Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-27
NOT COMING WITH A RUSH
Prosperity Does Not Make Its Appearance
with Rapid Strides,
IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS Is STEADY
Gradual and Moderate Gain Noted I'm
Nearly All Lines-opcninG of
Rail Mills Gives Many
Men Employment.

Il YORK, Feb. 26.-R. G.. Dun & Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade tomorrow will say;
Genuine Improvement In business does not
come with a rush, like the breaking OF a great
dam. The growth for some weeks past mas
been more encouraging, because. in nearly an
lines, II has been gradual and moderate, me
In the iron business has brought out a vast
quantity of trade, which has been held back,
and has set many thousand men at woik, wnile
the slow, but steady gain In other great inuus-
tries has given employment TO many thousands
more. but the full effects will not appear untll
increased purchases by. all these swell tns dis-
tribution Of goods. Meanwhile, 1t Is substan-
tisl ground Tor confidence tnat months me ~
were regarded by many In the money market
with serious apprehension have passed without
disturbances, 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 enormous increase In demand ana
in orders booked and by the starting OF many
works. Nothing ID settled yet about the price
of Lake Erie for the coming season, but some
expect for Mesaba the price of 1850, while others
expect "A lower price. The rapid increase IN tie
now over iCO. 900 tons. gives prospect of moderate
cost for fuel, and the addition OF Important
furnaces To the producing capacity prevents a
large rise In Bessemer pig, which had, neverthe-
less, advanced Toe at Pittsburg, with increasing
demand. Purchases of rails, estimated at 1000 =
ton last year was /, iO2, 500 tons and the sales
said to he only S0O, 600 tons, ensure employment
for the works far ahead, and eastern works are
taking desirable contracts at SIS per ton. Bars
are unchanged. but orders for 800 cars by one
railway, with numerous OllcTS, llCIedSc lHt. "
mand, and plates are required for two great
elevators at Chicago. important contracts Tor
export continue, and American makers undersell
foreigners in tinplate by zoe, and are selling
cotton ties below T5c, for which Sl.lO was
charged by importers Il year ago.
with less rapidity, but yet steadily, other
industries are gaining. Although brown four
yard sheetings are bc lower and print cloths
l-l6c lower, it is found that several cotton mills
have started, rot covered by the restriction as to
print cloth works, which is carried out. In
| crcasing demand has also started quite Il 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 quantities. Sales of wool have bee /
S.31T, 200 pounds in four weeks, against 1896, 500
pounds in the largest previous year, 1882. and
the great establishments are believed to have
supplied their possible wants for some months
ahead, a single purchase of 1900, 600 pounds of
South American crcssbred being the most inn
portant noted this week.
Wheat enjoyed a brief rise, then dropped over
&c. and closed 25sc lower for the week. While
western receipts are 40 per cent smaller than
last year for the past four weeks, Atlantic
exports Ulour included) in the same weeks have
been 81. $40, $50 bushels, against I~.O43,5I5 bushels
last year, and the exports of corn have been
3. 1876, $50 bushels, against Abs, 2S2 bushels last
year. The increase in corn more than makes
up in foreign ~ump for the decrease in
wheat.
Cotton rose 2-l6c. though without material
change in movement. Better reports of manu-
featuring in England and starting of some mills
here give hope of better demand.
Failures for the week have been 296 in the
United States. against 2T5 last week, and fifty in
Canada, against tfty-eight last year.