The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-01-30
OuN'S COMMERCIAL REVIEW.

More business Reported, Though Not at
Better PrIces-Market Cor Securities
Strnnger-1he Movement in Grain and
CuIton-Th- WOuien Industry slow as
Causes Which Retard business In
Iron aIIures
NV YORK. Jan. pr e. Dun Is
Co. say in their weekly review OF. trade.
There is more business, though not
at better prices. 1t is interesting that
almOst all prices which change at all
are lower thGn'a week ago,aud yet BUSH
ness Is unquestionaOly larger. There Is
larger production, but As yet not as
much increase in consumption, and
there is larger buying OF materials,
but at present only because better
prices are expected in the future \
few conspicuous failures during the
week have had no material influence.
The market FOR securities is slightly
stronger. and yet there is very little
doing. The number of hands en-
pioyed, all industries considered, is
slightly larger than Il week ago, with
OK adverse change in the rate of
wages. All apprehension offoreign dis
turbance OF money markets has
passed away. but there is still great
caution in making loans. Il is a mis-
take to reckon these as symptoms OF
depression. On the contrary, in spite
of the lower range OF prices Ill i'm
portant Industries, the conditions ali
Indicate larger production and Il con
sumption increasing, not Is yet large
~, bat steadily.
The earnings of railroads in Janu-
airy have been III per cent. smaller
nan last year.
Wheat, corn and cotton exports are
the KEY Of the financial situation, and
during the las week wheat has de-
ciincd t!.rce-ei hths and corn five
eighths Of L cent. while cotton is an
Changed. The western receipts Of
wheat are still small. $1,000 bushels
less thdn 4 year ago, ANA for three
weeks OF January 4,5ly.!I0 bushels,
against 7,6OG.O7J last year: but the
Atlantic exports, hOur included, were
l.J3i.7lI bushels for the week, against
1855. iJ1 last gear, ami in three weeks
Of January nave been 5,Ol9,Gj2 bushels,
aga rs. & .sJ9,6is last year.
Inc woOten industry IS is SO" as
pears in the demand Tor goods, al
though, owing to the la;enCsn of the
season, there is little more doing, both
in spring and winter goods. without
quotabIe change III prices. Tnehcavy
Duying Of wool! mentioned last week
has continued, and Is understood to
he in anticipation of expected duties,
the sa.es at Boston alone having
amounted 20 ll,o SGT. 90 pounds. Qa"-
tations have not changed as yet, al
though western holders are quite stiff.
Ia the minor metals q stronger tone
is general. The iron industry is en-
gagged III settling relative prices, and
the slow operation retards business in
many branches. since the future OF
prices is uncertain. Bessemer pig is a
trItle lower at $40. 40 at Pittsburgh,
and gray forge AZ So. 10, though no
further decline has occurred in east
era markets, Or at Chicago. But the
competition of new concerns tempted
to manufacture nails by the high
prices recently maintained, causes
slightly lower sales of wire nails at
81. 50. aud of cut nails at Sl.25.
The bar association has been in ses-
sion to consider the reduction of steel
bars to one cent. and in large con-
tracts even lower, and the billet asso-
citation has again been called together
to meet ON the 29:h although there is
no prospect of its reorganization, and
billets are selling at 1875 at Pitts
burgh-
The increase in manufacturing is
perhaps more definitely shown than
in any other way by the production of
coke, which steadily increases, 9,1sl
ovens being in blast, against SITS
idle, and the weeks output 100, SS6
tons, is over double the output of Octo-
Der.
Failures for the week have been 400
in the United States, against 373 last
year, and u in Canada, against 81 last
years.