Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-05-25
HOPEFUL SLAMS.
Unmistakable Evidences of Improve
ment In Trade Centers.


New York, May 22.-R. G. Dun & Co..
in their weekly review of trade, say:
'Unmistakable evidence of Improvement
comes in the general increase of commercial
loans, mostly for eastern merchants or
companies, though some well-known
houses in the middle west appear with con-
siderable rediscounts from the south. Not
for long time have commercial loans been
fully half the whole. The distinct change
gives proof that new business has been
larger than many have supposed. Receipts
of money from the interior exceeds ship
ments s1,500,000. mostly from the middle
west. Exports of gold have no influence
and only signify the willingness of Russia
to pay price for the, gold needed. The
excess of merchandise imports to answer
demands for half year to come involves
a greater excess of exports when the an
ticipatory movements end and crops begin
to move, which fact renders large outgoes
of gold less likely, and gives the country
stronger position In international mar
kets. Meanwhile there is a continuing in
crease, distinct though gradual, in the vol
ume of business In demand for products OF
manufacture, and, considering the time of
year, in movement of grain and produce.
Wheat again cheated hopeful buyers
and fell nearly four cents, closing 31a cents
lower for the week. Corn was shade
weaker. Cotton once more hopefully ad-
vanced to rs cents, but fell back to u.
cents, with poor support here or abroad.
Both the volume of stocks and the condi-
ton of domestic and foreign markets for
goods hinder advance, and later acreage
reports are better. The iron industry has
quite an increase in business. though not
in all branches. Part was due to the rup-
ture of the steel beam pool, and the fall
in price from s155 to SLIPS. The Carnegie
works are now turning out 5000 tons of
n 1S 1af1 rao r1N oil al AL
exports of finished products increase.
Sales of wool increase, though still
greater than when all the mills were busy,
but manufacturers are doing scarcely any,
thing, most of their possible demand for
months ahead having been supplied. West
ern holders begin to offer at to 1h cents
lower than of late Wooden goods are dull,
but prices are firm. The strike of clothing
hands here somewhat restricts the new de-
mand. Cotton goods are without change
in prices, print cloths still at the low
est on record. and the demand is still in
different, with talk of temporary closing
Of mills at the south.
Failures for the week have been PAS in
the United States, against 277 last year, and
81 in Canada, against rs last year."
Bradstreet's says:
THE slight Improvement in trade ia IN
the tendency of business to increase at a
few cities in the northwest, on the Pacific
coast ana IN south Atlantic and gulf states
There Is increased buying at Baltimore,
Atlanta. Birmingham and New Orleans.
where trade has revived on the announce.
ment that northern Louisiana, Mississipp,
and Arkansas flooded districts are being
placed under cultivation, and that the dam
age done is less than was expected, There
are increased sales at Milwaukee. Omaha.
Chicago and st. Louis and exports of gen
eral merchandise and lumber from San
Francisco have increased. Advices from
California are that lack of seasonable rains
and long-continued dry winds have in
1ured the wheat and fruit crops. Larger
eastern centers report the movement of
merchandise slow and trade dull, The sea
son Is SO far advanced that no general gair
Is looked for till after fall buying sets in.
The usual industrial disturbances have
marked building and other industries. NOT.
ably clothing, mining, iron and STEEL Man.
ufacturers of woolens are well stocked with
raw material, but owing to slowness or
orders prices are easier. Makers of cotton
goods are at disadvantage owing to the
relatively high price of cotton and the in
crease in production of products. There
is no gain in demand for iron and steel.
prices for which continue low. The re-.
port that the steel rail. billet and wire nail
makers are seeking to form a pool to ad.
vance prices is not confirmed"