The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-09
DEMAND FOR GOODS DECLINES
FALLING OFF DUE TO WAR sCARE
AND A COLD SNAP.

ue.v Rusb of Spring Business in
the West About Over-BusinesS at
tho South Fairly GOOd-Trade Also
Fair in the NOrthwest-LarGe VOL
ume of Business Reported by the
Iron Trade-An Increase in wheat
Exported.
New York, April S--Bradstreets to-mor-
row will say: "A sensible quoting of de-
mand for staple goods is percepuoie III
the various detailed trade reports COM
ing to hand this week.
AT the East the drift of matters ar
fecting our foreign relations has been such
as to discourage new business, but this
tendency has been considerably accentu-
aied by untimely cold weather, which has
checked the usual Easter demand to a con-
siderable extent.
reports from the West are that the
heavy rush of spring business is about
over and that orders coming in now are
of flling-in character. Here, again, re-
ports 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 freight and insurance rates.
consequent on the disturbed foreign OUT
look.
Frost is reported to have done consider
able damage to peach and other fruit crops
of the South and to early planted to-
bacco.
"a fairly satisfactory trade is reported
at the Northwest. Lake navigation is
now open, and anucipauons are that
prosperous years business will be done.
Rather less activity is noted in most
of the country's great staples. Cotton
goods have moved fairly well, ginghams,
especially, being in excellent demand, ana
except for low grade cottons, notably print
cloths which have made new low price
record of 2 cents per yard this week, the
situation is as favorable as could be ex-
pected.
Wool is dull rejecting uncertainty as
to future business and unsatisfactory mar
gins of profit
THE iron trade continues to report
large volume of business being done, but
il is becoming evident that this is chiefly
upon orders previously booked.
"A feature of trade at leading cities this
week is the active business in bicycles
in Chicago and New York, where sales
are the largest on record.
Wheat shipments including -four this
week, are slightly larger than those of
last week and considerably in excess OF
last year. aggregating S726 bushels for
that period, against 3,55O664 bushels last
week. 2,OS60OO bushels in the week year
ego, 1.764 900 bushels in 1896 and 900
bushels in 1895.
Corn exports have fallen off sharply
aggregating 3,557,0 900 bushels, against A.
5O7, COO bushels last week, 4,645.0O0 bushels
in the week a year ago, 1881, coo bushels
in 1896 and S14, 900 bushels in 1895.
Business failures in the United States
this week number go against 226 last
week and 232 in the corresponding week
last year.
New York, April s-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade will say to-mor-
row: when everybody is asking whether
there is going to be war or peace, the
state of business is not easy to judge.
Since nobody can judge just how wise
bankers may be in an emergency, there
is some uncertainty, but thus far scarce,
ly any stoppage whatever of manufacture
ing concerns appears, nor any indications
that the producing force is likely to be
diminished, nor is any such symptom TO
be seen in business reports.
Evidence of existing conditions is not
confusing nor unfavorable. So far, bank
ing conservatism has not caused failures,
which continue smaller than for many
years, as in March, nor has it caused stop
page of manufacturing concerns nor les
sened the volume of business reported by
railroads in tonnage or clearings at princi-
pal points
THE wheat outgo counts for much and
continues, Atlantic exports having been
2.240.172 for the week, against 1921, 122 last
year, and Pacific 1296, 574, against AT ,5S5
last year Since corn exports continue
3,4S3, $50 bushels. against 1928, 27 last year,
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, against 1,7S9,110
last year, so that the stories of the nearly
exhausted supplies of wheat are fables for
children. The price rose steadily and clos
ed cents higher for wheat, with corn l
cent higher
AT the same time the exports of cotton
are extraordinary, though just now deferr-
ed by the caution which causes larger
shipments by rail to New York instead of
outside from Gulf ports For four weeks
il has averaged nearly $7,5O0O 900 per week
grown, in spite of the fall in price, though
IL has not gained during the week.
1.-The truth is that every great industry
meets enormous overproduction compar-
ed with corresponding demands in any
other year, however prosperous, and yet
nearly all are keeping almost their whole
force employed and some are increasing
their force. Sales of wool are insignif-
cant and prices have declined &c for the
finer grades, and over lie in the average
for all quotations, only because specula-
tors wholly underestimate stocks held
by manufacturers.
'In the iron and steel industry, with
demands greater than ever before from
general sources, urgent orders from the
government tend to enlarge the work, but
do not advance prices.
ut is interesting to note that nearly all
branches of business show surprising
movement. Meanwhile banks are ex-
tremely cautious and commercial loans
are but 10 per cent. of their aggregate
The belief that quick expansion in all
branches would follow greater liberality
and patriotism by the banks is not Who'll
ly unfounded, and the heavy receipts OF
gold from Europe counts for little, COM
ma red with the greater or loss libaralit =,