The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-19
TRADE A LITTLE BETTER
SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT SEEN IN
NEARLY ALL DEPARTMENTS.
Steadiness the Feature in Iron and
Steel-The Cereals and Textiles
Better Boot and Shoe Business.

NEW YORK, Jan. 1S.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
In most directions the condition of gen.
eral business has improved slightly this
week. Prices of staple commodities are
steady, as are most manufactured goods.
Orders to manufacturers are sustained in
volume. and that pronounced easy money
in the interior is still stimulating business
Is shown by bank exchanges at leading
cities outside New York for the week-14.e
per cent larger than In 1900 and lis per
cent. above 1899. AT New York the record
is a gain of 773 per cent over 1900 and 37.3
FER cent. over 1899. Retail trade has not
declined as much as usual since the holt
days. Textiles show more life. A small.
but steady. improvements in the demand
has appeared. and in the cotton-goods di-
vision Ii Is the more noteworthy because
of the weakness in the raw material.
Steadiness is the chief characteristic Of
the iron and steel industry. The past week
has brought no new developments of strik-
ing Importance. and quotations are I'M
changed. There is a notable lack of new
contracts covering large operations, but
many small orders are placed and mills are
well occupied on old business that in most
cases will take months to complete, even
Ii nothing further offers. On this account
there is no urgency about securing orders
anu no concessions are ma0e by leading
concerns. Export inquiries are fewer, but
manufacturers exhibit no concern on this
point. Work is so vigorously prosecuted
at the furnaces that demand for fuel in
Creases, and coke production in the Con-
nellsvflle region expands. Coal also moves
more freely at Pittsburg, delayed shipments
being hurried forward with the aid of high
water. There is still some uncertainty re-
Sarding the proposed new tube and sheet
plants.
Another moderate increase occurred in
sales of wool at the three chief Eastern
markets, raising the total for the three
weeks to 10.3S2200 pounds. There is still a
heavy loss compared with preceding years,
for In the same period last year the total
was Il, 800. 800 pounds and 16 ass. 900 two years
ago. %, 332. go in 1898 and IS. sS6.2O0 in 1897
These figures give good idea of the pres
ent dullness in this industry. Manufac-
turers' stocks are generally considered low;
nevertheless they buy only for immediate
needs, and continue to take mainly the
cheaper grades. Results at the London
auction sale were more satisfactory than
anticipated. buyers competing vigorously
for the offerings, which were quite as
heavy as expected. Prices were from to
w per cent. better than the previous sale,
and this moderate advance had some infiu-
ence on the tone here without affecting
actual prices. The raw material for the
other leading textile industry has been in
less satisfactory position, owing to depres-
sion in the yarn market, which caused the
association TO recommend reduction in out
put by one-half.
Boot and shoe shops are, as a rule, well
occupied. but ii is noticed that business is
unequally disturbed. Statesmen furnish
moderate orders from the West and South.
although the rapid growth of manufac-
turing at interior points has exerted a per-
ceptible influence on New England sales
Sales OF leather are of only moderate vol
ume and much below expectations of hold
ers, with no speculative operations Sup
plies of hemlock sole are still limited and
scarcity OF union backs caused a further
advance in quotations.
Failures for the week were 325 i'm the
United States, against 342 last year, and
thirty-three in Canada, against forty last
year.