The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-17
THE STATE OF TRADE.
r.. g. Dun q CO... review.

NEW YORK, Feb. 16-R G. Dun & Cos week
ly review Of trade will say tomorrow;
Business continues larger than ever at tbs sea-
in amount Of payments and. on the whole. as
large in retail deliveries though now trans
actions do not give assurance that It viii hold at
the rate. Conditions affecting new orders and
contracts have changed, in some respects most IA
vorably, while other conditions tend to restrict
operations for a time, but conservative Judgment
Of the conflicting tendencies appears to warrant
strong hope.
Important branches of business are hindered by
labor troubles, Of which the building trades strike
at Chicago affects tue greater number Of contracts
for industrial products and the labor and wages
Of the greatest number Of men. Circumstances do
not yet promise its speedy ending and in some
branches Of industry prosperity and advancing prices
10 have rendered controversies more frequent
But in other branches declining prices or such De
crease q orders as may lead to stoppage OF works
have opposite tendency
ceipts-in two weeks 5i4i ~ bushels against G. 49,
1856 bushels last yearbut Atlantic exports. -four in
cluded, in the weeks have been only 3,6i5 ;us
bushels against e.ls2,ioI bushels last year. The
The suit of Mr. Frick against the Carnegie com
Npany to obtain an accounting and settlement dis
steel products doubled last year. but when peace
was kept by the gigantic iron and steel eombins-
from contest affecting the control Of so many
iron works is evident. The steel company
has united ownership OF l6o mills. i Is said but
mills, refused to join Prices OF pig iron have not
changed. though considerable sales. including
for export, reported, but the excess Of supply
over demand. which appeared in January, Is in
creased by the starting Of a new furnace Of
pacty Of 500 tons daily. A sale is reported q Is.
900 600 pounds Of Calumet and Hecla copper to
sumers Of the Naugatuck valley at IS cents
HEAVY sales Of sole leather At Boston, breeding
unusually large sales Of hides at Chicago. also at
lower prices. indicate that the dealers and consun
ers who have looked for cheaper boots and shoes
mas be satisfied. Heavy imports Of hides At New
York have some influence and are part due to the
famine in India shipments Of shoes since Feb
ruary have been % 900 cases or nearly 20 per cent
larger than in the two weeks d any other year.
but many OF the works are nearly out o, orders
only l2S i5e pounds in two weeks against 1853 600
pounds last year. The interior stili believes in
further advance but buying OF wool on Sleeps
backs has stopped and the manufacture has made
II clear that the mills hold large stocks 20 fT re
cent orders. Cancellations become numerous
TO cause some uneasiness but as yet only help
mills which have taken more orders than they can
I'll.
Failures for two weeks have been s. s5 l7o; manu-
featuring $3.50. 2ss, and trading. 2ssss go Fail
for the week have been As in the United States
against US last year and " in Canada against u
last year
Bradstreet's Review.
Bradstreet's tomorrow will say:
Satisfactory adyices as to expanding spring trade
Der Of markets That the aggregate business OF the
country Ia of good volume otherwise IL, however,
as compared With last year, confirmed by satisfac-
tory railroad earnings reports by fair gains In bank
olearinss and by reports q better demand ia
be recalled extremely stormy weather was expert
enced and some sffscts notably those on wnter-so.n
crops, very unfavcrable This year opposite
conditions have ruled. and though some talk Of lack
Of snow in gran-growing regions - heard. no wide
spread damage from cold weather is yet noted In
fact, unseasonably mild weather has had appre-
ciahle effect several industries, notably those
engaged in the manufacture Of footwear. in dis
couraging sales Of the same. actually causing the
shutdowns Of some rubber manufactures. and also
in the lumber and ice business. The scarcity Of
sonw in the Northwest will unquestionaby. affect
the log-cutting and irmer tone to values
Is already pereepblc notwithstanding talk Of labor
Heavy rains and Goods have affected bushes. and
transportation in New England and Northern New
York this week and cotton and other mills report
ing lack Of water as reason for restricted opera
tons few weeks have been interfered with this
week by the extremely high Level Of the streams
from which they derive power.
The foreign demand for iron and steel seems Ike
~ TO have most important edect upon price, Of
the domestic product 1t Is concsded that any i'm
portant recession in value would be met by heavy
enlarged EXPORT movement American ing iron
prices are steadily held. the only weakness noted
being manifested at the East Concessions In South
ern prices claimed not to extend beyond
furnace. Considerable orders for pig iron have been
placed at fun prices and Northern coke iron par
ticulaly has moved we'll in the central West Steel
rails are well held. a fair business being reported
heavy business Spring trade prospects in hard
ware are good. the best reports coming from the
West The placing N large order for copper by
New England manufacturers at Ice Ia regarded Is
a guarantee that the price win be maintained. TN
proved demand and improved foreign speculative in
terest
Some shading In raw sugar prices In 10 be noted.
notwithstanding considerable business done but the
refined grades are firmly held and refners insist
shorter delivery periods Coffee is frzctonsy low.
er also, as Ia lard and butter
Wheat including -four, shipments for the week.
aggregate s34.0sa bushels against 500 ST bushels
last week. assam bushels ia the corresponding
week q 1899 sos2 IA bushels in 1885 AIN SO bush
els in 1897 and g. 1902 bushels in 1895
Failures for the week in the United States
Der lss. compared with 5i last week 80 in this
week year ago, 30 in iss. IS in 1897 and Es in
1895
Faiinres for the week in the pcminion az Canad.
number *. compared with q last week. 70 In this
week year ago, 3 in 1898 and s. In 1857 and 1855
spectiyely.
Bradstreet's Financial Review.