The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-04-03
FINANCE AND TRADE
Business Prospects as Viewed by the
Commercial Agencies,
TRADE SHOWS AN IMPROVEMENT

According to Bradstreets' Review,
While r. G. Dun 81 Co. Declare That
the Markets Are Still Waiting-A
Hundred Thousand More workers.
New York, April 9.-Bradstreets' re-
view of trade says: The course of gem
eral trade shows some improvement,
Notwithstanding an almost complete
stoppage Of business in the south Mis-
sissippi valley by washouts overhows
and floods. The condition Of country
roadways throughout central western
states and the northwest is such as
to still further delay collections and
check demand from interior merchants,
Another drop is recorded in prices OF
bessener pig iron and steel billets, and
in wheat -four coal, coffee and lard,
which is In part offset by increased
activity and higher prices for wool
and for woolens, corn, oats, sugar and
petroleum. A heavy movement of fer
tilizers is reported in the South Atlantic
states. Interest in lumber and shingles
has increased on the northwest Pa
cihc coast, and Galveston is exporting
cattle to Europe. The most favorable
trade reports are from the northwest
ern spring wheat states
Special reports to Bradstreets' from
90 cities, with reference to revival in
activity in industrial lines, indicate
that there are at work at those centers
probably 100000 in excess Of the num-
Der employed in November last. The
increases are largely among employees
of manufacturers of wooden goods,
shoes, clothing, machinery engines,
agricultural implements, bicycles, car
riages, furniture, iron, steel. glass and
shipbuilding. Depression still exists
among some branches of the wooden
goods industry, in coal mining and cot
ton goods manufactures
r. G. Dun & Co.'S review says: The
markets are still waiting, some sagging
downward and others recovering. The
vote of the house in favor of the new
tariff bin has made no impression in
business, since it has been expected
since November that some measure of
the same general character would be-
come a law. If the bill stands, with its
provisions making new duties appli-
cable April l. the chances are that for
eign imports and treasury receipts may
be for a time considerably restricted.
The marzst for products has been
variable and uncertain. Wheat closes
cent lower Lndn last week. ana the
May option has declined cents, and
western receipts for the week have been
27S1, 557 bushels, against 1851, 205 last
year, while the Atlantic exports, flour
included, have been 2,1S5,2 bushels,
against 1,2SO,013 last year The move
ment of corn continues so large as to
materially affect the demand for wheat
The iron and steel industry has been
staggered, so to speak, by the decision
Of the supreme court affecting rail-
roads, since it is apprehended that pur-
chases not only of rails, but of cars,
locomotives and bridge materials may
be affected The demand for rails is
still considerable, and one order ia
pending for 10000 tons for Japan, but
the reduction in Mesabi ore, with the
want Of agreement as yet among pro-
ducers of hard ores, tends to encour-
age the belief in lower prices for fin
ished products, and so to hinder buying.
The great struggle between the ore
producing companies of Mesabi has not
yet so far developed that anybody can
feel confident as to the future cost of
iron. Meanwhile, with pig accumula-
ting, although some furnaces have
stopped production, the price of Z
scmer at Pittsburg is shade lower.