Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-04-06
BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
PASSAGE of the Tariff Bill Does Not
Disturb Trade.
The Markets Are Still Waiting anu
Eluctuating Special Reports
from Many Cft1es-Thc
Failure Record.

New York, April 3.-R. G. Dun & Co..
in their weekly review of trade, say:
1.-THE vote of the house in favor OF a new
tariff bill has made no impression IN Dusi-'
ness since it has been expected since NO
vember that some measure or the same
general character would become law. If
the bill stands, with its provision making
new duties applicable April l, the chances
are that foreign imports and treasury re-
ceipts may be for a time considerably re
stricted.
1.-THE markets are still waiting. son!o
sagging downward and others recovering.
There is much disposition to use the de-
cision of the supreme court against rail-
road combinations as an instrument TOR
depressing stocks. and yet the buying has:
prevented decline exceeding 81 per share,
and for trust stocks 20 cents per share.
The reports of railroad earnings for the
quarter have been somewhat encouraging,
the aggregate having been on roads with
in the United States only 3.2 per cent.
smaller than last year, and the March re-
turns have been rather more favorable
than those for January or February.
1.-The market for products has been va
riable and uncertain. Wheat closes cent
lower than last week. and the May option
has declined cents. The movement ct
corn continues so large as to materially az
feet the demand for wheat. Current trade
estimates regarding the wheat crop are
a little more favorable and are some
what 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, although
the floods in the southwest have doubtless
done much harm. The cotton and other
textile manufacturers are slowly gaining
in business. though print cloths and most
staple cOttOns remain unchanged in prices.
and restriction Of output seems to have
given some relief to the market. The buy
ing Of wool by mills IS still noteworthy
feature. being far in excess Of current con-
sumption, but there is much greater vol
ume of transactions between Dealers.
Failures reported for the first quarter
Of 1897 number 1892 against 4,031 last year.
with liabilities of s4s,007.911. against $751;
425,l35 last year,
Bradstreet's View.
Bradstreet's says:
1.-THE course Of general trade shows some
Improvement notwithstanding an almost
complete stoppage of business in the south
Mississippi valley by Washouts, overflows
and floods. The condition Of country roads
throughout the central western states and
| the northwest is such to further delay
collections and check demand from, in
terror merchants. Another drop is re-
corded in prices Of Besserler pig iron and
| steel billets. and in wheat, flour and coal.
coffee and lard, which is, in part, offset by
Increased activity and higher prices for
wool and for Woolens. for corn. oats. sugar
and petroleum.
Especial reports from Sc cities with ref
erence to revival of activity in industrial
lines indicate there at work at those
renters probably not to exceed 100000 in
excess Of the number employed in Noyem-
Der last. The increases are largely among
| employees of manufacturers of wooden.
| goods, shoes, clothing. machinery engines,
! agricultural implements, bicycles, car.
riages. furniture, iron. steel, glass and
| shipbuilding. Depression still exists among:
| some branches of the WOODEN goods indus
| try. in coal mining and cotton goods man
| ufacture''