The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-02-04
PRICES ARE NO HIGHER
JANUARY A MONTH OF DIsAPPOINT.
MENT IN BUSINESS.
Cotton, IrDn md Railroad Stocks
Decline, While Cloth Fabrics
Barely Hold Their own.

New York, Jan. 29.--R. G. Dun & Com
panys Weekly Review of Trade tomor'
row will say:
poIntment. Nearly everybody had prom
ised himself a land of milk and honey
after New Years, and the slow spring
looks like standing still to men In sucn a
state of mind. Moreover, there are null
titudes throughout the country who have
been taking large ventures in advance OF
apart from their regular business, be-
cause they expected rise In prices. But
prices fall as yet to bring them profit
Wheat has declined severely, cotton has
scarcely risen enough to pay brokerage
wool holds steady, wooden goods hardly
change in price, iron and its products
decline. leather is sluggish, hides are low
er, for some shoe manufacturers accept
shade lower prices; the average OF
railroad stocks is slightly lower than 1t
was December 81, and the advance In
trust stocks has been small. To traders
In such properties the month has been
disappointing.
Yet during the past week the record
shows that 10 iron works have started
and only two have stopped, 10 wooden
works have started and nine more are
about ready to start, while three have
stopped.
Similar things are seen in other indus
tries, and the additional establishments
are not starting without some increase
In orders received.
The decline in wheat was over six
cents In spite of an official report of yield
lar below estimates generally accepted,
which reflects perception of the error OF
the report and also of the influence of
enormous exports of corn instead of
wheat, S0.O0O,000 bushels In seven months.
When two bushels of corn can be had
for less than one bushel of wheat 1t Is
largely preferred In European markets.
and In January 7,S59,127 bushels of corn
have gone abroad f,om Atlantic ports.
against 5,3O6.349 last year, while Atlantic
exports of wheat and flour have been g.
5S6,154 bushels, against S,403, 765 last year
AS the great portion Of corn prevents
much advance in its price, its outgo af-
fects the demand for wheat, and a heavy
liquidation of speculation has occurred.
with the price of corn daily changing.
The largest article of export at this sea-
son goes out freely, but cotton looks less
attractive to traders because American
millers are laboring over plans TO reduce
a great surplus Of goods, and prices have
declined. Takings of northern spinners
have been In five months A, 900 bales less
than last year and 423, 900 bales less than
In 1894-95.
Ihe sales Of wool In January have never
been surpassed In that month nor In any
other month except last November and
July Of 1896 and 1892
In the earlier years sudden demand for
consumption was in the latter months of
the year, but orders were small in No
vember, and had been small in January
compared with the purchases or antici-
pated possible duties. The price has re-
NAMED about steady.
Iron and steel show little gain. the pro-
auction having increased so largely be-
lore the gradual enlargement of demand
Tor finished products has not oysrtaken
tnat increase. Lower prices result for
bessemer pig, gray forge and for southern
IRON at Chicago, for angles and cut nails.
and the average of all quotations Is the
lowest price since early last year. For
sheets there is an active demand. and
better also for bars, on account of much
near building
Tin and copper are a shade stronger but
competition causes sales of tin plates to
be 10 to 10 cents below the agreed price.
Failures for the week have been al
against 400 last year.