The herald., 1897-03-21
Improve With Unsatisfac-
tory Slowness
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNALly
In the Breasts Of Prophets Of Pros
perity's Return
The Most Marked Cause Of Anxiety Is
Tariff Trouble, Closely Followed
by Flood Damage
.,,,o,,,aa Pres, snec,al v,r.

Associated Press special Wire
NEW YORK. March 19.-R. G. Dun
4 Co.'S weekly review OF trade will cay
tomorrow: Though steadily increas-
ing, business is still much below its
volume In former years of prosperity,
and many express disappointment. Yet
there is some gain every week, with more
hands at work and more mills In opera
tion, and the sure resuDt-large pur-
chases for copsumption-cannot long be
delayed In some branches it is felt al
ready. so there Is larger distribution
of finished products. and the demand
for commercial loans has sharply in
creased, especially in dry goods and in
the iron and steel branches.
The progress of the iron and steel
industry Is hindered by the uncertainty
regarding the cost of like ore for the
coming year. 1t is reported that Norrie
ore is $2.75, which will be taken as the
basis. which would imply about $2S5
for Mesaba ores. but until the question
has been settled many important trans
( actions are deferred. While there is no
great activity in finished products, the
demand steadily increases. Contracts
for several great buildings at Chicago
are pending. and for a good many
bridges and other railroad works, and
the demand for wire nails and for wire
does not abate nor the demand for black
sheets required ir<tin plate manufac-
ture. Tin tends lower at S13.S5. with
heavy receipts and weaker London quo
tations.
Lead is inactive at 3.37 cents and cop
per is weaker, although the trifling de-
crease In production in this county is
practically balanced by the small in
crease in production elsewhere. The
buying of wool, mainly of a speculative
character In expectation of new duties,
continued remarkably large. Sales
at the three chief markets for the past
week were 1881 900 pounds. and for
three weeks have been rs, ,T95, 500 pounds,
of which 16,62S, 200 were domestic. where
as the largest transactions in any pre-
vious year at this season were II, los, ,675
pounds in the corresponding weeks of
1892, of which 11.SS6.62 were domestic.
No great increase has yet appeared In
the demand for wooden goods. although
few more mills have found enough or
dtrs to start, in anticipation of future
demand. The expectation of new duties
does not yet influence the cotton goods
market as might be expected. The de-
mand for wheat has not given much help
to speculation. Atlantic exports have
been only 1881 900 bushels against ,199-
1886, flour included, for the correspond
ing week last year, while western re-
ceipts have been only 1,397.345 bushels,
against 2.416.000 bushels last year. Ac-
counts regarding the coming crop have
been less favorable this week and the
price has advanced rs cents.
Failures for the week have bcen PIG
In the United States against 261 last
year, and SO in Canada, against 49 last
year.
BRADSTREETS REPORT
Bradstreet's general review of trade
will say tomorrow: Another week Off,
regular trading brings an element of
disturbance In the outlook for the fight
over the new tariff bill, and the disap-
pointment among manufacturers of
woolen goods. silks, cutlery and other
lines at various tariff schedules. Spring
trade in jobbing lines is over, collections
are slow and at many points. there Is no
change In demand or supply, except a
request for cheaper grades of goods. The
threatened overfiows in the central and
Mississippi valleys have restricted the
country order trade, and rain ard high
water have exercised a similar influence
in the Ohio valley and in South Atlantic
and Gulf states. The movement of gen.
eral merchandise is also checked at the
northwest by unfavora BILE weather. The
demand for cotton goods is disappoint-
ing and manufacturers have moved
some lines only at concessions in price.
Iron and steel Industries appear less
likely to expand in the near future
Practically lower prices for Bessemer
pig and bhllets seem to have been the re-
suit Of speculative over purchasing at
the late revival in, expectation OF an ad-
vance. which has rot shown itself. De-
lay in fixing lake ore prices has also been
an influence. There is less demand for
American iron and steel for export, par
ticularly for northern product. At most
of the larger certers the feeling Is stron-
er among merchants at the prospect for
continued improvement in trade, yet
the increase in volume Of businessIin dry
goods. groceries, hats and clothing.
compared with preceding weeks. and
with the like week in previous years,
does not equal expectations.
Exports OF wheat (four included as
wheaD from both coasts this week in
dicate a continuation of the recent check
to the export movement, amounting to
1929. 434 bushels. compared with 1888, 900
bushels last week. 1.592,00 bushels in
the third week of March, 1896; .2,998, 900
in the like week of 1885, 2,S4S, 900 bushels
In 1894, and - contrasted with 2766, 900
bushels in the corresponding week of
1898. There is sharp decrease in the
number of business failures in Canada
tnio WCSA, &hC wal bciu6 oU against DO
last week; 48 In the week one and two
years ago and compared with Al in the
like week Of 1894.
Bradstreet's financial review will say:
Greater activity and continued irregu-
larity In the movement OF prices have
been the features of the weeks market.
While portion Of the list headed by the
Vanderbilt stocks again showed mark
ed tendency to advance, there have been
bear demonstrations, the most import
ant OF which was in Missouri Pacific.
Other leading securities, notably sugar.
have displayed considerable Irregular
ity and professional traders, It may be
said, found more opportunity for the
exercise Of their speculative methods
than In any market which has been
seen for some time past 1t may be fur
ther observed that while some increase
In the volume Of outside business might
be noted. the speculation remained
mostly in the hands Of the professionals.
Europe has either sold stocks or abb
stained from taking any part in our
At the same time the strained corl,,i-
ton Of European politics and the conse-
quent nervous ard apprehensive state
Of speculation on the other side OF the
ocean appear to have lost much Of their
influence, upon this market, and II Is
apparently realised that at present Lon
don holds comparatively few American