Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-22
THE STATE OF TRADE.
Bradstreets.

Bradstr5ets.
Another week of irregular trade brings
an element of disturbance in the OUTLOOK
for fight over the new tariff bill, ana me
disappointment among manufacturers OF
wooden goods. silks. cutlery and other INES
a various tariff schedules. spring trace
in jCbbing lines Is over, collections are
SLOW, and al many points there IS 10
change in demand or supply. except re
quest is for cheaper grades OF goods;
Threatened ovcrtlowS in The central ana
southern Mississippi valley have restrict
ed the country order trade. ana ram anu
high water have exercised similar lhliu-
ence in the Ohio valley and IN South AZ
lantic and Gulf States The movement OF
general merchandise is also checked az
the northwest by unfaVorable weather.
Deep SHOWS in western Minnesota ana the
eastern DakOtas have almost suspenuSu
business in that region, and railway U3i-
liz is at a standstill. South Dakota I'VE
stock has not Wintered a well as usual,
and heavy losses are reported. Inc de-
mand for cotton goods Is Disappointing,
and manufacturers have moved some INES
only az concessions in price. Iron and steel
industries appear less likely TO expand III
the near future. Practically loNer prices
for Bessemer pig and for billeif seem 10
have been the result of speculative over
purchasing NJ the late revival in eXpectd-
ton of an advance. which has not SHOWN
itself Delay in fixing lake ore prices mas
also had an influence. There i les uc-
mand for American iron ana steel Tor e.
port. particularly for northern products.
AT most of the larger centres the feeling
of encouragCmen Is stronger among Htr-
chants at the prospect for continued I'M
provement i'm trade yet the Increase IN
volume of business in dry goods groceries,
hats and clothing compared with preceG-
ing weeks and with like weeks IN previous
years does not equal anuclpauOns. lneIe
is an Improvement in the demand Tor WOOL;
for which prices are higher. Eastern WOOL
manufacturers report more inquiry Io'
goods though the condition OF TINS lndus-
try still leaves much TO be desired; Pros
poets of the wheat crop in the state OF
Washington are excellent. The newly de-
Veloped Pacific coast export trade IS
marked by a shipment of doors, SASH ana
finishing lumber from Tacoma 10 South
Africa. and trade aGVices from Texas are
more favorable than for a month.
An additional favorable feature IS founC
in the tendency of prices, those Tor wheat
corn. oats. pork. lard and sugar IN addi-
tional 10 wool being upward. while quo
tations for print cloths, cotton. petroleum
and lumber are firm and unchanged. In
addition TO reactions i'm iron. steel ana cot
tons specified. wheat flour and coffee are
lower. -.... 40
The total bank clearings throughout the
counfrV amount TO Stjl 10000 for SIX DuSl-
ness days ending with March Is an m
crease of 2.S per cent. over the preceding
week hut q decrease of a like proportion
compared with the CORRESPONDING lOl9I IN
1896. Contrasted with the like eXhiolt III
hut compared with the like total IN lN'f
the current weeks clearinSs show an m
crease. of 70 per cent. Compared with Ike
weeks i'm 1893 and 1892 the iaIing OH
amounts 10 - and u per cent. respectively.