Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-03-04
oUs*.s COMMERCIAL REVIEW.

MISUNDERSTANDING Thousands of Men to
Work. whose Increased Purchases Will
Soon Begin to swell the Distribution of
Goods @ad Result in Further Develop
ment of Trade.
NEW YORK, Feb. 27.-R- 6. DUN 81 Co.
say to-day:
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 en-
couraging, because in nearly all lines
it 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 had been held back, and has
set many thousands at work, while
the slow but steady gain in other great
industries has given employment to
many thousands more; but the full eff
fects will not appear until the increased
purchases by all these swell the distri-
button of goods. This comes more
more slowly and later, but is already
apparent. Certainty regarding the flu
ture will help it nightly, and is by
multitudes expected with strong hope.
1t was not to be expected that the
excess of exports over imports would
continue as large in January as it had
been in previous months, and yet it
was surprisingly large. The February
returns have naturally been less favor
able, as cotton exports fall off at this
season, and yet the decrease compared
with last year is trifing, while the in
crease in imports, to be expected at
this season, has amounted during the
81 70 M
pared with last year, or about two per
cent. Nothing in the state of foreign
exchange indicates that the heavy cred
its in favor of this country have been
iquidated or seriously diminished.
Nothing is yet settled about the price
of lake ore for the coming season, but
some expect for Mesaba the price of
1895, while others expect a lower price,
either being at least 20 per cent. lower
than the price of last year. The rapid
increase in coke output in the Con-
nellsville region, which is now over
100, 900 tons, gives prospect of moderate
cost for fuel, and the addition of i'm
portant furnaces to the producing
capacity prevents large rise in Besse-
mer pig, which was, nevertheless, adj
vanced ten cents at Pittsburgh with
increasing demand.
Purchases of rails estimated at fully
10000 tons within two weeks,
whereas the production last year was
1, 102, 1872 tons, and the sales said to be
only 100000, insure employment for
the works far ahead, and eastern works
are taking desirable contracts at S1S
per ton.
Bars are unchanged, but orders for
300 cars by one railway with numerous
others increase the demands, and plates
are required for two great elevators
at Chicago. Important contracts for
export continue, and American makers
undersen foreign in tin plates by 20
cents, and are selling cotton ties below
rs cents, for which S1.1O was charged
by importers a year ago.
With less rapidity, but yet steadily,
other industries are gaining. AL
though brown A sheetings are
an eighth lower and print cloths six.
teenth lower, it is found that several
cotton mills are started, not covered by
the restriction as to print cloth works,
which is carried out. Increasing de-
mand has also started quite 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.
In boots and shoes also, growing be-
lief that prices will not give way has
started many more shops, although
many jobbers still shrink from the
prices asked.
Wheat enjoyed a brief rise, then
dropped over three cents, and closed
2S lower for the week. While western
receipts are 40 per cent. smaller than
last year, for the past four weeks, At
lantic exports, -four included, in the
same weeks, have been 6,340, 415 BUSH
els, against 7,043,577 last year, and the
exports of corn have been S,435, $50
bushels, against 4.195,2S2 last year.
Cotton rose three sixteenths, though
without. material change in movement.
Stocks have not been demoralized, as
some expected in view of investiga-
tons, but closed at SO cents higher for
trusts and "a points for railroads. Rail-
road earnings in three weeks of Feb
ruary have been SIS per cent. larger
than last year but SIS per cent. smaller
than in 1892. Chicago east-bound ton
mage in three weeks of February has
been 265, $50 against 2OS, $40 last year,
and 800, 81 in 1898. Exchanges through
principal clearinghouse have averaged
for February re per cent. less than last
year.
Failures for the week have been 293
in the United States, against 27s last
year, and so in Canada against So last
year.