Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-11-16
ITS TONE HOPEFUL.
Much in the Trade Situation to
Give Encouragement.
IMPROVEMENT SHOWN In MANY LINES
With Nothing to Cause n Reaction,
and with the Purchasing Power of
the People Gradually Increns-
ing, the Future Is Promising.

New York, Nov. 13.--R. G. Dun g. Co.
III their weekly review of trade say:
Colder and more stormy weather. so long
needed to accelerate distribution of WIN
ter goods, has materially helped in some
quarters, and the resulting Improvement
In retail trade is mentioned in nearly every
northern dispatch this week. so that orders
to fill stocks have been encouraging, and
in some branches the multitude of demands
for immediate delivery show that the dis
tribution to consumers has already gone
much beyond the expectations of dealers.
But this Is not yet the general rule, and
with many complaints of delayed trade
from other quarters there still remains
the extensive shrinkage caused by fever
and guarantees at the south. 1t is, there
fore, the more surprising that the volume of
all payments through clearing houses con-
tinues about as large as in 1892, and 1877 per
cent. larger than last year. Railroad earn
ings also nearly equal those of 1892 for the
first week of November, and half the mile |
age in the United States shows earnings
in October of S5O.354 .496, or SO per cent.
larger than last year and go per cent. larger
than 1892. Speculative markets feel dis |
appointment because prices do not, rise far |
Their and faster, but 1t Is fortunate for pro-
ducers and dealers that the experience of
some past years in that respect has not
been repeated. There is nothing to cause
general reaction, the purchasing power of
the people is gradually increasing, and
after the lull which follows extensive re-
punishment of stocks, trade should give
ample evidence Of that increase
The output of iron furnaces November
l was 2lS,159 tons weekly, against 200 l29
october !, a gain of G.1 per cent, and UNI
sold stocks decreased 1880 tons in October,
indicating larger consumption in manu-
features than ever before even when the
output OF pig iron pushed by swiftly adj
Nancing prices to the highest point 2l7 $50
tons, November l. 1885, Prices of iron prod
ucts rose that year $50 per cent, but are |
now not per cent. higher than June o.
wooden mills generally have orders for
three months ahead, are not seeking fur.
Their engagements. Large sales of specula-
tive lots OF wool at prices not stated sue-
gest that 1t may be lower before the mills
need further orders. A year ago the price
began to mount with heavy speculation,
ana has risen SO per cent. without reaction
IN quotations. while the rise in goods aver
ages but IA per cent. The decline in cot
ton. and the slow demand for goods. ow
ing IN part to warm weather, have led cot
ton mills to confer about curtailment of
production.
49,, Wheat eat dropped over cents. but has
since risen as much with heavy buyinr for
export. western receipts continue heavy.
IN two weeks 14.02S,907 bushels, against 10
5Sl,l92 last year. while Atlantic exnorts
flour included. have been 6,562 OPS bushels
against ''9li'25l last year. An English au-
LII
100000 bushels less than last year. which
would mean market for all this country
mas to spare Corn exports ire again largar
than last year. and the price has risen To-
cents. Later prices of meats do not indi.
cate that farmers have as vet rnuob u,
ducement to save corn for feeding.
failures for the week have been POI in
the uuteu states, against ZIG last year"
ana "a IN Canada, against 46 last year.
AS Bradstreet,s Sees It,
Bradstreet's says:
one OF the most significant feature. of
the business situation is found in the con-
t t heaVy weekly totals of bank clear
ings, made for six days ending Novemhsr
u, amounting to $1.347, OOO, 900, an increase of
~ per cent over the preceding week and
10 per cent compared with the second week
OF November 1896. when business began IN
revive w sharply IN speculative lines.
railroad gross earnings show snioller
gains as comparisons begin to he maf1a
with more nearly normal conditions one
year ago. Total October earnings of 1o7
companies operating 100000 miles of road
aggregate 800 464 ,339 gain of S. OOO, 600 over
sea. ana per cent over October
year ago, this gain compares with gains of
Ia per cent. In September and 1875 per. cent
IN august over corresponding periods In
1886. The Pacific. Southwestern and Cen.
tral western roads make the best showing
Other favorable features are the con.
IRON and steel. The heavy OUTPUT Of iron
and moderate reduction of stocks last weel,
suggests the improbability of the advance
IN prices of iron and steel next year, which
80 81 many nave hoped for The slight reac-
tlon IN the price Of cotton, in view of tha
extreme depression to which that stanle
mad been subjected attracts attention as the
possible beginning of the end of the nro-
longed decline. Already there is an i'm
pfoVement In prices of and demand for
cotton yarns.
The unfavorable influences in prices
movements this week are declines for cot
tons and print cloths, the latter touching
the lowest price on record. Wheat, lard
have been shaded. There is a long LIST of
staples for which prices are practically
unchanged. The more important advances
are confined to Indian corn. oats, hoops a nd
turpentine Colder weather in the central
west and northwest has stimulated demand
for winter goods particularlv cInthinu,,