Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-03-06
TRADE PROGRESSES SLOWLY
Just a PerceptibIe Gain 10 Leading
Industries.
Many Who Have long Been Unem.
ployed Put % Work the Past
Month---RaiI Pool Break
OF Great Benefit.
New York, Feb. 27.--R. q. Dun 4 COS

New York, Feb. Pr. q. Dun a Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade says today:
Genuine Improvement In business
does not come with a rush, like the
breaking OF a great dam. The growth
for some weeks past has been more
encouraging, because In nearly all
lines IL has been gradual and moderate.
The rupture Of the steel rail and other
combinations in the iron business has
brought out a vast quantity OF trade
which has been heia bach and has set
many thousand men at work. while the
slow but steady gain in other great In
dustries has given employment to many
thousands more. but the full effects will
not appear until increased purchases
by all these swell the distribution OF
goods. Meanwhile 1t is substantial
ground for confidence that months
which were regarded by many In the
money market with serious a~pprehen-
sions have passed without disturbance
and with steady gain In the position OF
the country and Of the treasury.
The breaking Of bonds which have
restricted many branches OF the iron
industry has been followed by an enor-
nous increase In demand and In orders
booked n by the starting OF many
works. Nothing Is yet settled o
the price OF lake ore for the coming sea-
son, but some expect for Mesaba the
price of 1895. while others expect a low
or price. The rapid increase in coke
output in the Connellsville region.
hich is now over 100. 900 tons. gives
prospect of moderate cost for fuel, n
the addition OF important furnaces To
the producing capacity prevents a large
rise i'm Bessemer pig. which has never
theless advanced 10 cents at Plttsburd
with increasing demand.
Purchases of rails, estimated at 1,000,i
300 tons within two weeks, whereas th5
production last year was 1,l02, 1872 tons
and the sales said to be only 500, 900, ina
sure employment for the works far
ahead. and eastern works are taking de-
sirable contracts at SIS per ton. Bars
are unchanged, but orders for 900 cars
by one railway, with numerous others,
increase the demand n plates are re
quired for two great elevators at chi
cago. Important contracts for export
continue and American X under
sell foreigners in tin plate by 40 cents
and are selling cotton ties below 40 cents
for which sl.10 was charged by import
ers a year ago.
With less rapidly. but yet steadily,
other industries are gaining. Although
brown four yard sheetings are an eighth
lower, and print cloths a sixteenth low
er, Il Is said that several cotton mills
nave started not covered by the restric.
tons as TO print cloth works, which Is
carried out. Increasing demand has
also started quite a number OF WOODEN
mills. including many making dress
goods and hosiery. The demand for
mems woolens is also somewhat better,
especially for heavy weights, and there
are improving sales OF better qualities.
Sales OF wool have been s,137. 200 pounds
In four weeks. against %. 1866. 800 In the
largest previous year, 1892 n the
great establishments are believed Ia
nave supplied their possible wants for
some months ahead, a single purchase OF
4. 300. 900 pounds, South American cross
bred being the most important noted
this week.
Wheat enjoyed a brief rise. then
dropped over 3 cents and closed rs cents
lower for the week. While western re-
ceipts are 40 per cent smaller h a last
year for the past fou weeks Atlantic
exports 0lour included) have been
$780, Ais bushels. against 7,0i3.577 last
year. and the exports Of corn have been
S,435, 552 bushels. against Abs. 2S2 last
year.. The increase In corn more than
makes up In foreign consumption for the
decrease in wheat.
Cotton rose 3-l6 cent, though without
material change in movement. Better
reports of manufacturing in England
and the starting OF some mills here give
hope of better demand.
Failures for the week have been 29G
in the United States. against 27S last
year, and so in Canada, against So last
year.