Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-20
THE STATE OF TRADE.
Disturbance by Reason Of Fight
Over Tariff Bill.

over Tariff Bill.
NEW YORK, March 19.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say: Another week of ir-
regular trade brings an element Of dis
turbance in the outlook for a fight over
the new tariff bill. and the disappoint-
ment among manufacturers of woollen
goods. silks, cutlery and other lines at
the various tariff schedules. Spring trade
in iobbing lines is over, collections are
slow. and at many points there Is no
change i'm demand or supply, except a
request for cheaper grades of goods
Threatened overhows I'm the central and
southern parts OF the Mississippi Valley
have restricted the country-order trade,
and rain and high water have exercised
q similar influence in the Osio Valley and
In the South Atlantic and Gulf States
The movement Of general merchandise Is
also checked at the Northwest by un-
favorable weather. The demand for cot
TON goods is disappointing, and manufac-
tuners have moved some lines only at
concessions in price. The iron ana steer
Industries appear less likely 10 eNpdhu
in the near future. Practically lOMeI
nrices for Bessemer pig ana lOr DlIitls
teeern 10 have been the result or specula-
tive overpurchasing at the late reNlEaL
i'm exDectation of an advance Nhlch mas
not shown itself. Delay in fixing lake
ore prices has also had an iniluence,
There is less demand Tor AIieIiicaii h Snr
and steel for export, particularly iO
northern products -. g.,
a. most of the larger centres the leel-
ing of encouragement IS stronger ailon5
merchants at the prospect tor coht,iiI.' H.,
inprovement in trade. yet the increase III
he volume OF business in dry goods gro
cerieq hats and clothing, compdIeu WIN
nreceding weeks, and with like weeks lii
preyious years. does not equal ahsiSipo
lions There Is an improvement III lle
Sonnond for wool for which prices are
higher. Eastern wool manufacturers ~
,,ort more inquiry for goods, though lhe
condition OF this industry sun leaNe'
much TO be desired. ,..,.i,os.. failures
The total number OF pusi,ie5i' 9TH 81
for the week Is 23l, compdreu WIN --'
Nc News r. G. Dun & CO. will say To-
marrow. i'm their weekly review OF tIauS
Though steadily Increasing, pusii sa,.,,l =
still much below its volume III lo' III III
,,oars Of nrosperity, and many express us
SSDnnintment Yet there Is some gam
every week, with more hands az WI WIN, -
and more mills In operation, anu Ir ls' ~,
result-larger purchases doi In some
branches IL is felt already There Is l9rs
distribution Of finished products, anu III,
demand for commercial loans has sharply
Increased, especially IN uIy-soo"9'
The progress Of the iron and steer III
dustry Is hindered by uncertainty Ies ..ai,,s
ING the cost OF lake ore iOr lne COMM Z
wear. though the repeated adJourhnleht o.
producers meetings rs lhterpIsleu, - ~. ",
ffancs that an agreement VIII ultimately
~ reached. III is reported that Norrle orr
at s275 will be taken as the pasiS' VIM" iiS.
would imply about S2.5o Tor Mesapa % q
hut until the question has been seltie9
many important transactions are deteIieu
While there Is no great activity IN nnlshee
nroducts the demand steadily increases
rontracts for several great Dulu.hss a
chicago are pending. and Tor soou man au
bridges and other railroad "orhs. anu a o.a'
demand for wire nails and Tor wire uos'
not ahate nor the demand Tor Dlack
sbeats required in tin-plate manufacture
Ithough tho shipments OF boots an,
shoes are almost as large as IN man,
previous years, 1t is announce MAJ nIo Si.'
~ two Of the largest works have closet
o. vrsnt of orders. At the same time
rnanv other concerns are taking 'sIl
large orders, IL is claimed, al prices pc
low those generally quoted. NO chahs'
rJhatever appears in the quotations
Ieafher this week. and the Chicago mar
iSet Tor hidef huctuates without DEFINITE
tendency. although the slight changes
reported are downward.
While the manufacturers OF cot.o,
Goods are looking forward with muci
Confidence, the present demand Is no
eoual TO expectations, nor has the cur
tailment in production of print cloths &c
comnlished the Gesired change IN conui
ion The buying of wool. mainly OF
sneculative character in expectation q
~ Snfies continues remarkably large
The sales at the principal markets 10
,he mast week aggregated 1881. 10 pohn1s
No Great increase has yet appeared II
he demand for goods. although a fey
s sne mills have found enough orders L
start. perhaps, in part. ANTICIPATING fu
ture demand. The expectation OF new
te',Iaa does not yet influence the good
nuut as might DO expected.
The volume OF business Indicated b!
clearing house exchanges is smaller tnal
Hangs for tine month is 3.3 per cent
| less than last year. -. - 49,,