The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-18
FEAR OF LABOR TROUBLE
THE ONLY PRESENT CLOUD ON THE
INDUSTRIAL HORIZON.
Pig Iron Prices Are Weasxer-Sugar Il
Records-Bank CIearfngs.

NEW YORK, April 17-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
Wet weather has retarded retail trade and
accentuated the quiet in textiles at whole
sale usual at this season. A beneficial
factor of the Easter rush, however, is an
improvement In collections. despite bad
roads and weather and activity in farm
ing work. Export trade is still expand
ing, cotton and corn being leaders, and
manufactured products are also going
abroad In larger volume. Last years
record has already been surpassed. With
improved transportation and better sup
plies of coke. iron production is surpass-
ing all records: This has resulted in some
further weakness in pig. this, by the way,
discouraging imports of foreign materials.
Railway earnings are the best ever
recorded for this season, gross receipts for
March exceeding those of year ago by
about IA per cent. The high price of cot
ton and the numerous labor troubles un-
settled the demand for manufactured
goods. Mems wear, wooden goods for fall
delivery, are reported rather backward, and
raw wool has steadied slightly. The theory
advanced last week that the sugar trade
was grounding at the bottom has received
support in the increased prices of raw and
ened in the absence Of support from the
direction noted last week. that of Destroy
ing low grade Brazilian supplies, and
new record low prices have been touched
by futures
Copper is slightly higher on the week
and other metals are steady. Silver is
strengthening and this week sold at the
highest point reached In several months.
Manufacturing industry Is active the coun-
try over. Building is very brisk, entailing
a heavy movement of lumber, hardware.
oixfc nd oil 10 CIR In
sympathy with the firmness in hides and
with the general activity reported in shoe
manufacturing throughout the country.
Seasonable changes are responsible for a
slight advance in butter.
Wheat Including -FOUR exports for the
week ending s aP5 ,ss 1e asgrexated S 80 q
this week a year ago and 5306,217 in 1901.
Wheat exports since July / aggregate 49,
$780, sol blu, against 206, SO4, ia last season and
167,37S,2O9 In 1900. Corn exports aggregate
1677, 621 blu, against 2,654. 732 last week AGO.
733 year ago and 2.136, 4o1 in 1901. For the
fiscal year exports are 5l,669,SS9 bu, against
Is 013.735 last season and 152. 1921 SS9 in 1901.
Business failures in the United States for
the week number 160, against 153 last week.
1893 in the like week of 1902, PIP in 1901 and
r. G. Dun & Co.'s Review of Trade
summarizes the iron and steel situation as
follows: Several factors tend to delay
the placing of contracts for pig iron de-
liveries after July /, which naturally weak
semer is freely offered at $40. valley fur
naces, without attracting purchasers Such
the disposition of prospective buyers to
wait as long as possible. An output of over
100000 tons Of coke weekly and sufficient
traffic facilities to keep furnaces supplied
remove the alarm regarding future scarcity
and the situation has become more normal.
which makes it more possible to ascertain
to what extent prices have been inflated by
special conditions. Thus far no accumula-
ton of material is reported, notwithstand-
ing unprecedented production, and the
prospect favors continued activity in de-
mand after the present period of uncer-
tainty is past Contracts for structural
steel are also placed with great caution,
not because Of light business In sight. but
owing entirely to the fear of labor troubles
1t is hoped that controversies in the build
ing trades will be settled by May /, in which
case large orders for steel shapes will be
offered, as plans for many new bridges
and structures are now under considera-
tion."