Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-04-27
DUN'S REVIEW
Says Advance In Rails Is enIy In Keeping
with Advance in Iron.
BY Associated Press.

New York, April 26.-Dun's says:
Business continues very brisk for the
season in face of some drawbacks
ne chief of these is floods in many
directions, which interfered with rail
road operations and interrupted the
distribution of merchandise. and the
weather all over the east has been ad.
verse to an increase of retail trade.
Much unfavorable comment appear
ed regarding the advance in steel rails
to $2S. Yet the change is only in
keeping with recent increases in prices
of pig iron and billets. Nominal quo
tations for many products of iron and
steel have long been disregarded in
contracts calling, for early delivery,
and list prices are generally moving
up to a representative level. Aside
from this one operation there are no
new developments. Pig iron is more
quiet. Domestic business in the
principal lines of manufactured steel
is so active as to discourage foreign
buying, but machinery and speciality
mills are exporting freely. Mills are
not crowded by demand to the extent
noticed in 1899, but productive capac-
ity has largely expanded.
After a prolonged period of waiting
for definite crop news. the cereal mar
ket suddenly awoke to unusual activ-
ity. Much increased trading and
sharp advance in prices resulted from
clever manipulations by a single west
ern speculator, who compelled the
short contingent to cover May corn
contracts at the highest prices of the
season. Wheat has risen sharply in
sympathy with corn.
Wool is fairly steady. Eastern
markets are quiet with light demand.
Reports from the chief sheep raising
states indicate that larger clip than
last year may be expected and the con.
dition is satisfactory.
Cotton responds slowly to indica-
tions of damage on plantations, for
the old crop comes into sight freely,
and heavy losses in British export
goods and yarns do not promise a Wig
orous foreign demand for raw mater
ial.
Another decrease is reported in
shipments of boots and shoes for New
England shops. Factories are less be.
hind with orders and buyers still in
clined to defer new contracts in the
hope of securing concessions. AS yet
quotations are unchanged.
BRADSTREETS REPORT.
New York April -Bradstreet,s
says: While adversely affected by
unfavorable weather, conditions Of
general trade manifest strong under
lying tone which seemingly lacks only
the advent of better weather to be-
come buoyant. In some directions
activity is pronounced, as far example,
in iron and steel, which is taxed to it's
The backward spring has
worked to the disadvantage of dry
goods, but the trade is looking up
somewhat with the promise of i'm
proved weather conditions.
Railroad gross earnings continue to
show substantial gains. The general
price situation is one of firmness,
most commodities being unchanged,
though few increases are noticed.
particular in coffee, -four. wheat. corn,
oats, lard and tin, while butter, cheese,
petroleum and odd sizes of print
cloths show declines.
Speculation in wheat this week was
acuve and the price movement was
A stiffening of prices is noted in
lumber, with demand fully equal to
the supply. The logging camps are
taxed to supply orders.
There is little alteration in hides.
The market in cotton has been of a
narrow and irregular character.
Wool is steady with few features of
change.
Leather shows more activity on we'll
sustained prices land stocks of GER
tain kinds are practically nil. The
fall business in boots and shoes of the
better grades is reported favorable
and prices steady.
Failures in the United States for the
week are PA, against 212 for last
week and lS2 in the week a year ago.
Now good digestion waits on appe
tite, and health on both" If il does