Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-09-11

New York-There has been no change
of Importance in the business situation.
No great amount of activity is ever ex-
pected in August for the reason that it
is one of the between seasons months
in trade, and this year there has been an
added adverse influence in the shape of
political uncertainty. General trade is
said to be somewhat better in the West,
but signs of improvement in the New
England States are still scarce. The
most important factor in the situation
just now is the better tone to the iron
and steel markets. In this industry the
buying movement is spreading in num-
Der of directions. Considerable new bus
mess is being done in bars and prices are
again showing an upward tendency. The
sheet trade, too, is more animated and in
better shape. There are some encourag-
ing features in the speculative situation
features which in ordinary times would
bring about a sharp advance in values.
But at the moment these are entirely
ignored and politics treated as the prin-
cipal consideration. The consequence OF
this is that the trading is on a limited
scale and prices, as rule, are barely
holding their own. People evidently do
not want to buy stocks, and on the other
hand, those who hold them are not dis
posed to SELL 1t is not believed this con-
dition of affairs can continue much long
er.
Chicago-Wheat was generally firm
during the week, although at the close
Saturday the market price showed little
change compared with its value at the
end of the week previous. The causes
of the improved Keeling among specula-
tors We're various, but for the most part
based upon conditions rather expected
than at present existing. One quite tan
gible and present factor, however, was
the export demand, which, although not
to be characterized as urgent, was Of di-
mansions sufficient to be recognized by
the bears and restrain them from selling
short to a degree that might result dis
astrously to themselves in case some of
the other bull anticipations should sud
denly be realized. The looked-for reduc-
ton in the winter wheat movement was
not sufficiently apparent to beget cont
dence in its reaching within short time
a falling off that would be recognized as
a sign of the predicted coming of the
bulls days of undisputed preponderance.
Neither did anything in the movement of
spring wheat toward the markets of Min
neapolis and Duluth indicate the exceed
ing smallness of the Northwestern spfng
wheat crop, as generally claimed of it,
The shipments of wheat to Europe from
other than United States, Danubian and
Argentine ports continue to run small
notably from Russia, whose competition
in the markets of the world is always O
menace to the bulls. The Danubian coun-
tries promise to make amends to Euro
pean consumers for any possible short.
comings on the part of Russia, the heavy
movement to market in that region of the
wheat-producing world being in accord
ance with what has been heard of the ex'
cellence of its wheat crop. The problem
of the seasons supply is yet sufficiently
obscure to warrant cautiousness as well
by the bear as by the bull spectators
Favorable weather for the speedy matur.
ing of the corn crop has had the double
effect Of causing farmers to part more
freely with their old corn and of inducing
| purchasers in the Eastern States and for.
eign countries to defer their orders for
shipment to the last possible moment in
expectation Of an early movement of the
new grain.