The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-04-16
! New York.

| quests for immediate shipment. Flood.
| have caused serious losses ut a few point.
along the Mississippi and traffic WAS in
| terrupted on railways in that vicinity
but on the whole the freight situation i,
mere satisfactory than at any previou;
time this year. Quicker Transportation
mas relieved the fuel pressure and the
industrial situation would be unprcce
| aentediy favorable were it not for ti:e
prevalence of labor disputes. Railway
earnings in March increased 13.0 per
cent over last years and oil per cent as
compared with 1901" The foregoing is
from the Weekly Trade Review of Il. G.
| Dun N Co. 1t continues:
During the month of March prices of
commodities, as measured by Dun's index
number. declined to 800, ,261, as compared
with SlOl .OG1. This decrease is only sea
sonable, and is about the same as occur
red Ill the corresponding period last year.
Fewer Interruptions from fuel scarcity
and traffic congestion have produced a
most desirable condition Of activity in
| all departments of the iron and steel in
| dustry, but the structural workers strike
| threatens TO restrict consumption and
| provides the only menacing factor.
Southern producers of pig iron supplied
the most important feature of the week,
when quotations were reduced OH deliv-
eries in the second half of the year. Ore
is moving freely at Cleveland. labor trou-
bles being ayerted. Steel is taken freely
by implement makers. railways and 9TH
er large buyers. and contracts are report
ed that run fully year.
Textile manufacturing conditions are
unsettled by strikes, and the future
course of prices as well as the general
situation must depend largely upon this
factor. Throughout the cotton industry
there is Il disposition to await develop
| ments. Jobbers purchase only for imme-
date requirements. Only very light
supplementary demand is coming for
ward for mems wear woolens and wOrs-
teds, and most new orders are for filling
out sample business. There is much
complaint of delayed deliveries in this
line and cancellations are again Il feature
Increased trmness is recorded in the
market for footwear. particularly as to
mems kip shoes. Leather is firm but
comparatively quiet, and another frac-
tional advance is reported in Chicago
hides.
Failures this week in the United
States are 173. against 2l4 last week,
30 in the preceding week and 167 the
corresponding week last year. and in
Canada Is. against &c last week, 20 in
the preceding week and 22 last year.
Bradstrcet's Grain Figures.
Wheat, including -four, exports for the
week ending April aggregate 3, ,l30.9I4
bushels, against 2,4O1,9 last week,
4,446,917 in this week year ago and
4,69S, ,693 in 1901. Wheat exports since
July l aggregate 1I5,5I9,4S9 bushels,
against 19S, ,S45. .624 last season and 155,-
j66,391 in 1900. Corn exports aggregate
2,S32, ,O6S bushels, against 3,61S,2lO last
week, 1880, ,531 year ago and 2,99O,54l
in 1901. For the firscal year exports are
A. ,331 ,536 bushels. against "a ,464, ,437
last season and 14S, 161 ,G04 in 1901.
" The financial world has
| l,hIe1n0 recently had the benefit of
Il number of opinions re-
specting the general outlook for contin-
ued prosperity in our country. Railroad
managers, prominent merchants, bankers
and other practical men, each from his
particular point of view. have sized up
the situation. Some opinions were ia
vorable, some inclined to conservatism,
4 few rather discouraging.
Outside the financial center there is
brilliant showing. Spring trade is ac-
tive and many country buyers are re-
ported increasing their first orders. Iron,
steel and lumber are the industries re-
porting the greatest activity, being af-
fected by the demand for structural ma
terial now becoming more general. I'M
migration is pouring in. Navigation is
practically open. The railroads continue
burdened with traffic. Spring trade in
the Northwest is above the good show
ing of last year in volume.
The one great element of doubt is the
,abor situation. So far there is no more
than the usual spring trouble, but dis
affection covers Il wide area and the gen.
eral agitation for wage advances is start
ing a little earlier than usual. From
anything now in sight there is not much
to fear, and there is hope that nothing
more serious will develop.
The wheat market has been n little
6rmer. For the first time in months the
news from abroad was unfavorable. In
our own country the winter wheat crop
prospect is brilliant, while Argentine is
shipping heavily, almost 1000 600 bush
els going out last week. These factors
remain as great influences for price de-
preston. but light stocks in the North
west have been q counter influence for
strength, and now that the European
crop news is no longer SO favorable there
is a disposition to go slower on the sell
ing side.