Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-06-03
BUSINESS GRADUALLY RETURN
ING TO OLD STATUS.
WEEKLY TRADE REPORTS
Dun Says That the People Are Really
Doing More Business Than They
Realize - Bradstreets Conclude
That the Spring Trade Is Dissap-
pointing and Future Is Gloomy.

New York, May pr. G.. Dun &
company's weekly trade report says
people are actually doing more bust
ness than they realize. They reckon
by values, but these are much lower
than in any previous year of prosper
ity and leave little margin for profits
In quantity there is almost as much
business being done as in the years
of greatest prosperity, and though the
increase in population would call fol
material expansion, the compare
son, is not dlscouraging. Recovery
is slow and gradual, but more was done
in May than in April, while the returns
of April showed that the volume OF
business was only 10 per cent. smaller
than that of the best year heretofore
Yet hesitation Is doing its work every
week, and multitudes are waiting be-
cause of the possibilities at Washing
ton which ought to be filling the de-
mand for labor and the products OF
labor. Events have proved that the
crop of wheat going out is much
larger than any of the markets ex-
pected and western receipts for the
week were 80 per cent. larger than last
year, while Atlantic exports for four
weeks were $685. 600 bushels, flour in
Guided, against 4,9S9,0O0 last year. At
this season actual receipts count rather
higher than the predictions, and the
truth Is that the country has exported
an extraordinary quantity of wheat
and -four, and yet has so much to spare
that May options declined nearly a
cent for the week. Besides the outgo-
ing corn, largely taking the place OF
wheat in the foreign consumption, Is
far beyond precedent or expectation,
and for four weeks has been $4,000
bushels against 100000 last year.
With liberal interior supplies the price
declined fraction. Manufacturers
have especial cause of delay owing to
possible competition from the foreign
goods largely imported, but there has
been no set back in the prices, al
a large demand, and print cloths are at
bottom prices. 1t Is evident that pro-
duction Is far beyond the consuming
demand and has forced industry into q
waiting attitude. Wooden mills are
Producing more than they haGe done
for years, though much less than they
could or would like to produce, and
manufacturers are doing almost moth
ing in the wool market, though specu-
lation has kept sales large. There is
some weakness observable with west
ern holders and eastern prices begin to
feel the weight of enormous imports,
although holders still calculate on Il
rise as soon as the new duties take
effect Iron manufacture gains in spite
of the closing of some advances. The
production Of pig exceeds consumption
and Is somewhat decreasing, while the
consumption has gradually gained, in
part because several structural CON
tracts, including 1000 tons for this
city alone, and in part because agri-
cultural implement works made larger
demands. Pig iron shows no change
in price, but 1t Is noteworthy that ad-
vance of % cents IN the British price
of American pig is considered relief
us lessening the urgency to sell south
err pig in northern markets. Tin
and copper are stronger, but tin plate
makers have agreed upon an advance,
and yet the best grade sells as before,
Failures in tho United States for the
week were PA, the smallest in any
week since September, 1892, against
293 last year.
New York. May 29.-Bradstreets'
weekly trade report says that results
of the spring trade in staples, which
Is now over, are Disappointing The
volume of seasonable merchandise dis
tributed was less than expected, with
out taking into account the improve
ment in business compared with n
year ago. Dry goods continue de-
pressed. cotton products are selling
with difficulty, some varieties only on
concessions. The announcement of
reduced or passed cotton mill divi-
dends and that several large estab-
lishments will shut down to enable
consumption to overtake production,
when coupled with the comparative
Indifference of consumers to the low
est prices on record for Iron and
steel, would appear to sufficiently
characterize the actual condition of
the general trade. The more favor
able features are the relative activity
among the wooden goods manufacture
ers who are working on old orders;
an improved demand for shoes an
| leather: continuance of the compar-
| alive activity in the general demand
at St Louis Omaha, Sioux Falls, Min.
neapois and st. Paul: n better de-
mand for lumber In the west and q
brighter outlook in trade in Louisiana
Mississippi and Arkansas. Among the
twenty or more important staple pro.
ducts only two--hides and wheat
have advanced, while one-half of the
number--cott>n lumber, coal, hesse-
mer, pig iron. steel billets, steel rails
print cloths. sugar pork and coffee
are unchanged. although there Is {
nominal advance In the price 70,
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