Birmingham state herald., 1897-06-26
DUN's REPORT.

New York, June 25.-R. c. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say: There is no step backward in busi- ness although the season of midsummer quiet is near Improvement continues gradual and prudently cautious as be- fore, although in many branches 1t is evident where no signs of 1t appeared few weeks ago. Business men of the high est standing in all parts of the country having gradually perceived that the tide has begun to rise are regulating their contracts and investments and their plans for the future with a confidence quite unknown to them short time ago. Great changes before the adjournment of congress are hardly to be expected, but removal of uncertainty is with req son ex- pected to bring into operation buying forces which have been restricted for months.
 The main factor at this time Is the steadily brightening prospect for crops. Harvest ting of wheat has already begun in some winter wheat States with sur prisingly good results in the central re- zion and California, so that 800, 900 tons is now called the minimum from the lat ter State, and statisticians of repute call eulate on sixty million bushels of winter wheat beyond the government estimates Spring wheat Is doing remarka bly we'll with practically unknown increase of acreage. The price has advanced 1Rc during the week with a decrease of 1,200,-
 
 lantic exports of only 1,445,947 bushels, flour included, against 1713,961 last year, but it Is just the season where figures have no values except for proving how erroneous were estimates of the crop Of 1896 Cotton was lifted an eighth with out reason and has fallen back as much because everything points to a larger crop than has been commonly expected.
 Iron and steel products average a small fraction lower in published Quota.iors, but only because private concessolns which are now refused were by various authorities complacently concealed two weeks ago. Pig iron is firmer, with bet Ter demand at Chicago and a he east, but the impatience of Valley furnaces to resume work keeps Bessemer ana grdy forge at last weeks quotations at Pitts burg. Ths best of the news Is material increase in orders for plates in part for ship building; in bare, for agricultural implement works; in structural shapes, for buildtfngs and bridges and in galvan- ized sheets. One heavy contract for 300 miles thres-inch, and 1eo miles ten-inch pipe, sought by the Australian govern ment for the gold regions, excites many hopes In the trade. The great ore pro- ducing companies are cutting prices for Mesaba, Bessemer, Fayal, to g. 10, ap- parently in order to relieve congestion as basis for future combination. Tin advanced in spite of heavy arrival, 12,- GOO tons of lead have goes n sold moderate quantities not bringing but 3421ec. and purchases advance lake copper to 1l1Ac.
 There are encouraging increases for the d. mand for textile goods, even for cot- tons, which have so long been slow, and though 1t is but moderace, there Is no.h- ing of speculative character in the transactions and prices are firmly held. Recorders for woolens have been rather better than were expected from clo. hisis and fairly good for dress goods. Opera tions in spring goods arc stiH deferred. Domseti wool is still held at relatively high prices at the west.
 Failures for che week have been 216 in the United States, against PIT last year. and 24 in Canada. against "A last year.