The record-union., 1897-03-06
WEEKLY REVIEW OF TRADE.
THE IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS
CONTINUES.
Better Demand for Most Products,
With Considerable Spscula-
tive Buying.

NEW YORK, March 5.-R. G. Dun
& Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade" to-
morrow will say:
The slow and gradual Improvement
observed for some time has continued
during the past week, and without ma
terial check. There is a better demand
for most products. with considerable
speculative buying in some. notably in
wool, brought about by the expected
duties.
Reports of probable need abroad have
helped speculation in wheat somewhat,
but il has risen about cents, though
the price is still lower than two weeks
ago.
Western receipts OF wheat are still
small, 1,559.S12 bushels, against 2.301.-
633 last year. and the Atlantic exports
Giour included) for the week ,232 Az
bushels, against ,541, ,131 last year, but
the corn exports continue so heavy as
to compensate largely if not wholly for
any decrease III wheat. amounting for
the week to 2,II9.9I4 bushels, Gulf
ports not included, against 1.014,340
| bushels last year, reckoning half a
bushel of corn for one bushel of
| wheat.
The grain supply of other countries
Continues much larger than a year ago.
Cotton has declined an eighth. ana
for good reason, for although receipts
from plantations fau off, the decrease
is not greater than the decrease in con-
sumption. owing to stoppage Of mills.
AS there is comparatively little cotton
available IL the country. the market is
a very convenient one for Spectators
to manipulate.
The demand for wool has diminish
ed, though only a little. and sales are
/ quiet at third more than the full
consumption Of all mills. If all We're at
work, but the speculative buying CON
! tinues fast. and "a three chief markets
IN five weeks have covered 1926 200
pounds, against -. S.G17, 400 in the same
weeks of 1892. Western holders are
too stiff for Eastern purchasers, and
the buying of domestic wool has slack
ened. Although some more mills have
gone into operation, the course of the
market has not favored great activity.
but it may be said that for good of the
higher class there is a better demand
than heretofore.
While the demand for Ressemer is
high and sustained the recent advance
to $40 40 per ton at Pittsburg. and
gray forge is still quoted at 50 40 there,
and there is also less cutting of prices
to get more business in finished pro-
ducts, the general range of prices still
continues very low There is less evil
dence of Eastern mills selling rails be-
low so except for export. sales of that
character having been made at SIS.
Western makers are said to be firm at
81 per ton, but the demands of most
important railways have been supplied
for the present. Tnte consumers of bill
let's are not in the market just now, but
with the somewhat larger product of
pig iron, it may he doubted whether,
outside of rails, the demand for fin
ished products equals the capacity of
works.
Failures show but slight increase
over those of 1896 or 1895. and but lit
tie decrease compared with 1894.
The feature of special interest is the
conservatatism in trading indicated by
the liabilities of trading failures in
nearly every branch of business. con-
trasted with the slight increase of liza
bilities of manufacturing failures.
Failures for the week have been 246
in the United States, against 30 last
year, and 80 in Canada. against IS
last year.