The herald., 1897-01-16
COMMERCIAL CONDITIONS.
As Indications Promise They
Will Become
IMPROVEMENT is STEADY
And as RspiI as is Consistent With
Safety.
Dun & Co. Are Optimistic, While Brad
street Fails to Find Any Ground
for Great Hopes.
Associated Press special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, Jan. 15.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow
will say: The greatest growth and pros
perity the country has ever seen since
1879, after several months of disap-
pointment because specie resumption
had not yet brought the benefits ex-
pected 1t is not the largest and most
powerful vessel that can be started most
quickly, and it takes confidence, larger
orders, resuming business, expanding
business and large distribution to bring
the results which make still greater and
lasting gains. Such gradual and steady
improvement has been in progress for
more than two months. The output of
pig iron has gained 1913 per cent in De-
cember, and 416 per cent since October
1st. The output of coke has increased
Ss.7 per cent since october 1st.
Sales of wool have again become
larger, though not yet fully reported.
Money markets find a steady demand In
commercial 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 crazy excite
liberate Judgment ds the wisest and
most prudent men in business. 1t is not
a time of high prices. Many who are
anxious to get early hold on the mar
ket are making. for the moment, lower
prices than they could afford to main
tain. Some have secured orders enough
for months to come. and begin to be less
keen i'm competition. With the increase
in the output of pig iron to 159.720 tons
weekly, against 142.2S7 last month, the
price is a shade lower at the east but
heavy purchases already have advarc-
ed BeSSemer a shade at Pittsbury.
Though woolen goods do not improve
there have been enormous purchases cf
wool by large mills. not in the records
which cover for two weeks of January
II, 110, 300 pounds at the three chief mar
kets, against II ,S17 500 last year Tha
wheat market has varied but slightly,
closing one-fourth cent lower. Western
receipts for the week, 1 .505, ,032 bushels,
against 2,916.275 last year, are checked
by storms and by current prices, in
view of farmers expectations.
Failures for the week have been ass
in the United States against 395 last
year, and II in Canada against 81 la st
year.
BRADSTREETS REPORT.
Bradstreets tomorrow will say: Ex-
cept at few southern cities, during the
past week, wholesale merchants
throughout the country report no no.
ticeable change in trade features, and
few, if any, indications of Improvement
in the near future. Mercantile collec-
tionS continue slow. There has been 10
revival in textile circles. except in
creased purchases of wool at Boston by
some of the large manufacturers
Prices this week show advances for
leather. pork lard. petroleum.. cotton,
while decreases are reported in prices of
hides, wheat, corn, coffee, pig iron. and
steel billets. No change is reported in
quotations for coal, lumber, flour, oats,
sugar, print cloths and wool. Exports
of wheat (hour included) from both
coasts of the United States this week
amounted to 2,94S, ,154 bushels, compared
with 3105, 900 last week; 3.202, 900 bushels
in the week a year ago.
There have been ATS business failures
in the United States this week, COM
pared with ABS last week; ALP in the Sec
ord week of January. 1896; 37S in the
like week of 1895, and as compared with
404 in the corresponding week of 1894
There are SO business failures report ed
from Canada this week as compared
with Go last week