The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-03
FINANCE AND TRADE
Business Prospects as Viewed by the
Commercial Agencies.
TRADE SHOWS AN IMPROVEMENT

According to Btndstreets' Royiew,
while II. G. Dun 81 Co. Declare That
the Markets Are Stlll waitiDg-A
Hundred Thousand Moro Workers.
! New York, April g. 3.-Bradstreets' re-
view of trade says: The course of gen.
eral trade shows some improvement,
Notwithstanding an almost complete
stoppage of business in the south Mis-
sissippi valley by washouts. overilows
and foods. The condition of country
roadways throughout central western
states and the northwest Is such as
to still further delay collections and
check demand from interior merchants.
Another drop is recorded in prices OF
bessemer pig iron and steel billets, and
in wheat, -four, coal, coffee and lard,
which Is in part offset by increased
Activity and higher prices for wool
and for woolens, corn, oats. sugar and
petroleum. A heavy movement of fer
tiliEers is reported in the South Atlantic
ptates. Interest in lumber and shingles
has Increased on the northwest Pa
Gifc coast. and Galveston is exporting
pattle to Europe. The most favorable
trade reports are from the northwest
hrn spring wheat states.
Special reports to Bradstreets' from
30 cities, with reference to revival in
Rotivity In industrial lines, indicate
that there are at work at those centers
&robably 100000 in excess of the num-
der employed in November last The
Increases are largely among employees
pf manufacturers of woolen goods,
shoss, clothing, machinery, engines,
Agricultural implements, bicycles, car
fiages, furniture iron, steel, glass and
bodybuilding. Depression still exists
among some branches of the woolen
goods industry, in coal mining and cot
ton goods manufactures.
r. G. Dun & Co.'s review says: The
markets are still waiting, some sagging
nownward and others recovering. The
vote of the house in favor of the new
fariff bill has made no impression in
business, since II has been expected
Binca November that some measure of
The same general character would be-
rome law. If the bill stands, with its
provisions making new duties appli-
Fable April l, the chances are that for
eign imports and treasury receipts may
be for time considerably restricted.
The markst for products has been
variable and uncertain. Wheat closes
n cent lower than last week, and the
May option has declined 2 cents, and
western receipts for the week have been
A.Ts1.557 bushels, against 1,951,205 last
year, while the Atlantic exports, flour
Included, have been 2,1S5,27s bushels
against 12S0,0l3 last year. The move
ment of corn continues so large as tc
materially affect the demand for wheat
The iron and steel industry has beer
: staggered, SO to speak, by the decision
of the supreme court affecting rail
roads, since 1t is apprehended that pur'
chases not only of rails, but of cars
locomotives and bridge materials may
be affected The demand for rails Is
still considerable. and one order is
pending for 10000 tons for japan. but
the reduction in Mesabi ore, with tbs
want of agreement as yet among pro
Vuoers of hard ores, tends to encour'
age the belief in lower prices for fin
lshed products, and so to hinder buying
The great struggle between the ore
producing companies Of Mesabi has no
vet SO far developed that anybody car
Feel confident as to the future cost o.
iron. Meanwhile. with pig accumula
ting. although some furnaces have
stopped production, the price of Bes
Eemer at Pttsburg is shade lower.