The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-02
Dun a. COS, TRADE REVIEW
Business. Nos Set Back by Existing Cir
cumstances Ordinarily Calculated TO
Have Depressing Enfect-An Kinds OF
Business I'm satisfactory Condition

New York. April 9S.-R. G.. Dun Il
Co.'S weekly review OF trade will say
tomorrow:
All elements considered, IL is rath-
er surprising that business has not
been set back a little. The uncertainty
about Samoa and the ~prolonging Of
difficulties in the Philippines might
have counted for something; the rising
imports and falling exports for some
thing: the rise in foreign exchange. by
some attributed to foreign sales Of
copper stocks, and the hiudrance OF
manufacturing orders, owing TO the re-
cent dvanc in prices. But there has
been full faith hat foreign difficult
ties would soon be cleared away, and
the movement in exchange is gener-
ally connected with speculative rather
han legitimate operations, since ac-
counts of trade still indicate a large
excess OF exports. After every rise in
prices manufacturers lave to consider
whether hindered consumption. with in
creased production, will make them
difficult, but the confidence with which
combinations are formed and extend
ed still shows prevailing belief that no
danger point is hear.
The state of foreign trade justified
confidence rather than apprehension.
II IL IL ScdSOll - lHt io"tSb 1Alol -
of staples. and their prices this yea
are extremely low, but the unprece-
denied foreign demand for manufactur-
ed products so far compensates that
the excess OF exports in March was
heavy n apparently has been in
April.
The presence of English merchants
in Boston trying to sell English
medium wool, which could be delivered
at about 80 cents, at the same time
English buyers were taking a little fine
territory for export and German buy
ers Of 800, 600 pounds more of Aus
tralian from bond, shows the opposite
trend Of popular taste in different
countries. Clay worsteds here have ad-
vanced az cents and serges 5 cents,
which has given a stronger tone to
the whole market. Fine wool Is rela-
lively cheap here and dear abroad, but
concessions make the lowest prices OF
the year in all kinds, as heavy stocks.
carried for years come into presence
of new wool, said to be 800, 600, 600
pounds. Manufacturers are not now
buying largely, though in four weeks
3O,91S,1 S5 pounds We're sold, OF which
23.315,OS5 were domestic, against Al
I2,65O in the same weeks two years
ago, when wool was rising.
The cotton manufacture has made
little change, and the strikes following
ile duNdIICe III wages given appears to
have benefited manufacturers not a
little by helping the demand, and cur
failing the supply OF goods. Cotton IL
a sixteenth lower, with generally i'm
proved prospects for the coming crop.
The boot and shoe industry surpasses
all other years in April shipments
last year by IL per cent, 1895 by IL per
cent. and 1892 by As per cent.-and
manufacturers are generally provided
with orders for months ahead, but the
advance asked PES not appear to
have been generally paid.
Without business, Bessemer pig is
unchanged at Pittsburg, and grey force
strong at $14.50, though 16, 200 tons sof
southern have been sold here at sl4. 20.
There are some large structural orders
"a Philadelphia building for 1900
tons, a western bridge for 5000, a Du-
luth elevator and the st. Lawrence
orldge at Quebec-though the general
run or orders in this line is light. and
IN rails no large sales are reported.
though inquiries for SO. 900 tons are said
10 De in this market. Advanced prices
are noted in pipe and decrease ia mer-
chants orders, with smaller business
IN sheets, and at the west in bars, pend
ing the completion Of the combination:
out the general decrease in new de-
nand raises the question whether
prices Will be maintained after current
orders run out.
Failures for the week were 1s4 in the
united States, against 262 last year.