The Portland daily press., 1898-04-16
THE WAR AND BUSINESS.
Trouble Has Caused Some Hindrance, But
1t Is Slight.

New York, April 15.-R. G...Dun &
Co. 8 weekly review of trade will gay to-
morrow:
The meaning of Congress regarding
Spain is not in doubt, but the form of
declaration at this hour is in question.
Preparations for war continue as if it
were inevitable. There is some hindrance
in business and yet the volume of pay
ments through clearing houses is still
1873 per cent larger than in 1892, though
speculative stagnation here makes the
aggregate lower
Ihe Industries are doing WELL because
they have enormous orders taken in Feb
ruary and March or earlier which ensure
operations for periods varying from a
fortnight to several months. But the
new orders upon which they have to rely
II partial stoppage or closing of many
works is to be prevented, are just now re-
strlcted by apprehension about the money
market and the possibility of loans. Men
VINO complain are not those who can
calmly shut down their works wholly or
IN fn,l part and wait. In the iron trade
foreign orders for six large vessels are
penolng in eastern sh1pyards and actual
orders for cars alone cover 10000 tons
paslc steel in Pittsburg. Angles have
Deen advanced 81 per ton and structural
Works are all crowded with orders, while
pipes are in heavy demand
In boots and shoes remarkably heavy
orders have been booked.
Shipments from the East are larger
than last year by seventeen per cent. but
less than in the first halt of April 1895.
though greater than in any other year
Still lower contracts are reported in
leather of some varieties, and packer
hides at Chicago are shade weaker in
some grades. With prices for print cloths
still at the lowest point ever touched,
buying of cotton goods is more hindered
than many are willing to admit by the
Idea that other goods, not equally over
produced may likewise decline in price,
The stagnaJion in wool is something re-
markable, the total sales at the three
pounds against 9. 606, 600 last year, and in
the first half of April only 1886, ,O44
pounds against %, 346. 900 year ago.
!, Manufacturers are still waiting, al
Gnough somewhat encouraged by rather
Detter tone in the clothing trade OF late.
They have ample orders for the present.
IN most lines though not in all. Wheat
rose 5 1-2 and held 2 1-2 cents for the
week, although Atlantic exports for the
week have been 8, 3,405, ,02l bushels, flour in
cluded, against 876, 719 last year. Receipts
OF corn continue remarkably heavy and
the exports for the week have been 4, $685.
0Sl against 2,7OS, 738 bushels last year.
The exports of cotton in March were also
IN quantity nearly double last year, al
though in average price somewhat lower,
the foreign demand being unabated. Be-
cause OF this ordinary outgo of products
gold imports rise and the orders for ship
ment from Europe and Australia have
now exceeded $50. 45S, 900, with the pros
pect that the movement may not be
checked until rates for money abroad have
been materially advanced
The volume of legitimate business is
enormous, and meanwhile failures are re-
markably small; for the week they have
been 254 in the United States against 2O7
last year and eighteen in Canada against
thirty last year.