The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-03-15
INCLINED TO A HALT.
Hesitancy Is Displayed in the Trade
Situation.

New York, March 10.--R G. Dun & Co. 8
weekly review of trade says: "A certain
hesitation in business, with shrinkage In
its volume, is not unusual nor unnatural at
this season. 1t is not necessarily disheart-
ening, therefore, If business Is no longer as
large in volume as ever, but falls behind
that of February or January or of the cor
responding week last year. Strikes in
building trades or of machinists and others
at Chicago, affect many industries and the
wages of $4,000 hands. The remarkable
rise in cotton has apparently met the ex-
pected reaction which tends for the time 20
repress business. A few great corporations
are striving to hold prices without regard
to present demand, hoping that the needs
of the consumers may prevent reaction and
renew the rise of last year. Wide differ
ences of opinion also exist regarding the
effects of monetary action by congress.
Special causes are not needed to account
for some pause after a year of unprece-
denied buying. That such trade could not
continue without pause, was evident and
there is not the excessive speculation
which threatened monetary trouble year
ago.
Estimates of wheat in farmers hands
March 1, 164 900, 900 bushels, according to the
American Agriculturalist, do not indicate
a lack of supply this year, fof with 81, 000,0 900
bushels in visible stocks there is in sight
eign demands were extraordinary, and yet
the crop year ended with over 33,000,000
bushels in visible supply. This year net e :
ports in seven months, flour included, have
been III, 221 ,S35 bushels, against 149, ,40I
last year, and in February enough to make
about LIS, 900 bushels, against 16S, 000,0 900
bushels last year, with no indications of a
future foreign demand approaching that
of last year from March / to July i. Re-
turns as to condition of winter wheat are
also satisfactory. But of late prices have
been very low, and have advanced this
week nearly three cents for spot and one
cent for May options.
Failures last week were in amount So
4S2,S27, manufacturing, 81, 1851, and trad
ing, s., 16l, 2l1. Failures for the week have
been 205 in the United States, against 1872
last year, and SO in Canada, against 81 last
year."
Bradstreet's says: Relieved from the
hampering effects of stormy weather, gen.
eral trade distribution has shown ten
dency to expand this week, prices of many
staples are firmer or higher, and generally
there is better tone than noted for some
weeks past. Among staples showing reac-
lions from late weakness are lard, coffee,
butter and cheese. Among staples showing
declines this week might be particularly
mentioned sugar, which is lower both for
raw and refined grades. Boot and shoe
manufacturers are actively employed, and
leather is firm, but hides are weaker or
lower at most markets. Building materials
are firm, except at cities where labor
troubles are apprehended. Despite rather
smaller production in February, due part
ly to disturbances growing out of weather
conditions, stocks of some classes of pig
iron are larger, but no appreciable effect
appears to be exercised upon prices.
'The industrial situation is rather ir-
regular, owing partly to the combined
strike and lockout of sc, 900 building hands,
building material workers and machinists
at Chicago, and partly to isolated strikes
of small numbers of men throughout the
country. On the other hand, specially en-
couraging features are found in the iron
and steel industry, where $1,000 employees
have had their wages further advanced.
Agreements between employers and en-
ployed have resulted in a further advance
of the pudding rate at many western
works. Wages are now nearly so per cent.
higher than a year ago, and for this par
ticular class of work are at the highest
point reached in 20 years"