The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-06
IN A HEALTHY CONDITION.


Slight Halt In the Business World Not
Considered Inconsistent.
New York. May 6.-R. g. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade says: The fall
ures in April WE'RE the smallest in any
month since records by months began,
SO percent smaller than i'm April Of last
year, not third OF the amount In 1897
and not half the amount in April Of any
previous year. Both in manufacturing
and in trading they were the smallest
ever known In that month and in trad
Ing tho smallest ever known in any
month. A great share OF the risk in the
business world has been eliminated.
Ii Is not inconsistent nor strange IL
business haits. because IL has been
crowded 10 the utmost for four months
in anticipating future needs on account
p OF new combinations proposed In some
cases prices have been advanced so far
as TO check new business and In others
works have been engaged so far ahead
that new orders cannot now be taken,
yet new business in amount which would
be astonishing two years ago Is still
coming forward, and the voluntary ad-
vance in wages by the Is Bessemer firms
OF the Central association and by the
F'rick coke works. whose shipments in
April, 30, ASP cars, were the heaviest ever
known. show confidence in the future.
AT Buffalo and in Idaho strikes are
causing trouble, but labor questions else
where do not affect general business
The grain movement has fallen off.
Low prices help the wheat movement:
the general belief is that injury TO win
ter wheat has been largely made up by
spring seeding. Cash wheat shows no
fiuctuation for the week. but corn is
about y cent lower. Cotton was de-
pressed LIS by better crop prospects,
but the loss was recovered on Friday and
the week closes without change.
Nearly all iron works are crowded for
months ahead, but good :n;rHy are
catching up with their orders. which
have recently diminished. This appears
In almost every line. though partly be-
cause works are temporarily stopped
from accepting new orders by the PEN
dency Of many combinations. The re-
port that all the great stock companies
are TO be melted into one influences the
stock market. but is stlll scarcely
credited. and the raising OF foreign
prices where American competition is
no longer felt is suggestive,
Shipments OF boots and shoes from the
east n fve weeks have been lf.S percent
larger than last year, IL percent larger
than In the next largest year, 1895, and
a. percent larger than In 1892 Factories
are busy with orders for months at old
prices and 2ia cents advance is paid on
new orders FOR several grades. The busi-
ness is not now up to that OF last year,
as most buyers hold back as long as they
can on account OF prices. But the only
change in leather is a small advance in
union sole and hides are y OF ! percent
stronger at Chicago.
Wool sales for the week have been
large. The wool year ends with heavy
stocks on hand. and prices about 10 per-
cent lower than last year. British prices
averaging about IL percent higher fer
Australian fine. but about 10 percent
lower for English and cross-bred woods.
The Gotten goods market is the more
steady hecaUae some strikers still limit
production n little. but is quite encour-
aging and active. and In some staples has
further advanced.
Failures for the week have been 15s in
the United states. against 23S last year,
and % in g. ada. against % last year.