The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-16
TREND OF TRADE.


Improvement In BusInssS Steady, hut
Gradual-RsPOrts show Loss in the
EArninGI OfIINIlrOads.
NEW YORK, Jan. 15.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review Of trade tomorrow
will say: 1t Is not the largest and most
powerful vessel that can be started most
quickly and 1t takes time for new conf
dence to reach through easier money
markets, larger orders. resuming mills,
expanding employment, and larger dis
trlbution, to the results which make stin
greater and lasting gain possible, Such
gradual and steady improvement has
been in progress for more than two
months.
The output OF pig iron has gained 1873
per cent in December, and 4l,G per cent
since October first. The output uf coke
mas Increased SS.7 per. cent since OCtobe.
first. Sales of wool have again become
large, though not yet fully reported
Money markets feel a steady increase IN
demand for commercial and manufacture
inS loans. Additional works have gone
into operation each week in January and
the working force is larger than at any
other time for six months. Best OF ALL
there Is so little deliberate judgment Of
the ablest and most prudent men In busl-
ness. 1t Is not u time of high prices
Many who are anxious to get early hold
un the market are making for the mo-
ment lower prices than they could afford
to maintain. Some have secured orders
enough for months to come and begin to
be less keen In competition.
With the Increase in output Of pig iron
to l59, ,720 tons weekly, against 142,27S last
month, the price is shade lower at the
east and Chicago, but heavy purchases
already advance Bessemer n shade at
Pittsburgh. a sale Of 10000 tons Ten
nessee No. 4 for export will Yield only
Sc S71h at the mill and the shipment of
1000 tons billets to Manchester will yield
only SIS at Pittsburgh. Steel bars have
been reduced to 1c and some other finish
ed products 81 per ton, but the demand
on the whole is steadily growing. The
coke output has risen from $4,000 to 9i,S42
tons weekly and minor metals are a
shade stronger
Though wooden goods do not improve,
there have been enormous purchases OF
wool by large mills, not In records, which
cover for two weeks of January ll,llOSOO
pounds at the, three chief markets.
againat 1l,St7 600 last year, and lO,GISSlj
In 1895. Some large purchases Of leather,
including 10000 sides of grain, indicate
that some shoe manufacturers are seq
ing their way to more active work and
shipments from the east in January thus
far are 20 per cent larger than last year.
Hides at Chicago are 21h per cent lower
The wheat market has varied but
slightly, closing II OF cent lower.
Cotton took u rise of an eighth on
traders estimate, without change in con-
ditions.
Failures for the week have been 455 in
the United States, against 1896 last year
and Il in Canada, against 81 last year.
The aggregate of gross earnings of all
railroads, IN the United States reporting
for the first week in January, Is Si.ll5,Ol2,
n loss OF 40 per cent, compared with the
corresponding week last year. For De-
cember more complete returns for the
month shows gross earnings of $SS.5SG,9l2
for the United States roads, io3s Of 20
per cent, compared with December. 1885
and of SO compared with December, 1882