The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-08-28
pUN'S COMMERCIAL REVIEW.

The Most Encouraging Reports for Many
Years, Showing an Uniform Improve
ment-TheC Coal Strike, the Only Impede
ment to a Full Resumption of Business,
Shows Signs of an Early Collapse.
New YORK, Aug. 21.-R. G. Dun &
Co. in their weekly review of trade
say:
Not for several years have the tele-
graphic reports from various cities in
all parts of the country been as en-
%couraging or show as uniform improve
ment as this week. The markets are
called crazy by some, but fairly repre-
sent the people whose confidence in the
future is strong and increasing. Moth
ing appears to check it.
The demand for money improves,
taking from New York to the interior
about $500, 900 more than was received
during the week. and offerings of COM
mercial loans are much larger, includ-
ing considerable iron and steel paper,
and the course of foreign exchange is
generally in terpreted a. an indication
that specie imports cannot be long de-
layed.
The greatest gain has been for agri-
cultural products. Corn has advanced
a little in price, but is moving very
largely, so hat the last years surplus
may soon be marketed unless the new
crop turns out better than many now
expect. Cotton declined an eighth be-
cause of an estimate promising the
largest crop ever grown, but the dry
goods market Is decidedly improving
and some of the large mills, after a
few weeks of suspension, have resumed
work.
Other farm products are doing well
also, but wheat has advanced 11ss
cents for the week on actual ransac-
%tions, with heavy purchases for export
Western receipts for the week were
S.S44, 544 bushels, against 1874, 775 last
year and for three weeks II, $40. 267
bushels against IL, 697, 1877 last year,
while Atlantic exports are about
double last years. 3, 7O5. 2S7 bushels,
against 1,SOS,347 last year,; and for
three weeks, 9,S19, SIS, against 5, 1O2, 661
last year, -four included for both
years.
1t is well to notice that corn exports
continue more than double last year
also, in three weeks S,516, 544 bushels,
against 4, 119, 241 last year.
The iron and steel industry is push
ing forward in spite of the still I'M
settled strike of bituminous coal min
ers and the enormous purchases of ore
at Cleveland, and also of billets at
Pittsburgh, show the utmost confidence
in the future Many additional estab-
lishments have begun working during
the past week and while no material
change in price has occurred, the re-
ports indicate fewer concessions to Sc
cure business and a much steadier
tone.
The sales of ore at Cleveland have
amounted in two weeks 400, 600 or $780,
900 tons, and of billets sales reported
at Pittsburgh have been in three
weeks about 800. 900 tons. Tin is firmer,
with full consumption and there is
larger business in copper.
The old difficulty remains in the
boot and shoe industry, dealers being
unwilling to buy largely at the prices
which manufacturers now ask, though
during the past week the only change
has been a slight advance on calf
boots.
The market for hides at Chicago is
again much stronger, prices having adj
vanced with very narrow transactions.
In the wooden business Il constant in
crease appears In the number of estab-
lishments at work aud the demand for
goods has much increased.
Failures for the week have been 223
in the United States, against $50 last
year; and 80 in Canada against 81 last
year.