The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-22
AN OVERHANGING CLOUD
MINERS. STRIKE CASTS ITS SHADOW
ON INDUSTRIAL SITUATION.
other business Conditions Are Very
Shoe Trade-TextileS and Cereals.

NEW YORK, Sept. 2l.-R. q. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review OF trade tomorrow will say:
The strike in the anthracite coal region.
which has involved about 10000 miners.
and probably $4,000 others. is the over
shadowing influence in business. This con-
fiict disturbs business and interferes with
calculations of merchants over a large part
of the Atlantic seaboard. and is really the
only tangible check to the general recoV-
cry which set in with the larger demand
for iron and steel products. Outside OF the
anthracite industry enforced idieness OF
hands is an exception, and even In the
Pennsylvania coal region other employers
would gladly take on thousands OF the
more intelligent miners The Doscher sugar
refinery is closed on account OF the scarcity
of raw sugar. of which all refiners are es-
timated to hold only 10000 tons, but the
Lorain Steel Company. idle three months
is starting its furnaces. with others TO foi-
low. Hesitation incident to the presidential
campaign is reflected in bank clearings.
which for New York show SIS per cent. and
for other leading cities rs per cent. loss
from last year.
Wheat advanced sharply TO So cents on
growing districts and free purchases at
Northwestern cities. Sensational gains In
price stopped foreign buying. which led to
heavy liquidation and reaction almost as
large as the previous movement. Cotton
has felt the loss of consumption. declining
heavily both in spot quotations and option
trading. Brighter crop news from Texas
also has a depressing effect The cotton
goods market. for few days, continued
he CIR ont Of
closed less excited. though bare of goods
at first hands Heavy curtailment OF pro-
duction is still the rule. Standard brown
sheetings again advanced u cent, with
other goods following.
Last weeks Improvement i'm the boot and
shoe market caused an increase In ship
ments from Boston to 1883 cases, against
81 142 the previous week. Further inquiries
by jobbers have appeared and requests for
prompt shipment reflect the decrease In
stocks Orders are confined to fall and
winter goods, spring business being BACK
ward. Shops are more actively employed.
Sales of wool at the three chief markets
were only 2,S17,000 pounds, against l3, 44S.sOO
pounds year ago. Holders continue con-
fident and dullness fails to cause lower
prices.
In iron and steel products greater activ-
ity at former prices was the rule. New
contracts were for moderate amounts. but
a large order for malleable bessemer pig
iron were placed at Pittsburg. Reduction in
stocks of pig iron at Southern points makes
the outlook more encouraging. and a
Scotch concern is only prevented by high
ocean freight rates from closing very
large contract for billets puddlers and
bar rollers still waiting their turn for
wage settlement Orders for railroad equip
ment for September are expected TO include
fully eight thousand freight cars. a sharp
break in tin was aided by heavy shipments
from the straits. Lumber Is In stronger
position. spruce selling at 1915 a thousand,
advance of % per cent. for the month
Failures for the week were I'll in the
United States. against 254 last year and
thirty-three in Canada, against eighteen
last year.