Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-01-28
DuN.s COMMERCIAL REVIEW.

More business Reported. Though Not ~
/ Better PFICes-MArket for Securities
| Stronger-The Movement In Grain and
CottoL-The Wooden Industry slow ~
Ever--C~uses Watch RetArd Business La
! Iron-EaiIures.
NEW YORK. Jan. 23.-R- G. Dun &
| 20. say in their weekly review ofstrade.
| There is more business, though not
! at better prices It is interesting that
almost all prices which change at all
are lower than week ago,and yet bust.
ness is unquestionably larger. There Is
/ larger production, but as yet not as
much increase in consumption, and
there is larger buying OF materials,
but at present only because better
prices are expected in the future. A
few conspicuous failures during the
week have had no material influence.
The market for securities is slightly
stronger, and yet there is very little
doing. The number of hands en-
ployed, all industries considered, is
slightly larger than a week ago, with
out adverse change in the rate of
wages All apprehension of foreign dis
surbance of money markets has
passed away, but there is still great
caution in making loans. It is mis-
take to reckon these as symptoms of
depression On the con trary, in spite
Of the lower range of prices in i'm
portant industries: the conditions all
indicate larger production and con-
sumption increasing, not as yet large
". but steadily.
The earnings of railroads in Janu-
airy have been Al per cent. smaller
than last year.
Wheat, corn and cotton exports are
the key of the financial situation, and
during the last week wheat has de-
clined three-ei- hths and corn five
eighshs of a cent, while cotton is un-
changed. The western receipts of
wheat are still small, 5s1, 900 bushels
less than year ago, and for three
weeks of January 4,519,719 bushels,
against 7,GO6,079 last year; but the
Atlantic exports, flour included, we're
I,534.7I5 bushels for the week, against
1866, 457 last year, and in three weeks
of January have been 5, 019, 032 bushels,
against 6. $50, GAS last year.
The wooden industry is as slo| as
ever, and no real improvement ap-
pears in the demand for goods, al
though, owing to the lateness of the
season, there is little more doing, both
in spring and winter goods. without
quota bic change in prices. The heavy
buying of wool mentioned last week
has continued, and is understood to
be in anticipation of expected duties,
the sales at Boston alone having
amounted to 1856. 600 pounds. Quo
tations have not changed as yet, al
though western holders are quite stiff.
In the minor metals a stronger tone
is general. The iron industry is en-
gagged in settling relative prices, and
the slow operation retards business in
many branches, since the future of
prices is uncertain. Bessemer pig is
trifle lower at 5000 at Pittsburgh.
and gray forge at $40, though no
further decline has occurred in east
ern markets, Or at Chicago. But the
competition of new concerns tempted
to manufacture nails by the high
prices recently maintained, causes
slightly lower sales of wire nails at
81. 35. and of cut nails at S1.25.
The bar association has been in ses-
sion to consider the reduction of steel
bars to- one cent. and in large con-
tracts even lower, and the billet asso-
citation has again been called together
to meet on the Goth although there is
no prospect of its reorganization, and
bilets are selling at 1925 at Pitts
burgh.
The increase in manufacturing is
perhaps more definitely shown than
in any other way by the production of
coke, which steadily increases, 9,18l
ovens being in blast, against STA
idle, and the weeks output 100, 1856
tons, is over double the output of Octo.
Der.
Failures for the week have been 40a
in the United States, against 373 last
year, and 65 in Canada, again st 81 last
years.