The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-03
WAITING.
That is the Word Used by B. G.
Dun & Co.
To Describe the Existing Con-
ditiOn of Business.
100000 MEN WORKING
More Than Were Employed
Last November.
100000 MEN WORKING
Supreme Court Decision At
fected the Iron Trade.

New York, April 3.-R. C. Dun &
GO. weekly review of trade says: The
tIIdrKets are still waiting, some sagging
downward and others recovering. The
vote OF the house in favor of a new
tar1H Dill has made no impression on
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
It's provisions making new duties APP
pacapIe April l, chances are that for
e1gn imports and treasury receipts may
De Tor time considerably restricted.
The market for products has been
variable and uncertain Wheat closes
a cent lower than last week, and the
May option has declined cents West
ern receipts for the week have been g.
fSl,55I bushels. against 1881, POS last
year, while the Atlantic exports flour
included, have been 1885, bushels
against 1,280,013 last year. The move
nent or corn continues so large as to
materially affect the demand for wheat,
western receipts having been /. O13. 1852
bushels for the week, against / 946, 045
pushels last year, and Atlantic exports
4'z91,629 bushels, against 1,065, 1886 last
year Current trade estimates regard
ing the wheat crop are a little more IA
Vofable and are somewhat more likely
to prove reliable, as the advance of the
season makes the condition of growing
wheat better known
cotton has not changed in price al
though the Hoods in the southwest have
Doubtless done much harm. Cotton
and other textile ufacfrrars are
slowly gaining in business, though print
cloths and most staple cottons remain
unchanged in price and restriction of
output seems to have given some relief
to the market. The buying of wool
by mills is still a noteworthy feature
being far in excess of current consump-
ton, but there is a much greater vol
ume of transactions between dealers,
and at the three chief markets the sales
9
pounds. against 25. 377, 676 in the same
weeks of 1892, when the mills were we'll
employed. Prices are very strong,
both here and at London, where the ad-
vance since the sale began is from Is
to 20 per cent, but there are feverish
irregularities, indicating that holders
are not all of one mind, and some re-
member that many large mills have
taken stocks for a full years consump-
ton.
The iron and steel industry has been
staggered, so to speak, by the decision
of the supreme court affecting the 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 consid-
cradle, and one order is pending now
for 10000 tons for Japan, but the re-
ductfon in MeSaba ore, with the want
of agreement as yet among the pro
ducers of hard ores, tends to encourage
the belief in lower prices for finished
products, and so to hinder buying. The
great struggle between the ore pro-
ducing companies of Mesaba has not
yet so far developed that anybody can
feel confident as to the future cost of
iron. Meanwhile, with pig accumu-
lating, although some furnaces have
stopped production. the price of Besse-
mer at Pittsburg is a shade lower at
$1O.25, and Grey forge at SO, but there
are no quotable changes in prices of
finished products, although the tone is
rather weak. The new combination in
cut nails only affects selling prices in
the eastern markets.
BRADSTR EET S.