Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-01
TRADE SITUATION.
BUSINESS, SAYS Dun, is NOT AT
PRESENT IMPROVING.
SOMETHING LIKE A CHECK.
This Partly Due 10 Heavy buying
Hitherto and Partly 10 Doubt About
Operation of Combines, and About
Foreign Affairs.

NEW YORK. March 31-Messrs. r. g.
Dun Co. I'm their Weekly Review OF
Trade Tomorrow, will say:
Failures during the first quarter Of 1899
have been. I'm amount Of liabilities, not
more than about s26.6SO3S0, against $751;,
7l0li2 last year $40 in 1897, and $751;,
b25125 fin 1896 While the later returns
may increase the amount for the quarter
a little. the complete return. which will
be given next week. will be very remark
able in comparison with those OF any
previous year.
Business Is not at present improving.
There has been something very like d
check, partly the result of heavy buying
since January LIST, to anticipate the
market. and partly owing to the uncer-
taiuty about the operation of many com
DinatiOns. while a shade of doubt about
foreign affairs also had some influence.
The new rule Of the Clearing House
banks, at New York. about taxation of
country checks also causes some shifting
OF accounts.
4 period Of transition from one owner
mp and management to another. and
from one Industrial system to another
when II affects many hundreds throughout
The country inevitably causes some hest
tation in business. A little later the
many hundred concerns may be doing
more business than ever. as they We're Just
before the combinations were effected.
But at the point OF transition nobody
knows just what TO expect.
IRON AND STEEL
There is much withdrawal Of iron be-
cause the consequence Of high prices is
doubted. but the output of many works
has not been met by orders and works
affected by many Old combinations and
proposed ones are not inclined to buy
more largely. Prices are strongly main
tanned at $lO15 for Bessemer pig at Pitts
burg, the Valley Association having sold
la1 900 tons for delivery in the last half
of the year at $l4.5O, and gray forge is
stronger at S1440, but hesitation appears
at Philadelphia about the maintenance OF
future prices. Chicago is inactive. com
pared with recent weeks. With no sales |
reported. except 10000 tons at Chicago. |
rails are quoted 81 higher there ana as |
much at Pittssurg, and the sale of 100000 |
tons Of steel billets TO the tin-plate COM
pany sets prices for 100 pounds plate at |
$50 after July LIST.
structural demand increased, but bar |
mills at the West and South are consoli- |
dating. and are not disposed 10 take large
contracts. although the Pittsburg mills I
ar, asking a.50. For plates the demand |
far exceeds the supply at Philadelphia |
and Chicago, and the leading mills at |
are full until August or later
la hoops. cotton ties, tubes. and other
PRODUCTS, expected consolidation affects
business. Minor metals are stronger for
ln at "a cents. with consuming demand.
d md for ooup., At IT = cqnte eNNfno IN on ]
Ion speculation.
WOOL.
More evidence appears that the woollen
is not helped as yet by new
Combinations or the prospect of them,
nd the buying demand has been disap-
lointing I'm many ways, though I'm dress
GODS active. Sales OF wool were 20S09,100
Ounds at the chief markets in four
weeks. against SSU, 800 pounds last year,
when prices were held at the top; 81, $50. 200
n 1891 when prices were being rushed
pward, and 30 9S2. $50 pounds in 1892, when
was nominal indicating a
air but not extraordinary demand for
FOODS. Prices are said to be quiet for
)hio.
BOOTS AND SHOES.
The boot and shoe business is again
alung, because OF difference between
uyers and sellers as TO prices.
WHEAT.
The fluctuations of the wheat market
ave been large. and tend on the whole
lWard higher quotations. The exports
rom Atlantic ports have been for four
'eeks II. 67S512 bushels against 1892. 695
ISL year; Pacific, 1868. 6S7 bushels, against
741l2 and the other exports, not given
.st year, make the total l13l70s5 bushels
Western receipts have been l2,9i9,N5
ushels, against 1858 last year.
RAILROAD EARNINGS.
Railroad earnings for three weeks Of
iuch have been IL per cent. larger than
asst year and 9S per cent. larger than in
So and the east-bound tonnage from
.A.cago in four weeks has been 459.4SS
ons against 622 90i last year and 1896
"a lM2 which indicates quite clearly the
charitable depression in rates year ,
go.
FAILURES.
Failures for the week have been 1914 in
be- United States. against 220 last year,
nd - ia Canada. against q last year :