Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-02-01
THESTATEOF TRADE,
Situation as Viewed by Leading
Commercial Agencies.
INCREASE IN BUSINESS is SHOWN.
Prices, However, DO Not Reach Limit
of Expectation In Point of Inn
provement-Compe In Man
ufncture Is Responsible.

New York, Jan. 20.-R. G. Dun & Co.,
in their weekly review of trade, say:
THE first month Of the new year has
brought rather more increase in business,
but less improvement In prices than was
expected. With payments through clearing
houses 7.3 per cent. larger than in 1892 and
probably the largest ever known In any
month, with railroad earnings IL Q per cent.
larger than the best of past years, the fact
that prices are very low only shows more
clearly the increase in quantities of prod
ucts sold. Nor is there any disposition to
refuse orders, even at present prices: In
deed. the competition of manufacturers
seeking orders alone prevents RISE Most
OF them have all they can manage, many
working night and day, and one great steel
concern running on Sunday, but the works
not yet filled with orders are seeking con-
tracts at as low prices as have ever been
made, indicating that even these are not
entirely Improbable. The settlement of
wages on 10 per cent. advance April for
100000 coal miners of the central region,
with other changes, will tend toward a
larger demand for products of all kinds,
though also toward some Increase In cost
OF manufacture.
Foreign Demand for Grain.
Wheat has been conspicuous, rising s
cents for the week, with 5ls cents for May
options. Western receipts have been TO-
00s.06S bushels in four weeks, against 6.O45.-
III last year, but Atlantic exports have been
E,O06,o2S bushels In four weeks, against
7.lo3,674 last year, and Pacific exports for
the week 4O15 5S3 bushels, against 1854, 1895
last year. 30 heavy an outgo, with wheat
over 81 per bushel and with corn ex-
ports for the four weeks equaling the on.
traordinary movement of last year. dis
closes the strength Of foreign demand even
better than current accounts of disappoint
Ing shipments from Argentine and moor
prospects In Russia.
Cotton and Wool.
THE cotton manufacture Is in more diff
hculty than any other, not merely because
prices do not show much Improvement. NOR
as vet the demand for goods, though both
are helped by the closing of MANY mills
but largely because the manufacturers
have considered too little the rapidly-grow-
Ing production at the south. The wooden
manufacture is doing well, fine worsted
goods having opened at an advance Of oo
per cent. OF last year, and the large mills
are constantly buying wool, even at current
high prices which implies great conf
dence In the future, presumably based on
larger orders than are publicly reported
The iron manufacture is getting Ia rgor
orders for finished products. which crowd
many works almost beyond their capa city.
although some others are still in the ms :,
ket and keeping prices down.
Failures for the week have been 3a2 IN
the United States, against 33l last year. and
u IN canada. against 81 last year"
Az Drndstreet Sees 1t.
Bradstreet's says:
Favorable conditions in the trade s,tu.-
ton continue to far outweigh those of an
opposite character. Stormy weather
throughout large section of the countrv
this week has checked the movement Of
merchandise in the consumption, but a ner-
ceptlple increase in the demand for sea.
sonable goods is reported as already ra.
sulting. The last week of the month closes
WIN increased activity In many lines, a
NUMBER or price advances, heavily in
creased banking clearings as compared
with one year ago at nearly all cities. an.
other considerable drop in the number ~
1allures reported. large exports of cereals.
particularly wheat, corn and flour. and nor.
cep.loie commence In nearly all branches
OF TRACE as regards the outlook for sprino
business. Another favorable feature oS
the week is the slight but distinct i'm prove.
ment In the cotton goods situation. in which
speculative activity is awakening. Print
cloths are higher and some makes OF prav
ly held. NV. 'ifif-
Pig iron Ia rejecting the effect Of nras-
emit unprecedented production, and q f,r.
ther weakening of prices Is recorded = .
eastern points. At the west, however CON
sumption OF pig and of the finished products
OF iron and steel is reported increas sing so
as to hold prices firm Large sales nf he =
steel and rails are reported at Chicago and
st. Louis, with mills refusing to take orders
for delivery earlier than late summer
Boots and shoes hold the late advance. and
manufacturers man of heavy weights viii not
take orders for fall delivery at present
prices. Wool is strong on large sales and
nrm prices abroad. Prices of most stanie
products are higher on the week; noticeabie
instances are those Of wheat, which Is M at
the dollar mark again at many western
markets MAJ The active demand for the Klon-
stocks Of which is reported very low prices
holding late advances. Collections are
generally reported fair, those indica tine
backWardness coming most generally from