The Irish standard., 1897-03-27
II STILL LA0s.
Business In Slow I'm Reachin9; lfS
Former Volume.

=. ,. y
New York. March 2o.--R. G., Dun d
Co., in their weekly review Of trade,
say: q
Though steadily increasing, business 10
still much below its volume In former
years Of prosperity, and many express dis
appointment. Yet there IS some gain every
more mills In operation and the
sure result, larger purchases for con-
sumption, cannot be- long delayed. In some
branches 1t Is felt already. There is larger
distribution Of finished products. and the
demand for commercial loans has sharply
increased, especially In dry goods and the
iron and steel branches.
1.-THE progress Of the iron ard steel indus
try Is hindered by uncertainty regarding
the cost of lake ore for the coming year.
though the repeated adjournment OF pro-
ducers' meetings.is interpreted as evidence
reached 1t IS reported that Norrie ore
ut $2.76 win be taken as the basis. which
will imply about 81. IS for Mesaba ores. but
until the question has been settled, many
important transactions are deferred. While
there is no great activity IN finished prod
ucts, the demand steadily increases, Con-
tracts for several great buildings at Chi
caRo are pending, and for q good many
=. bridges and other railroad works. and the
demand for wire nails and for wire does
not ahatc nor the demand for black sheets
required In the tin plate manufacture.
"Although shipments of boots and shoes
.are.aln1ost as large as In any previous year.
1t Is announced that one or two OF the
largest works have closed for want of
orders. At the same time many other con-
Germs are taking very large orders. IT -
claimed at prices below those generally
quoted. No change whatever appears In
quotations of leather this week, and the
~, III -, %S,1H1
definite tendency, although the slight
changes reported are downward.
while manufacturers OF cotton goods
are looking forward with much confidence.
the present demand is not equal to ex-
pectations, nor has the curtailmentsin pro-
iuction Of print cloths accomplished the
desired change IN condition. The buying
Of wool mainly of speculative character
in expectation Of new duties, continues re-
markedly large Sales at the three chief
markets for the past week were Q,S91 300
pounds. No great increase has yet ap-
Spearcd in the demand for goods, although
a few more mills have found enough or
ders to start, perhaps in part anticipating
a future demand. The expectation of new
duties does not yet influence the goods
markets AS might be expected.
''The demand for wheat has not given
much help TO speculation. Atlantic ex-
ports have been only 72eS,Seo bushels,
ILL.,
responding week last year, while western
receipts have been only 5.Sa7.246 bushels:
against 2,41G0s9 bushels last year. Ac-
counts regarding the coming crop have
been less favorable this week. and the
price has advanced 1M cents. The exports
Of corn continue heavy. s.54S.7 o5 bushels
for the week. and quotations advanced
severn ighths.
noteworthy sales Of about Is, Coo shares
Of stocks by foreign holders have not ma
terIally~depressed prices. even Of the stocks
so largely sold. and the average of securi-
ties has been firmly held. the GO most active
railroad stocks ranging about 20 cents per
share higher than week ago.
The volume Of business indicated by
clearing house exchanges is smaller than
last year The average Of daily exchanges
for the month Is 3.3 per cent. less than
last year.
Failures for the week have been ZIG IN
the United States. against 26t last year,
and 50 In Canada. against IS last year.