued retarded demand
for merchandise and checked industrial
operations. Least satisfactory is the
waiting attitude Of some of the more
important industries. Shoe factories At
Philadelphia are shutting down, or run
ming on part time; cotton goods makers
regard the outlook for their product as
4 unpromising; there is a reaction in the
4 price Of steel billets; among fifty pig
4 iron furnaces in the Pittsburg and
I Shenandoah districts fourteen are idle,
ard the position Of wtolen goods manu-
, f5actUrerS IS shown by the fact that
foreign wooden goods are relatively
most active.
General trade at the close OF January
proves disappointing, particularly in
central, western and northwestern
states. where the movement Of mer-
chandise from jobbers has been slow
and unsatisfactory, il being only fair at
a few points.
The volume Of springs distributed
from Chicago in January fell behind ex-
pectaticns, although larger than jan
uaTy. 1885 Some iobbers in territory
tributary 10 Chicago are making orders
small, owing 70 having carried over
large stocks and 70 a desire 10 COntine
purchases 70 actual requirements. At
St Louis a spring demand is slow and
generally trade IS characterized as only
fair by the most sanguine. The condi-
ton in the northwest Is such that grain
moves freely in some regions prospect
i've of low prices.
Exports Of wheat flour included)
from both coasts Of the United States.
this week show a marked falling off,
amounting - only 25Oo000 bushels,
compared with $4,000 bushels last
week; > ass. G00 bushels in the week u
year ago. 2.0S3.0G0 bushels two ars
ago: 8. L2G. 900 bushels in the correspond
ing week three years ago and $4,000
bushels four years ago. Exports of In
dian corn held up well, amounting TO s.
$4,000 bushels.
Business failures throughout the
United States this week show another
increase. not only as compared with
last week. but as contrasted with the
tolal Tor the fourth week in January
1888, 1894. and 1898. The total is SSS;
last week il was S4f; last year SIG; in
iNs4, 80; in 1898, FL and in 1892 il was
219.
There are IS business failures re-
ported from The dominion Of Canada