Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-05-05
THE STATE OF TRADE.
Interesting Review of the Commer-
cial situation by Leading
Agencies,

New York, May 1.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade says: "All ele-
ments considered, it is rather surprising
that business has not been set back a little.
The uncertainty about Samoa and the pro-
longing of ,t,he' difficulty in the Philip
pines might have counted for something,
the rising imports and falling exports for
something, the rise in foreign exchange by
some attributed to foreign sales of cop
per stocks, and the hindrance of manu-
featuring orders owing to the recent adj
vance in prices But there has been full
faith that foreign difficulties would soon
be cleared away, and the movement in eX-
change is generally connected with specu-
lative rather than legitimate operation,
since accounts of trade still indicate
large excess of exports. After every rise
in prices manufacturers have to consider
whether hindered consumption with IN
creased production will make them diff
cult but confidence with which combina-
tons are formed and extended still shows
prevailing belief that no danger point is
near, The state of foreign trade justifies
confidence rather than apprehension. 1t
is the season for the lowest exports of
staples, and their prices this year are eX-
tremely low, but the unprecedented foreign
demand for manufactured products so lar
compensates that the excess of exports in
March was heavy and apparently has been
in April.
States, against 262 last year, and % in
Canada against 1G last year"
Bradstreets says: Favorable weather
conditions find reflection in reports of good
retail distribution of spring and summer
goods and in fair filling-in orders from
jobbers. Demand from first hands for gen.
eral merchandise is, if anything, quieter,
in keeping with the between season" pc
riod now at hand. Industrial activity con-
tinues specially marked, a pleasing fea-
ture this week being the practical absence
of the unrest, particularly in the building
trades, noted for many years past about
May 1. While favoring retail distribution,
the springlike weather conditions, how
ever, have been the reverse of stimulating
as regards quotations of two of the coun-
try's greatest staples, wheat and cotton.
In these and in hog products the tendency
of values has been toward a lower range.
Winter wheat crop advices have continued
irregularly unfayorable, but good weather,
enabling large area to be planted IN
spring wheat. coupled with rather less ac-
tive export demand and denials of damage
to European crops, have weakened quo
tations of wheat and flour at leading east
ern and interior markets. Partially COM
| pensating for the falling off in exports of
natural products, particularly cereals, is
| the immense expansion in exports of man.
| ufactured goods. Shipments of such goods
| in March aggregated over SS6,Oo0,OOo, or 81
| per cent. of all our exports, proportion
| rarely, if ever, approached before, and, in
| view of probably smaller takings of our
natural products. foreshadowing even
| more marked expansion in the future, pro-
| vidng that prices do not advance to a
| point prohibitive of free shipments"