The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-27
GENERAL TRADE is GOOD.
But Bad weather Operates as n Check
In SOr G Sections.

NEW YORK, April 26.-Bradstreet's. to-
morrow, will say: While adversely affected
by unfavorable weather conditions. general
trade manifests a strong underlying tone
which. seemingly. lacks only the advent Of
better weather to become buoyant. Cold
weather undoubtedly has affected planting
and terminating in some sections, but the
probable damage to crops is not as great as
earlier advices appeared to indicate. In
some directions activity is pronounced. as.
for ann in iron and steel, in which.
apparently, production is taxed to its ca
pacity, though, seemingly, more to meet
existing requirements than because of new
orders. The backward spring has worked
TO the disadvantage of dry goods. but the
trade is looking up somewhat, with the
promise OF improved weather conditions.
Heavy clearings continue TO reflect large
speculative movement. Railway gross earn
ings continue TO show substantial gains,
the current receipts OF the Southwestern
lines being the best In their history, and
Western and Southern roads are doing al
most as well. The general price situation is
one OF hrmness, most commodities being
unchanged, though there are a few in
-four, wheat, corn, oats. lard and tin. while
butter, cheese. petroleum and odd sizes of
cloths show declines. Speculation In wheat,
this week, was active, and the price move
ment was upward.
A stiffening of prices is noted in lumber,
with a demand fully up TO the supply. From
Portland, Ore, comes the report that the
logging camps are taxed TO supply orders.
The market in cotton has been of a mar
row and irregular character, and the gen.
eral disposition seems to be a waiting one.
Receipts continue In goodly proportion,
while weather conditions nave recently i'm
proved, and the demand from manufac-
turers is limited. Wool is steady, with few
features of change. Buyers show a DISPOSE
ton to wait until new woods come in.
Leather shows more activity on well-sus~
tanned prices. and stocks of certain kinds
are practically nil. Fall business in boots
and shoes of the better grades is report.d
favorable and prices are said to be steady.
Wheat shipments. including flour. for the
week aggregate 4,2S2.1S bu, against 5.3O6 217
last week and $685. 500 in the corresponding
week of 1900.
Dun & COS Review of Trade. In sum-
ming up general conditions, notes that bus
mess Is very brisk for the season. I'm face
of some drawbacks. which at times might
cause marked hesitation. Chief of these is
the floods In many directions which have
interferred with railroad operations and in
terrupted the distribution of merchandise
and the weather all over the East has been
adverse to an increase of retail trade.
Bank clearings, however, show that. while
speculation has been heavy. there must
have been a well-sustained volume Of le9i-
innate business, for the gains are over il.l
per cent. over 1900, and 1873 per cent.
over 1899. outside New York. and 1881
per cent. over 1900, and $40 per cent over
1899 at this city. Railroad earnings make
similar encouraging gains. Reports from
the interior show special strength in con-
0lllDilS lnIOuElOul AliNEOulls ~ USdS AllU
Ohio. and the future is full OF promise. UNI
less there is misfortune with the crops.
Much unfavorable comment has appeared
regarding the advance in steel rails TO $2S
Yet the change is only I'm keeping with
recent increases in prices of pig iron and
billets. Nominal quotations for many prod
ucts of iron and steel have long been dis
regarded i'm contracts calling for early de-
livery, and list prices are generally moving
up TO a representative level. on new bus
mess or export orders ii is not unreason-
/ able tn make prices for rails on a parifv
with otner PRODUCTS of this industry. Aside
from this one operation, there Is no new
development. Pig iron is more quiet. with
little taken for delivery beyond July /.
Domestic business in principal lines OF
manufactured steel is so active as to dis
courage foreign buying. but machinery
and speciality mills are exporting freely. IL
is reported from Pittsburg that mills are
rot crowded by demand TO the extent no.
ticed in 1899, but productive capacity has
largely expanded.
Failures for the week numbered 215 in
the United States. against 24 last year,
and % i'm Canada. against % last year.