The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-16
REVIEW . OF TRADE
Favorable Reports Outnumber
the Complaints.
SITUATION Is IRREGULAR
As Money Market Becomes
Easier Prospects Brighten

New York, Jan 15.-R- G. Dun & Co. S
weekly review of trade tomorrow will
say:
Reports of improvements in the volume
of business outnumber unfavorable dis
patches although the situation is decided
ly irregular AS the money market be-
came easier, there is better prospect of
proposed work being resumed. All struc-
tural lines are largely dependent upon the
ability OF the railroads to borrow money
and the restoration of confidence among
investors.
Only fair reports are received regard
ing the leading manufacturing lines.
Many iron and steeis plants have resumed,
but the prevailing curtaiiment is very
severe. Textile fabrics are badly I'M
settled as ever lower prices for new
lines of woolens proving a disagreeable
surprise to the many small operators, and
speculation in cotton rendering forward
contracts for goods an impossbility. Dis
tribution of merchandise increases with
more normal weather and clearing houses
report liberal orders for springs goods
from statesmen at the west and south.
Only a moderate Improvement has ap-
peared thus far in the demand for iron
and steel products, although the resump-
ton of idle plants has attained encour-
aging proportions. Hides are more active
and prices firmly maintained, with some
advances. especially in foreign dry hides.
Failures this week number 324 in the
United States, against 267 last year, and
"A in Canada, compared with So year ago.
BRADSTREET'S.
New York Jan. 15.-Bradstreet' tomor-
row will say:
Though not thoroughly opened yet,
spring trade Is beginning TO liven up,
and this, coupled with a large volume of
clearance sales by retailers, gives an ap-
pearance of activity to midwinter opera
lions.
The industrial situation shows improve
ment, particularly in iron and steel mill
assumptions and in the putting into blast
Of more coke furnaces. Little or no fric-
ton seems to attend numerous wage re-
auctions scheduled for the current month,
and though winter conditions are a bar
to activity in outside work, an active
spring trade is looked for in this line.
While war talk and weather conditions
have operated to raise prices of food
products, the improvement in the tone OF
trade is probably due to the raise in prices
of raw textiles.
The iron trade is irregular, but on the
whole a favorable view is taken of con-
ditions and the outlook.
Wheat. including flour, exports for the
week ending January IA aggregate ALL
215 bushels. against 1858, 800 bushels last
week; 3,656345 this week last year; 4.69O, a-
in 1902, and 1886, 0o4 in 1901. From July
j, 1903, to date they aggregate 92974,92.
bushels. against 100 G32,O0O bushels last
season; 15s,379,09f in 1902. and 10S, 1876 in
1901. Corn exports for the week aggregate
177,7e bushels, against 1,249.399 last week;
2,Ss4612 a year ago; 29So93 in 1892, and
51S4555 in 1901. From July l, 1903. to date
they aggregate 3O,s67.s75 bushels, against
15914.l0o bushels last season; 1861 99 in
1902. and 1882, POI in 1901.
Business failures for the week ending
January IA number 309 against 262 last
week; 2S4 in the like week in 1903; 2sl in
1902: go in 1901, and 255 in 1900. In Canada
failures number 80, against 40 last week
and % in the like week year age