The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-29


I Prosperous Times = Tremendous Move
ment Ia Breadstu ns-stats Of Wool and
Cotton-B radstreet's Review of Trade.
New York, May 2s-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review Of trade tomorrow viii
say:
People are actually doing more bust
ress than they realize. They reckon by
values, but these are much lower than in
any previous year OF prosperity. and
leave little margin for profits. In guam
! tity there is almost as much business be-
| ing done as in the years Of greatest pros
perity. and although the increase In pop
/ ulatior would call for material expan-
sion, the comparison is not discouraging.
The recovery is slow, hesitating and
gradual, but more has been done. on the
whole. in May than In April. while the
returns OF April showed the volume Of
business Only 10 per cent smaller than
| that of the best year heretofore. Yet,
hesitation is doing its work every week,
1
possibilities at Washington. who ought to
be filling the demand for labor and the
products Of labor.
Events have proven that the crop Of
wheat going out is much larger Than airy
of the markets expected, and western re-
| ceip.s for the week were 80 per cent
| larger than last year. while Atlantic ex-
hox hoa for ALL &
| bushels, -four Included, against 1895, III
| bushels last year. At this season actual
receipts count rather than predictions,
ard the truth Is that the country has ex-
ported an extraordinary quantity of both
| wheat and -four, and yet has so much to
spare that the July option has declined
nearly a cent for the week. The outso
| of corn, largely taking the place of wheat
in foreign consumption, is far beyond
precedent or expectation. and for four
weeks has been 9,360.091 bushels. against
| s,O01 1855 last year. With liberal interior
supplies, the price has declined a frac-
ton.
Cotton Is unchanged. although at this
season exports are insignificant. Manu-
facturers have especial causes Of delay,
owing to the possible competition with
foreign goods largely imported, but there
mas been no setback in prices, although
cotton goods are dull without large de-
mand, and print cloths are at the bottom:
price. II is evident that production far
beyond the consuming demand has fore
ed the industry into waiting attitude.
Distribution Of all dry goods It at present
retarded also by cooler wather than Is
usual at this season. The woolen mills
are producing more than they have done
for years. though much less than they
could or would like to produce. ard
manufacturers are doing Almost nothing
in the wool market, though speculation
has kept the sales in four weeks of May
IS, sos 500 pounds against q, 159. $50 pounds
IT. the corresponding weeks Of 1892
There is some weakness observable with
western holders, and eastern prices begin
to feel the weight OF enormous imports
although holders still calculate on a rise
as soon as new duties take effect. The
iron manufacture gains in spite OF the
closing of some Of the furnaces. The pro-
ductior of pig exceeds consumption, and
is somewhat decreasing, while the con-
sumption has generally gained this week.
in part because OF several structural con-
tracts including 1000 tons for this city
acne, and IN part because the acricul
tural implement works have made larger
demands, and also because Of the propos-
ed leasing OF nearly all the rod mills In
the country, which has caused some buy
ing. Pig iron shows no change in price.
but il is noteworthy that an advance OF
% cents in the British price Of American
pig is considered a relist, as les5ening
the urgency TO southern pig in northern
markets. Tin and copper are stronger.
but tir plate makers have agreed upon
an advance. and yet the best grade sells
as before at $3.50, against $3.50 for the
foreign.
Failures for the week have been PA in
the United States. the smallest in any
week since September, 1895. agains. 23e
last year, and y Canadian, against 20
as: year.
BRADSTREET'S REVIEW.
New York, May 2s.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
Results OF the spring trade in staples,
which is now over. are disappointing.
The volume OF ssasonable merchandise
distributed Is less than expected, with
out taking into account an improvement
in business compared with year ago.
Neraly ell central western and south
ern trade cenrers report business very
quiet. Dry goods con tinue depressed
cotton products selling with difficulty.
some varieties only on concessions. The
announcement o, reduced or passed cot
ton mill dividends. and that several
large establishments will shut down TO
enable consumption to overtake pro1uc-
ii0l, coupled with comparative indiffer-
ence o. consumers 20 the lowest prices
on record for iron and steel, would ap-
pear 10 sufficiently characterize the act
ual condition Of general trade.
The more favorable features are rela-
tive activity among wooden goods manu-
faciu-ers. who are working on old or
dsTs: improved demand for shoes and
leather: continuance OF the compara-
tive activity % the general demand at
Savannah. Memphis. s. Louis. Omaha,
Sioux Falls. Minneapolis. and s. Paul.
the better demand f0r lumber al the
west. and in the trade outlook IN Louis
lana and Arkansas Increased exports
are reported from the Pacific coast ports
but there Is comparatively little gain in
domestic trade ite-e. except In cattle,
wool and hardware a: Portland
Among the twenty o. more important
staple products oniy two---hites and
xhea.-hzve advanced while ors-hais