Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-05-04
TRADE REVIEW.
The Situation as Reviewed by Dun
and Bradstreet.

New York, May 1.-R. G. Dun & Co.'s
weekly review Of trade says:
I'm spite of the moderate Improvement
in most of the great industries business
is disappointing. Expectations OF. a speedy |
end OF the war In Europe through Turkish |
victory have helped to depress grain De-
mands of Austria and China have caused
exports of s6,500.000 in gold merchandise
imports are greatly increased and financial
action of congress on the revenue ques-
ton seems more remote. Wheat rose last
Saturday nearly 2 cents, but has fallen
since that day about s cents. This Is
largely because European markets did not
sustain the expectation of a great foreign
demand after the outbreak Of the war,
and because events appeared to fore
shadow speedy peace, but the tidings from
wheat-growing states, the receipts from
farms, and the enormous exports OF corn,
all had influence. Corn exports have been
1S,25O,1S7 bushels in four weeks, against
4,496,679 last year. while Atlantic exports
OF wheat in the same weeks. -four included,
have been only 4,231.34S bushels. against
4,597,215 last year. Nor 10 this surprising,
for, II in use two bushels of corn only equal
one busSal of wheat, two bushels of corr
would cost about 60 cents, and the one
bushel of wheat nearly so cents. Western
receipts have been reduced. perhaps in
part by floods and interruption of traffic.
The cotton market has advanced quarter
of a cent, owing mainly to a speculative
impulse from England.
'The exports of gold would not have
much influence If there were not an extraor-
binary increase in merchandise imports and
some decrease in exports from New York.
large for the last week, and five per cent.
for April. Imports have increased about
60 per cent. over last year for the week,
and for four weeks have been 30 per cent.
greater. AT Boston imports of wool have
p,,Hi s,o, a,6 of
| they have amounted for the month to
81. PTS 900. The thought that this abnormal
| Increase may continue as long as action
on the revenue bill is deferred, tends to
| affect exchange, but the main influence at
present is the exceptional demand for re-
| construction Of the Austrian monetary
system and for Japan.
| "Of the great industries, the iron and
| steel manufacture is slower in advancing
| now, as 1t was much the quicker in the
winter. Partly because the increase III
production In pig was then too rapid, partly
| because enormous contracts were taken
when the different pools broke down, went
| mainly to the larger concerns, and perhaps
| even more because possibilities of new de.
/ yelopment remain, there Is great hesitation
now in placing orders. Reports OF pending
negotiations between the Illinois Steel and
| Minnesota iron companies point to an I'M
portant change as possible.
"There Is more business in cotton ane
wooden goods, and little better tone IL
prices. some cotton and wooden goods hav
ing slightly advanced without genera
i change The mills are rather better EN-
ployed, and the demand is apparently in
creasing, though not enough in WOO! to In
duce manufacturers to purchase. But i'm
ports have been enormous.
FAILURES for the week have been %
In the United States, against 29s las
year, and 40 in Canada. against 81 las
year..
Bradstreet's says:
1.-THE more conspicuous features o
trade are less satisfactory, including mod
crate reactions in prices of staplea, fall
ing Oft in the volume of transactions 4
various lines, continued slow collection
and less favorable conditions in the iron
steel cotton and some other industries
a The movement of cotton goods is SLOW
and prices are slow, buyers purchasing /
g large lots only when inducements are OF
i fered. Wooden manufacturers are fairl
!. supplied with orders, and are inclined t
\ | ask an advance on new business. Tn
- three months restrictions of output !
cotton goods has ended, and mills are no'
run on fun TING. The prices movement
furnished little basis Tor special encouf
: naement, the only advance Oh general rec
+ ognized conditions Being those Of PORK an
81