The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-03
TRADE DONE IN ADVANCE
MUCH OF THIS YEARS BUSINESS is
CONTRACTED FOR.
Textile situation and Condition of tn q
Cereal Mnrkets-IrOn and Steel
and Their Products.

NEW YORK. Feb. 2-R G. Dun & Co.'S
say: This year starts with much Of the
years business already done. and all COM
parsons will prove misleading if that fact
is not taken into account. Last year the
certainty of great Improvement had come
before the year opened, and there was
rush to get in orders before works became
crowded and prices advanced. This year
the works were already crowded Tor
months ahead in most lines, and prices mad
already advanced so far that recoil had
already commenced in some branches, and
was thought probable in others. With the
one exception of wooden manufactures the
industrials have met less new business in
January than last year, though deliveries
on previous contracts have been larger
than year ago. The work turned out the
past month probably surpasses all others,
and, rightly considered, the fact that new
contracts for works already we'll supplied
are smaller than last year is not of itself
discouraging. The burst of speculation last
year swelled January payments through
clearing houses far beyond those of this
year at New York, and such payments at
other cities also averaged. per business
day, shade larger than this year.
Wheat rose i cent, but soon reacted. At
lantic exports, only 1i65.592 bu, flour in
Guided, for the week. against 1872, 1856
last year, had more influence than the de-
crease in Western receipts, which have
been for the week 43 per cent and for five
weeks 10 per cent. less than last year.
while the decrease in Atlantic exports for
five weeks has been 81 per cent. Pacific ex-
ports have been 4,2093O0 bu in five weeks.
against 3.6l0S52 last year. The price of
corn is fairly steady with exports for the
week much smaller than last year. but in
five weeks 6119,S $40 bu, against 16,5S9,514 last
year. The Western receipts decrease much
more than the exports.
Speculation i'm cotton has raised the price
to Sl4 cents without Improvement in de
mand. The receipts from plantations still
fall so far behind last years that low estt-
mates of yield are added. Boot and shoe
manufacturers have passed all records in
deliveries, nearly 20 per cent. beyond those
of January last year. but new orders have
been greatly restricted. Recent sales Of
hemlock sole and of rough leather show n
decline of II per cent, however. while
hides at Chicago continue their gradual de-
cline.
The iron and steel industry is so far tied
up by contracts reaching through most of
the year that the effect of production ex-
ceeding consumption is felt only i'm some
branches. A little lower prices have been
made for foundry iron in considerable
transactions, though Bessemer does not
yield, but steel bilets are offered by some
at SO per ton. Differences between pro-
ducers and some of the largest consumers
of steel block the market. In plates and
bars concessions are still made TO secure
business; in sheets the demand is stronger
and in rails, structural forms, tin plates
and nails prices are held firmly.
Failures for the week have been 232 in
the United States, against pa last year;
and "a in Canada, against % last year.