The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-09
BICYCLE BUSINESS BRISK
Largest Sales on Record Report
ed From Leading Cities.
COMMERCE IN WAR TIMES
The Drift OF Matters Affecting Foreign
Relations Has Its Influence in
D~iscouragine Trade-As Seen
BY the Trade Agencies.

New York, April S.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say: A Quieting Of de-
mand for staple goods is perceptible In
the various detailed trade reports CON-
ing to hand this week. At least the
drift Of matters affecting our foreign
relations has been such as to discour-
age new business. but his enedncy has
been considerably accumulated by un-
timely cold weather. which has checked
the usual Easter demand to a consider
able extent. Reports from the West
are that the heavy rush of spring busi-
ness is about over and that orders COM
ing in now are of a %flling-in character.
Here again reports of unreasonable
weather are met with.
A fairly good business Is reported at
the South, but a slight check to our ex-
port trade is reported, growing out OF
the raising of insurance rates conse-
quent on the disturbed foreign outlook.
Frost is reported to have done consid-
cradle damage to the peach n other
fruit crops OF the South n to early
planted tobacco. A fairly satisfactory
trade is represented at the Northwest.
Lake navigation is now open and an
~ticipation is that a prosperous years
business will be done.
A feature of trade at leading cities
this week is the active business in bicy-
cles in Chicago and New York, where
sales are the largest on record. st.
Louis reports boot and shoe shipments
for the quarter as heavy as before at
his time.
Wheat shipments, including flour. this
week are slightly larger than those Of
last week and considerably in excess of
last year, a~ggravating 3,I13,126 bushels
for hat period, against $685. 64 BUSH
els last week: 2,036, 600 bushels in the
week a year ago; 1854, 900 bushels in
1896, and 1884, 900 bushels in 1895.
Business failures in the United States
this week number 220. against 226 last
week: 232 in the corresponding week
Of 1897; 230 in 1896, and 225 in 1895. Bus
mess failures this week in the Domin-
ion of Canada were 3S. against 80 last
week; 80 in the corresponding week of
1897; 80 in 1896; 26 in 1895, and 80 in
1894.
Bradstreet's financial review tomor-
row will say: Speculation has been ex-
tremely nervous and irregular within
narrow limits on the critical appear
ance of our relations with Spain. The
situation in this respect keeps the pub
lie out of the market, and the specula-
tors have been cautious and quick to
change their position. Liquidation has
apparently been thorough and com
plete, and stocks are largely in strong
hands, so that the floating supply is
comparatively small. On the other
hand, successive covering movements
on reports of settlement or compromise
of the difference between Spain and
the United States have reduced this
short interest, which was quite large
last week.
London has done little here, but our
market situation is watched with close
attention, as, indeed. IL is by the local
,~,AIia nnl tho yaGf=ta AffAraI 10
bear selling from time 20 time creates
the impression that the latent purchas-
ing power is large and requires only a
definite development Of the general sit
uation to assert itself with some force.
Dun's Review.
New York. April S.-R. G.. Dun & Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade will say to-mor-
row: When everybody is asked whether
IL is to be war or peace the state of BUSH
ness is not easy to judge. Since nobody
can Judge just how wise bankers may be
in an emergency, there is some uncertain
ty, but thus far scarcely any stoppage
whatever of manufacturing concerns APP
pears. nor any Indications that the pro-
ducing force is likely to be diminished.
nor is any such symptom to be seen i'm
business reports. Every condition Is either
confusing or unfavorable. So far banking
conservatism has not caused failures,
which continue smaller than for many
years, nor has it caused stoppage of any
manufacturing concerns nor lessened the
volume of business reported by railroads
in tonnage of clearing at the principal
points.
The wheat outgo counts for much and
continues. Atlantic exports having been
2,241. 217 bushel for the week against
1871. l22 bushels last year. and Pacific ex-
ports 1,226.514 bushels against 4I,5S5 last
year. Since corn exports continue, 3~,4S5,d5O
IaaN - y . 80 AHaakaNa NnEW NELaR
the strength of the demand is not TO be
attributed TO speculative agencies. 1t Is
fortunate that Western receipts of wheat
do not fall short of the extraordinary
gain, but are still 1901, S05 bushels against
1.7S9, 10 bushels last year, so that the
stories OF the near.y exhausted supplies
of wheat are fables for children The price
rose steadily and closed &c higher for
wheat, with corn lie higher.
Every industry meets enormous over
production compared with corresponding
demands i'm any other year. however pros
porous. and yet nearly all are keeping
almost their whole force employed. and
some are increasing the force. In one
branch of wooden manufactures two car
pet mills have stopped, OF are about to
stop, as IL IL between seasons, but much
complaint Of cancellation because of high
er prices, and possibly in some cases be-
cause OF inferior qualities. has not been
followed By reduced production.
Sales of wool are insignificant and
prices have declined &c for finer grades
and over "A cent in the average for all
quotations. only because SPECTATORS
wholly underestimate stocks held bv
manufacturers.
In the iron and steel industry. with de-
mands greater than ever before from
general sources. urgent orders from the
government enlarge work but do not ad-
vance prices.
Disaster IN trade is shown this week by
separate ranches of business for the
month of March. and also the first quar-
ter Of 1895. making the best report that
has been possible for five years. II is In
teresting to note that nearly all bust
nesses show surprising movement. Mean
while banks are extremely cautious and
commercial loans are but 10 per cent. OF
their aggregate. The belief that quick ex-