The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-06-02
HOW TRADE IMPROVES.
Dun Sees Slow But Steady Gain-Brad-
street Disappointed.


New York, May 29.-R. G. Dun & Co.,
in their weekly review of trade, say:
People are actually doing more business
than they realize. They reckon by values.
but these are much lower than In any
previous year Of prosperity. and leave lit
tie 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 for material expansion the compare
son Is not discouraging. The recovery ts
slow, hesitating and gradual. but more
has been done on the whole In May than
in April. while returns of April showed
the volume of business only ten per cent
smaller than that of the best year hereto
fore. Yet hesitation is doing its work
every week, and multitudes are waiting
because of possibilities at Washington, who
ought to be filling the demand for labor and
the products of labor.
Events have proved that the crop of
wheat going out is much larger than any
or the markets expected, and western re-
ceipts for the week were 80 per cent. larger
than last year. while Atlantic exports have
been for four weeks 6,315, 329 bushels, -four
included, against 4,9S8,777 last year. Be
sides the outgo of corn largely taking the
place OF wheat in foreign consumption is
far beyond precedent or expectation, and
FOR four weeks has been 1850, 091, against
6,O01.9S5 last year. With liberal interior
supplies the price has declined fraction.
Cotton is unchanged, although at this sea-
son exports were Insignificant
The iron manufacture gains in spite of
the closing of some furnaces. The produc-
ton of pig exceeds consumption, and is
somewhat decreasing, while the consump-
ton has gradually gained, this week, i'm
part because of several structural con-
tracts. and in part because the agricultural
implements works have made larger de-
mandS, and also because of the proposed
leasing of nearly all the rod mills in the
country, which has caused some buying
Failures for the week have been PA in
the United States, the smallest in any week
since September 1895, against 239 last year,
and % in Canada, against 20 last year."
Bradstreet's says:
Results of the spring trads In staples.
which is now over. are Disappointing The
volume of seasonable merchandise distrib-
uted is less than expected, without taking
into account an improvement in business
compared with a year ago. Nearly all
central, western and southern trade
centers report business very quiet. Dry
goods continue depressed, cotton products
selling with difficulty, some varieties only
on concession
''The more favora BILE features are relative
activity among wooden goods manufactur-
ers who are working on old orders; i'm
proved demand for shoes and leather; a
continuance of the comparative activity
on the general demand at Savannah Mem
phis, ST. Louis, Omaha, Sioux Falls, Min
neapolis and ST. Paul, the better demand
f- lumber at the west, and in the trade
outlook in Louisiana, Mississippi and Ar
kansas. Increased exports are reported
from Pacific coast ports, but there is come
paratively little gain in domestic trade
here, except in cattle. wool and hardware
at Portland"