Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-01-28
BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
Volume OF Trade Increases, But
Prices Are Lower.
Indications Point 10 Greater Prodassion
and Slow but Steady Increase In coa-
sumption-Money Markets
Cautious.

New York. Jan. 23.-R. G. Dun & Co.,
In their weekly review of trade, SAY:
There is more business though not at
better prices IL Is interesting that alnest
all prices which change at all are lower
tnan a week ago and yet business Is m
qnestionabiy larger. There is larger pre-
duction. but as yet not as much Increase
In consumption, and there is larger buyfnf-
OF materials. but at present only beca use
better prices are expected In the future
rev conspicuous failures during the week
have had no material influence The mar
ket for securities is slightly stronger and
yet there is very little doing. The nurnE Ser
OF hands employed, all Industries consfd-
cred, Is slightly larger than week ego.
without adverse change in the rate ef
wages. All apprehension OF foreign dis-
turbance OF money markets has passed
away, but here is still great caution IA
making loans. It is q mistake to reckon
these as symptoms of depression. On tae
contrary, in spite of the lower range Of
prices in important indus Is the condi-
lions all indicate larger production and
consumption increasing. not as yet large.
but steadily.
THE earnings of railroads in January
have been "A per cent. smaller than last
year. Wheat, corn and cotton exports are
the key of the financial situation, and dur
Ing the past week wheat has declined
" cent and corn Is cent while cotton is un-
changed The wooden Industry is a slow
as ever and no real Improvement appears
in the demand for goods, although owing
to the lateness of the season there is
little more doing, both in spring and in
winter goods, without Quotable change ia
prices. The iron Industry is engaged ia
settling relative prices and the slow oper-
alton retardS business in many branches
since the future of prices Il uncertain.
EeSSemer pig is trifie lower at $40 40 at
Pittsburgh and gray forge at $40. though
no further decline has occurred in eastern
markets, or at Chicago. But the competi-
fsnn tod co.,
ture nails by the high prices recently
maintained, causes slightly lower sales OF
wire nails at $135 and of cut nails at SIPS.
The increase in manufacturing is perhaps
more definitely shown than in any other
way by the production of coke, which
steadily increases, 9.Sl7 ovens being in
blast, against S,l7S idle. and the weeks
output 100,SS6 tons, is over double the out
put of October. Failures for the week
nave been 400 in the United States. against
S73 last year. and 65 in Canada, against 81
last year"
Bradstreet's View.
Bradstreet's says:
THE most encouraging feature OF the
trade situation this week is the increased
demand from manufacturers for wool. The
decision of print cloth manufa cturers to
curtail the output will emphasize recent
sales of the heavy surplus stock and prom
Uses a better market. To these may be
added the increase in the volume Of do
hieSeAS jain SASai MSS al SlSdut-
loss of prices, and the healthfulness of gem
eral trade in almost all departments Con-
servatism in granting credits, and the
preference by retailers and others to buy
oftener but in small quantities. continue
to mark the course of business as not be-
fore for years Demand is increasing in al
most all lines, with few exceptions, al
though very slowly. A radical improve
ment in the near future, based on a slow
but healthful increase in the consumptive
demand, is. in the absence of unforeseen OBJ
stacles. almost certainty.
prices appear to include few, II any,
that are higher than a week ago. While
flour. wheat. corn, lard, crude petroleum,
tin, Bessemer pig iron and steel billets arc
lower, wool remains firm at practically
unchanged prices, but Is likely TO advance
If the present demand continues. Leather
is also firm and unchanged. as are lumber,
cotton. print cloths. pork. coffee and
sugar"