The age-herald., 1900-04-14
DUN'S WEEKLY
 TRADE REVIEW
Prices in Iron and Steel Stocks
 May Yield.
PLATE MILLS SHUT DOWN
In Spite of the Heavy Balance Due on Merchandise Account There Has Been Talk of Gold
 Exports

New York April 13-R. D. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 Iron furnaces in blast April 1 produced 2S9, ,4S2 tons weekly against 292,6iS March l, but unsold stocks increased 2,2S0 tons. A mistaken inference, possibly fatal to many in it's consequences, is that stocks had by consuming concerns must be run ming down. As they contract for their supplies months ahead, and such supplies, whether delivered or not, consumed or waiting their orders at furnaces, would not be reckoned in unsold stocks the sur plus owned by consumers may be heavy. For new business In finished products is reported to the Iron Age from Pittsburg as "frightfully small" owing to the be- lief that high prices cannot be maintained, and no better report comes from Phila- delphia. With No. anthracite s2 lower, refined bars $4 and steel plates $11 per ton lower than in December, it can hardly be called impossible for prices to yield, though many are so far firmly held. Pitts burg reports a number of of the plate mills shut down, and five Pennsylvania and Ohio furnaces have stopped. perhaps for repairs, more than balancing five which started in March, two in Tennessee adding 2,5O0 tons weekly.
 The boot and shoe industry also falls behind in output and in closing some work and running many others part time, be- cause prices are higher than retailers yet seem ready to pay.
 A heavy wholesale business has been done in dry goods, but the question now is whether retail distribution will Justlty it. As yet returns are not satisfactory; there is increase but not enough to war rant the buying from mills. Woolens and worsteds are dull, with concessions III fancies, though staples are well sold up and firm. The material declines further, and average nearly 12c lower than April l. There is the same uncertainty in cotton goods as to retail distribution, with quite as much doubt whether prices will be maintained, though the material has again been advanced a sixteenth in speculation But exports in March were in value $33,- O96 75S a gain over last year of $2l, so rapidly has Europe supplied its needs.
 This enormous gain made exports Of the chief staples SIS, 631, ,83S greater in value than fin March of last year, though decreases occurred in other items. Yet only a frac- ton of the gain was in cotton shipments from New York, leaving the other great increase here to be explained by manufac- tured exports mainly. In spite of the heavy balance due on merchandise account, there has been talk of gold exports, and small amount has gone to Buenos Ayres on Flu ropean account Supplies of money are abundant here, the banks have again gained largely, rates are lower and com mercial demands narrow and the interior is better prepared than ever to do without aid.
 The exports of wheat from both coasts continue larger than last year, though much of the gain is at Pacific ports, not directly affecting Atlantic supplies Flour included, Pacific exports in two weeks have been 1,51S254 bushels against 564,562 bushels last year, but Atlantic exports have been 3.912,S57 bushels against 3,96O,3S0 bushels last year. In spite of all reports of ex- haustion of supply and injury to growing wheat western receipts continue larger than last year, in two weeks 6,764,640 bush els against 5,S63 665 bushels last year. Corn receipts also continue heavy, S917, ,267 bush els against 4,637 613 bushels last year.
 Failures for the week have been 193 in the United States against 1SS last year. . and fl in Canada against g last year