The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-02-08
A QUIET MONTH.
The Chief Industries Show Less
New business Than for Jam
nary 1890.

New York. Feb S-R. G. Dun & Co.'s
weekly review of trade says: This year
starts with much of the years business
already done and all comparisons will
prove misleading if that fact is not taken
into account. Last year tine certainty of
great Improvement had come before the
year opened and there was a rush TO get
in orders before works became crowded
for months ahead in most lines and prices
had already advanced so far that recon
had already commenced in some branches,
and was thought probable in others. With
the ore exception of wooden manufac-
ture, the chief industries have met less new
business in January than last year, though
deliveries on previous contracts have been
larger than year ago. In work turned
out, the past month probably surpasses all
others, and rightly considered the fact
that new contracts for works already well
supplied are smaller than last year, is not
of itself discouraging. The great burst of
speculation last year swelled January pay
ments through clearing houses far beyond
those of this year at New York, and such
payments at other G4O cities also aver
aged per business day shade larger than
this year. But a much greater decrease
must have appeared in transactions con-
nected with formation of new comptnies.
THE iron and steel industry is so far
tied up by contracts reaching through most
VI the year ludS the erect OF prOuuCllOn
exceeding consumption is felt only in some
branches. A little lower prices have been
made for foundry iron in considerable
transactions, though Bessemer does not
yield, but steel billets are offered by some
at SO per ton. Differences between pro-
ducers and some of the largest consumers
of steel block the market
Failures for the week have been 232 in
the United States, against 22i last year, and
"a in Canada, against % last year"
Bradstreet's says: Weather influences
have played no small part in the general
trade situation this week, and yet some of
the unquestionable Improvement in tone
can hardly be charged to the more season.
able weather experienced. Whatever the
causes, however, and these have been di-
verse, the fact remains that number of
staples, no less than speculative securities,
have hardened in value during the week
One industry, that of anthracite coal,
prices in which have begun to droop be-
cause of the open winter. has been per-
ceptibly braced The influence OF cold
weather, too, is perceptible in the wheat
market. Much of the winter-sown crop
is unprotected by snow and other influences
OF strength in this market have been the
reports as to foreign crops, the Argentine
plague and consequent strength of Euro
pean advicEs. n
I'm distributive trade the reports for the
month of January vary with the branches
of trade concerned. Retain distribution was
undoubtedly unfavorably affected by mild
weather, and stocks of retailers in some
sections of the country are reported large.
On spring account, however, the January
business appears to have been in a high
degree satisfactory, shipments from lead
ing centers being much heavier than in
January year ago, whatever complaints
We're received of backward new business
being attributed to earlier buying having
anticipated the regular season."