Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-02-28
TIE BUSINESS SITUATION
Dun & Co. in Their Weekly Trade
Review Say That 1t Was
Never Better.
SIGNS ARE FAVORABLE AT EVERY POINT.
Some Fear That the Present Unprece-
denied Prosperity Cannot Last,
But Indications Are Reported to
BE the Other Why = Bradstreet's
View.

New York, Feb. PR. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade says: The situa-
ton is without precedent Business has
never been better on the whole, and in
some great Industries the gain is astonish-
ing. Exports surpass last years as much
as imports, though the excess over imports
then was heavy. Failures are smaller than
last year and smaller than in either of six
years past. Stocks are stronger, the aver
age for the active railway securities being
little higher, and for trusts much more
owing to the extraordinary advance of
$3.50 in tobacco. Payments through eX-
changes show a greater volume Of business
than ever before at this season, and nearly
one-half larger than in the best of pre-
vious years. The outgo of breadstuffs and
cotton continues heavy.
All Signs Favorable.
But there are some who fear that such
prosperity cannot last. Popular impress
sons have to be reckoned with because
they control events. Yet at every point
of danger except one the signs are in every
respect favorable. The upward rush of 1876
per cent in the prices of pig iron since jan
uary and 17.6 per cent in the prices of
iron and steel products. does indeed raise
question whether exports of such prod
ucts may not be temporarily checked, but
If they could be entirely stopped, as they
are not, the balance due this country would
still be large. The crush of demand for
finished products, at time when nearly
all the works are crowded by orders COW
ering production until July /, or later,
causes many to refuse to contract beyond
that date except at higher prices. and g.
rise under such circumstances may prove
the one thing needful to sober buyers and
to bring into the list of producers other es-
adjustments heretofore idle. While a fair
ly large capacity of production is still in
reserve. the demand now pressing for cars.
vessels, bridges, buildings and pipes is part
ly to anticipate an expected rise in prices
The best sign is that the great producers
appear to be anxious to maintain their hold
on foreign markets. although just now un-
able to take orders for future delivery.
Failures for the week have been
191 in the United States, against 233 last
year, and 40 in Canada, against 80 last
year"
As Bradstreet Sees 1t.
Bradstreet's says: Iron and steel and
cotton goods have shared in public inter-
est this week because of urgency in de.
mand and consequent buoyancy in prices.
In the former industry the striking feature
has been the continued call for supplies
alike of raw and of manufactured materi-
al, not only on domestic, but even on for
eign account. and it is as yet too early to
ascertain the effect of the numerous and
heavy advances announced during the
week upon the export demand. Iron and
steel prices, as a whole, are from Is to 20
per cent higher than they were at this
time year ago, and considering cost of
production and output it is asserted that
profits are but little below those of 1890
In cotton goods, as in iron and steel and a
number of other products, active demand
seems to have been 1T the bottom of the
unquestionable improvement which has
occurred in the last three months. The last
week has witnessed specially marked
strength, print cloths, ginghams and gray
COftOnS all cha rinfr n a6
Cereal products remain steady, and but
little changed in price. partly because of
the near approach of the crop scare season,
and also because of liberal export calls.
Lumber is reported quiet at some markets
as a result of the late stormy weather, but
all markets report prices unchanged, ek-
cept where quotations have been still fur
thsr advanced"