Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-20

New York, March 19--Bradstreets will say tomorrow: Another week of irregular trading brings an clement of disturbance in the outlook for fight over the new tariff bill and the disappointment among manufacturers of wooden goods silks, cutlery and lines of various tariff sched- ules. Spring trade in jobbins 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. Threatened overfiows in the central and southern Mississippi valleys have restricted the country order trade, and rain and high water have ex- ercised a similar Influence in the Ohio valley and in south Atlantic and gulf states. The movement of general mer- chandise Is also checked at the northwest by unfavorable weather. The demand for cotton goods is disappointing, and manufacturers have moved some lines only at concessions in price Iron and steel industries appear less likely to ex- pand in the near future. Practically lower prices for Bessemer pig and for billets seem to have been the result of speculative over-purchasing at the late revival in anticipation of an advance, which has not shown itself. Delay in fixing lake ore prices has also had an influence There is less demand for American iron and steel for export, par ticularly for northern products.
 At most of the larger centers the feel ing of encouragement is stronger among merchants a, the prospect of continued improvement in trade, yet the increase in volume of business in dry goods, gro- csries, hats and clothing compared with preceding weeks and like weeks in pre- vious years does not equal anticipation. There is an improvement in demand for wool for which prices are higher. East ern wool manufacture report more in- quiry for goods, though the condition of this industry still leaves much to be desired.
 The total number of business failures for the week is 231, compared with 227 last week.
 DUN'S REVIEW.
 New York, March 19-R G. Dun & Go. will say tomorrow in their weekly review of trade: Though steadily increasing, business is still much below the 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 ton, and the sure result larger purchases for con- sumption, cannot be long delayed. In some branches it is felt already. There Is larger distribution of finished products, and The demand for commercial loans has sharply increased, espeoiauys.in dry goods and the iron and steel branches.
 The progress of the iron and steel in- dustfy is hindered by uncertainty re- garding the cost of lake ores for the con- ing year, though the repea ted adjourn ment of producers meetings Is interpret cd as evidence that an agreement will be ultimately reached. It is reported that Norrie ore at $275 will be taken as the basis. which would imply about $2.35 for Mesabi ores, but until the question has been settled, many important trans- actions are deferred.
 While there is no great activity in fin- ished products, the demand steadily in- creases. Contracts for several great buildings at Chicago are pending and for good many bridges and other rail- road works, and the demand for wire nails and for wire does not abate, nor the demand for black sheets required in the tin plate manufacture.
 Although shipments of boots and shoes are almost as large as many previous years, 1t is announced that one or two of the largest works have closed for want of orders.
 At the same time many other concerns are taking very large orders, 1t is claimed al prices below those generally quoted. No change whatever appears in quota tions of leather this week, and the Chi cago market for hides fiuctuates, al- though the slight changes reported are downward
 While manufacturers of cotton goods are looking forward with much confi- dence, the present demand Is not equal to expectations, nor has the curtailment in production of print cloths accom- plished the desired change in condition. The buying of wool, mainly of a specula- tive character in expectation of new du- ties. continues remarkably large. Sales at the three chief markets for the past week were 10891, 900 pounds.
 No great increase has yet appeared in the demand for goods, although few more mills have found enough orders to start perhaps in part, anticipating a future demand. The expectation of new duties does not yet influence the goods market as might be expected. The volume of business indicated by clearing house exchanges is smaller than last year The average of daily ex- changes for the month is 33 per cent. less than last year.
 Failures for the week have been 216 in the United States against 261 last year, and 50 in Canada against 49 last year.