The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-03-27
DuN's COMMERCIAL REVIEW.

While Business Is Still Below the Volume
of Former Years. and Many Express Dis
appointment, a Steady and Conservative
Growth In Almost All Branches of Trade
and Is Perceptible to Close OBJ
servers.
NEW YORK, March 20.-R. G. Dun &
Co. say to-day in their weekly review
of trade:
Though steadily increasing, business
is still much below its volume in for
mer years of prosperity, and many exc
press disappointment. Yet there is
some gain every week, with more
hands at work and more mills in oper-
alton, and the sure result-larger pur-
chaSes for consumption-cannot be
long delayed. In some branches it is
felt already. There is larger distribu-
ton of finished products, and the de-
mand for commercial loans has sharply
increased, especially in dry goods and
the iron and steel branches
The progress of the iron and steel in
dustry is hindered by uncertainty re-
garding the cost of lake ore for the
coming year, though the repeated adj
journment of producers meetings is in
terpreted as evidence hat an agree
ment w i'll be ultimately reached. 1t
is reported that Morris ore at S2.75
will be taken as the basis, which would
imply about 81 80 for Mesaba ores, but
until the question has been settled,
many important transactions are de-
ferred.
While there is no great activity in
finished products, the demand steadily
increases. Contracts for several great
buildings at Chicago are pending, and
for d good many bridges and other rail-
road works, and the demand fer black
sheets for tin plate. manufacture.
Tin tends lower, at 1885, with heavy
receipts, and with weaker London quo
tations. Lead is inactive at 3.3T. and
copper is weaker, although the trifiing
decrease in production in this country
is practically balanced by the small in
crease in production elsewhere.
Although shipments of boots and
shoes are almost as large as in any
previous year, it is announced that one
or two of the largest works AVE closed
for want of orders. At the same time,
many other concerns are taking very
large orders, it is claimed, at prices be-
low those generally quoted.
No change whatever appears in quo
tations of leather this week, and the
Chicago market for hides tuctuates
without definite tendency, although
the slight changes reported are down
ward. While manufacturers of cotton
goods are looking forward with much
confidence, the present demand is not
equal 20 expectations, mol has the cur
tailment in production of print cloths
accomplished the desired change in
condition. The buying of wool, mainly
OF a speculative character in eXpecta-
ton of new duties, continues remark
ably large. Sales at the three chief
markets for the past week We're TO-
S9I, 800 pounds.
No great increase has yet appeared
IN the demand for goods, although a
few more mills have found enough
orders to start, perhaps in part antici-
pating a future demand. The eXpecta.
ton OF new duties does not yet in
fiuence the goods markets, as might be
expected.
a. bCLlG1IIu AO4 lC1I has HOG PlhCu ]
much help to speculation. Atlantic
exports have been only 1,263, 800 bush
els, against 1,199, 355, flour included,
for the corresponding week last year;
while western receipts have been only
1881, $40 bushels, against3 :, 416, OS9 BUSH
els last year.
Accounts regarding the coming crop
hav beer less favorable this week and
the price has advanced IL cents. The
exports of corn continue heavy, 4,543,-
7C5 bushels for the week, and quota
tiOns advanced seven-eighths. The
cotton market has also been almost
l~ifeless, and while the price has gained
a small fraction, the narrowness of de-
mand here and abroad has its natural
influence.
Noteworthy sales of about 45. 900
shares of stocks by foreign holders
have lot materially depressed prices,
even of the stocks so largely held, and
the average of securities has been
firmly held, the sixty most active rail
road stocks ranging about 20 cents per
share higher han a week ago.
The volume of business indicated by
clearinghouse 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 POI last
year and 80 in Cauada, against ~ last
year.
ALLOWED TO RESIGN