The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-31
OPTIMISTIC VIEW TAKEN
TRADE CONDITIONS INHERENTLY
GOOD, DESPITE THE STRIKE.
Prosperity of the Farmers n Great
Help to other Industries-FOot-
wear, Textiles and Cereals.

NEW YORK, May 3O-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade tomorrow will say.
Ease in the money market, favorable
crop prospects and confidence abroad are
the encouraging factors which outweigh
the disturbing elements of labor conflicts
and unreasonable weather for retail trade
at many points. Effects of the depressing
influences are less keenly felt because they
are believed TO be only temporary, and it Is
confidently expected that with the resump-
ton Of work and normal temperature there
will be a return to the liberal distribution
of merchandise. Despite the short corn and
wheat crops last year the large yield Of
high prices for both resulted in the great
est value for the two crops ever recorded,
which means that the agricultural sections
are prosperous and other industries must
share the good fortune by increased sales
of products. Collection are prompt as a
rule and payments through the principal
clearing houses are we'll maintained. Not
withstanding diminished speculation, there
was an increase of IL per cent. at New
York, compared with last years exchanges.
Returns to transportation show that
losses in grain movement are being more
than made up elsewhere, railway earnings
thus far reported for May showing a gain
of 6.5 per cent. over last year and 10 per
cent. over 1900.
Efforts to place contracts for 10000 tons
of pig iron, deliverable in the second quar-
ter of 1903, indicate the confidence of the
leading consumers as to the future of this
industry. There is no cessation of activity
at the mills, and finished products are for
warded TO importunate consumers as rap
idly as possible.
No Improvement is reported at New Eng
land boot and shoe centers, where the
shops are still running only about half
time. There is a little more activity in the
grades that declined last week, but no in
dtcatiOn OF recovery in prices, and other
varieties tend downward. Statesmen are
booking a smaller percentage of orders at
Local retail trade has been more active,
but jobbing business continues slow. Re
cent advances in leather are maintained
with betting butts freely purchased. IIh-
ported hides are scarce and strong, but do
nestle packer hides are more quiet.
Stocks of textile fabrics are not accumu-
| lating, although the markets are extremely
! quiet. Domestic jobbing trade is fairly sat-
| isfactory, but exports of cotton goods are
! small. Print cloths are dull and unchanged,
with the situation unsettled as to new
/ prints for the fall. Clothing manufact urers
| are purchasing wooden goods in mOdera-
/ ton only. and larger deliveries by the lead
! ing companies increased the disposition
| towards conservatism.
Grain quotations made decided advance
early in the week, which was not easily ex-
! planned, except on the basis of light sup
| plies in sight. This element was not new,
/ however, receipts having decreased very
/ materially for many weeks in comparison
| with last years movement. Subsequently
| the gain was lost in option trading, al
| though cash corn was firmly held.
| Failures for the week numbered 1874 in the
| United States, against 14S last year, and 20
| in Canada, against q year ago.