Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1900-05-05

K, G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review of
Trade for the past week says:

~ We Oun q 20. s weekly Review OF
Trade for the past week says:
Gold begins to go abroad and prices
OF iron products break sharply in the
same week. Four months of the new
year have passed and business does
not so expand as to need the large in
crease of circulation which the new
monetary bill had permitted, nor
enough to sustain all the extraordl-
nary advance in prices last year. The
abundance of gold and of currency and
the large disbursements by the treas
ury in exchange of bonds have rem
! dered rates for money unusually low
Tor the season here, while rare indus
trial and speculative activity in Europe
with the war in South Africa have
tended to make money dearer abroad.
so new gold from Alaska answers the
loss of supply from the Transvaal and
America, building up in credits abroad
breastwork against prostration in
future here as in the past, caused by
the troubles in Europe.
The reaction in prices came where
II was expected last in the industry
more fully organized than any other
to check competition and in the branch
which, though contracts covering rod
making and other machinery and
through patents, seemed more fully
controlled than any other. Reductions
OF $40 in nails, barbed wire and gal
vanized fence and SIS in smooth wire
showed that no control can afford to
| hold prices so high as to check con-
| sumption. In a week the prices of iron
products have declined 5.S6 per cent,
and since February Z, 10 per cent. AS
the wire and nail prices have been
| relatively highest, others in the iron
and steel industry can be expected to
fall in like measure. But pig iron is
weaker. No. | local coke at Chicago
is $3.50 and southern pig is also low
er. Plates and bars can be obtained
/ for about Is cents in good contracts
both at the east and at Pittsburg. The
| proposed advance in sheets to SO cents
! has not been attempted ard nail mills,
! which have gained much by selling at
/ Z cents per key below wire nails, will
! now lower prices also. The stoppage
/ VI u uOACH W liz anu HAIL Hills UtSluGS
/ rod mills at Joliet and another mill of
the National Steel Company indicate
some change in the actual demand In
/ the minor metals the only change has
! been in tin, which declined rather
sharply to $29.75 in sympathy with
! lower London quotations. The ten
dency toward lower prices is strength
: annH hNr tho iHao hot 10,
may appear in other branches.
Wool has not changed in quotations,
though some sales of fair amounts are
reported at such prices as 81 cents for
Ohio Xxx and So cents for clothing, ter.
ritory cleaned, but manufacturers are
not disposed to do anything and the
west asks prices which dealers have
no reason for paying. The demand for
wooden goods is small, and except in
staples, which are steady because well
sold up, prices are not encouraging.
Shipments of boots and shoes from
the east in four weeks have been 306
232 cases, against $50, 49S cases last
year, 304,061 cases in 1898 and less in
any other year. New business bears
no proportion to the present output
and the number of works which are
closed or running part time is increas
ing.
Manufacturers realize that this is a
result of prices asked and of slow re-
tail distribution and long stocks re-
naming on hand, but claim that lower
prices can not be made without loss.
Business in sole leather is reported
fair and prices do not yield, but up
per leather is dull.
The produce market Is inactive
though wheat yielded fraction. Elk,
ports continue larger than in four
weeks (f1our included) having been
8,S67877 bushels, against 8017,49
bushels last year and Pacific exports
2,725196 bushels, against 1,373,922
bushels last year.
Failures for the week have been 204
in the United States against 1874 last
year and 80 in Canada against % last
year.