The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-06
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEW
u. q. Dun & Co. Report Oh Business
Conditions Throughout the Country.

u. q. Dun & Co. Report OH Business
| Conditions Throughout the Country.
New York, Feb. 6.--R. G.. Dun q Co.,
In their weekly review of trade say:
No important change i'm business ap-
pears, but the number of manufacturing
establishments starting much exceeds
the number of those stopping during the
week, and so much that the curtailment
of working time in many cotton mills
| probably does not lessen the aggregate
productive force or amount of wages
paid. There Is distinct increase in or
ders for woolen goods, some gain in the
silk manufacture. a waitinsScondition
with gain. in one branch OF boots and
shoes. and indications OF better things
coming in the IRON and steel manufac-
ture.
To many. II is the most perplexing fea-
ture of current events that wheat does
not rise much. though il has advanced
Ia cents for the week. The condition OF
the market is not explained by any spe-
cial information. but current prices
show that no great confidence Is felt in
the estimateS of supplies available for
the rest Of the year. Cotton fell to Il.
cents after the agreement to close Fall
River and other print cloth works be-
came known, but recovered the quota
tion of week ago-7.31 cents-without
further news. Spinners takings have
been so small this year-those of north
ern mills about 40, 900 bales less than in
1S9f-95-that the admitted narrowness
of demand for goods has at present con-
siderable weight. 1t appears that for
eign trade is also somewhat restricted
by narrowness of demand.
Sales OF wool have beeen smaller than
In other recent weeks, and yet are far
in excess of the consumption Of all mills
for a week, IL all were fully employed.
A London account states that prices Of
Australian would have gone lower but
for American buying. and rumor credits
single concern with purchases of 15,-
100000 pounds Australian, here or
abroad. There has been only slight
stiffening In prices, but more foreign
wool will be taken and stored, IL Is be.
lieved. IL western holders continue to
demand higher prices. More important
than these indications is a little better
demand for heavyweight goods, which
had led some of the smaller mills TO buy
more freely, and thus enable a number
to start operations.
II is hard to comprehend the boot and
shoe trade at present. for, while re-
corded shipments from the east are
larger than in the same week OF any
previous year, good many of the shops
have actually closed, although some on
women's light goods have called back
cutters previously laid off. The price OF
union -sele-ieatAer has declined Ieent,
but. in order to stiffen the leather mar |
ket, tanners have bought hides largely, |
advancing the price about 1.2 per cent at |
Chicago.
Prices of Bessemer pig and grey forge |
at Pittsburg have slightly advanced, |
with much more hopeful feeling, not |
withstanding the comparative narrow
ness Of the demand for finished products,
and In plates and wire and wire nails |
there Is much more business. with good |
prospects. Reports that $4,000 tons Of
steel plate and sheet bars have been ex-
ported to England are only indications
OF the temporary excess of supply over
demand I'm this country. and are not sup
posed TO have realized any profit.
Failures for the week have been 3ii In
the United States against 323 last year,
and So in Canada. against 81 last year.
The Wool Market
BOSTON. Feb. 6.-The Boston Com |
mercial Bulletin today says Of the wool
market: The market is little less
active but the sales are still Exceptionally
large There Is less speculation but
more purchasing for actual consump-
ton as the slowly improving demands
Tor woolcn goods call for more material.
Prices are no lower and. indeed. on "a
blood and low woods. are distinctly
higher than last week. Foreign mar
ksts are being ransacked by American
lealers and by American mills. English.
french and South American markets
Ire all feeling the stimulus. So heavy |
nave the pure luases OF the larger mills
Jcen that there Is serious apprehension
hat the glut OF wool shortly TO be in
,reased by the new American clip, will
heck any marked advance In prices
or the present.
The sales 81 the week are 5.739.0oo
pound domestic and 1850. 900 pounds
oreign. against SCSi.Oo0 pounds domestis |
nd 2.25S 600 pounds foreign last week,
nd 2.655.o 900 bounds domestic and l.22i,-
90 pounds foreign for the same week
ast year.
The sales to date show an increase Of
q $4,000 pounds domestic and 4.513000
ounds foreign from the sales 10 the
A. L.. Il I,