The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-01
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEWS.
Duu's and Bradstrcet's Reports on
the Condition of Trade.
The EFFECT OF THE WAR IN EUROPE
Imports of Wool Have Been Extra.
ordinnry--Niorc DusinesH Done In
Cotton and WOODEN Goods.

New YORK. April aV.-R. Ii. Dun " Co. g
weekly review of trade tomorrow viii say
lu spite OF the moderate Improvement IN
The great industries. business Is disap-
pointing, LNuvGlAttuns VI 4 speedy end
OF the war Ia Euiope through the turkish
victory has uuipIa 10 d,pgoss grain, De-
nahus OF Austria and CnIna mas caused en-
ports oI So,oOu.UvV gold. Morchandiso i'm
ports are greatly increased and Tina! ac-
tion oi congress On the revenue question
seems more remote. Wheat rose last sat
urday and since that day about DC. This is
largely because European markets did not
sustain expectation OF a great foreign de-
mani after the outbreak OF war and be-
cause events appeared TO ioreshadow
speedy peace. but the udings from wheat
growing States, the receipts from farms
and the enormous exports OF corn, all had
influence. Corn exports have been 10, $50.
i9, bushels In four weeks. against i,ig6.6i9
last year. while Atlantic exports OF wheat
In the same week. flour included, have
been only 1881. SiS bushels. against i,oi9.
90 last wear. Nor is this surprising, FOR
ii in use Two bushels OF corn only equal
one bushel Of wheat, two bushels Of corn
would cost about zoe and the bushel OF
wheat nearly soc. Western receipts have
been reduced. perhaps in part by floods and
interruution of traffic.
The cotton market has advanced iac ow-
England. The exports OF gold would not
have much influence IL there were not an
extraordinary Increase in merchandise i'm =
ports and some decrease in exports from
New York largely for the last week and .
per cent for April Imports have in
creased about 60 per cent over last year
for the week aud for four weeks have been
80 per cont greater.
At Boston imports of wool have been ex-
traordnarv and at Philadelphia amounted
for the month tc l,21S,O00. The thought
that this abnormal increase may continue
as long as action on the revenue bill ia
deferred tends to affect exchange. but the
main influence at present ia the exceptional
demand for gold for reconstruction of the
Austrian monetary system and for Japan.
OF the great industries the iron and steel
manufacturers are slow In advancing now,
partly because enormous contracts were
taken when different pools broke down went
mainly TO the larger concerns and perhaps
even more because possibilities of new de-
velopment remain and there is great hest
tation now in placing orders. Reports Of
pending negotiations between the Illinois
Steel ad Minnesota Iron companies point to
important changes as possible. Prices of
Mesaba ore have not vet been established,
though ore better than Fayal has been
sold at S2.ij to 81 so and pig is weaker.
Beseemor is 50 so with one sale of 1000
tons for So % at pittshurg, and Grey Forge
at IS so. Nails are about he per keg lower
and tin plates &c per box. and Eastern
quotations are frequently saved to secure
business A heavy sale OF lake copper is
reportod nj lie and lead Is a trfle weaker.
There Is more business in cotton and
WOODEN goods aud little better tone In
prices, some cotton and some wooden goods
having slightly advanced without much
change. Mills are rather better employed
and the demand is apparently increasing.
though not enough In wool to induce man
ufacturcrs 10 purchase. But imports have
been enormous II current reports are not
In error. more than 100 900 900 pounds In
Aprl! alone. Philadelphia having received
| over 100000 pounds in four weeks. New
York over 600 and Boston apparent
ly over Go 900 900 pounds Sales for the
past four months have been $50, 230. $50
pounds, including 81 ,943 100 domestic aud
for the whole year 35l S92 ,SSl. including
2l3,352,63l domestic. but in 1928 sales
were 30s GAG 500 pounds. The principal in
cdent of he financial week was tho break
ing Of the bankers compact in regard to
gold shipments and the exports during
The curront week Of some SIS 900 specie
This was regarded as an unsottHne
feature, but at The same umc the large
specie reserve In the treasury depriyes the
movement II danger. even though 1t
should rs now seems probable result in
tho deportation Of $50, 900 600 or more gold
Other factors, such as uurort ainty about
the tariff or the crops with tho inaGtiy-
Ivy Of general business, all had their in
fluoncc and tho weeks markets hiss been
excessively dun. The fact that Tuesday
was a holiday had also calculations to
restrict business on the stock board and
to limit transactions to the smaller class
OF traders The tone was generally strong
and though the bear traders nduleed In
some attacks. particularly on Jersey Cen
trail and Western Union, there seemed
demand for stocks at all declines aud an
lndisposition to sell short to any great
extent
Failures for the week have been 237 in
the United States. against 23S last year,
and 40 In Canada against 81 last year