The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-05-25
THE BUSINESS WORLD.
What Dun's Review Says on Outlook
For Trade.
PRICES WELL MAINTAINED.
Railroad Earnings Showing Gains.
Crop Reports Satisfnctory-Iron
Men Kept Busy-State of
Cereal Markets.
New York, May PR. G. Dun &

New YORK, May Zf.-R. ". buH ~
Co.'S weekly review of trade says:
The labor situation Is the cloud how
ering over the business world, but the
difficulties are not sufficiently wide
spread at present to seriously interfere
with the progress of manufacture and
distribution. Some settlements OF
strikes have been effected during the
week, and others seem probable Mt an
early date. Meanwhile prices hold
firm, the capacity Of producing plants
in the leading industries is well en-
ployed, and crop advices are satisfac-
tory.
Railroad earnings continue to show
remarkable gains, 9.6 per. cent over last
year and 29S per cent over, 1890 for
half of May. Even with speculation
on n reduced scale bank clearings at
New York for the week gained S9.T per
cent over 1900 and 1862 per cent over
1899, while at leading cities outside
New York the gains are 81 per cent
over 1900 and 800 per cent over 1899.
A feeling of confidence in the perma-
hence of values appears to have settled
In all divisions of the iron and steel
manufacture. To this may be attribut-
ed the decrease, in orders for distant
delivery, purchasers merely contract
ing for their requirements from one to
two months in advance. Tranquility
regarding the future is undoubtedly
due to the action of the large combina-
ton, which has made no effort to Sc
cure exorbitant prices. but manifests
an intention to maintain quotations at
the current level. Independent pro-
ducers show disposition to work
along the same lines, and the net re-
suit Is less scrambling to get orders
placed. but no indication that the ac-
tuai demand is any smaller.
Notwithstanding much talk of dull
ness in pig iron bessemer is firmly held
at S1G.75 delivered at Pittsburg or SIG
at Valley furnaces. Foundry irons are
somewhat easier. All lines of finished
steel are crowded to the limit of pro-
ductive capacity, and machinery houses
at Chicago are granting machinists' de-
mands rather than risk delay. At
some other points. however, employers
appear more stubborn. and there is
prospect of serious interruption to bust
ness.
Winter wheat Outlook.
| Correspondents report the winter
wheat outlook steadily improving, and
there is every reason to anticipate an
abundant harvest. \ few sections have
slightly reduced acreage. and losses by
| drought in Texas may amount TO about
! half the original area planted. The
production in this state, however, Is
never sufficiently heavy to be an i'm
portant factor in the total for the
whole country. The most encouraging
feature Is the decrease in the amount
of harm done by Hessian flies, which
earlier In the season threatened to be
severe. In the face of better domestic
crop prospects quotations continue
firm, injury in Germany affecting for
eign markets. Atlantic exports have
ing flour, amounting to 3,692.i13 bush
els against 2.173.356 in the same weel
last year and .646, ga in 1899.
Speculation in May corn has quiete,
down, but the general level of thi
cereal continues far above norma
prices, and more liberal receipts hay
been attracted to interior cities. Fo
the week 1861 .042 bushels We're receiS
ed against f.694,7S6 last year. On til
, other hand, foreign buying is restrict
ed. Atlantic exports being only 1,G3G
500 bushels against 3.53i,6I:; Yea
ago. Comparative quiet prevails ms t
cotton. Receipts continue liberal, spii
! ners are buying little, and there is
steady Improvement in reports of tn
: current crops condition.
Although slightly smaller than in til
: two preceding phenomenal weeks. shil
! ments of boots and shoes from the Ell.
i We're more than 100000 eases ana T.;
in excess of the same week in earli,
1 years. The great forwardings of lat
$ were caused by the urgency of buyel
: who had allowed their goods to Il
cumuate at the shops until they we
u needed.
q Failures for the week numbered Il
: in the United States against lS3 In
= year. and % in Canada against
i last year.