Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1898 — TRADE REVIEW. [ARTICLE]

TRADE REVIEW.

Many Favorable Features Are SBowa —Confidence in Good Fall Business Widespread. New York. July Bradstreet’s says: “While the tone of general business partakes of the usual midsummer stock-tak-ing quietness, the number of favorable features coming to hand has not materially lessened, and confidence in a good fall business is still widespread. Business in speculative circles is still restricted, and the new war taxes have had an appreciable effect In reducing the volume of speculative sales by so-called scalpers in grain and securities. The tone of prices, particularly for cereals, has shown a slight improvement for the week, and detailed comparisons with recently preceding periods are still quite favorable. Developments in the iron trade are still patiently awaited, but among the favorable features might be instanced an improved demand for pig iron and Increased inquiry at higher prices for steel plates at some eastern points, while the western accounts continue quite favorable. Rather more is doing on export account in this line of business and the demand for our cereals abroad la quite satisfactory. The crop conditions are In the main very favorable, although the tendency now is to discard early extreme estimates of yield of wheat, and 675,000,000 to 700,000,000 bushels estimates are more popular. As for some time past the west and northwest send relatively the best reports. A rather more cheerful tone is noticeable at the south. In the eastern and middle states the tone of trade is quiet, but activity in iron has become a feature at Philadelphia, wher*, however, textile manufacturers are not very busy. Pittsburgh reports trade seasonably dull, and Boston gives it as quiet.” R. G. Dun A Co.'s weekly review of trade says: "The usual half-yearly statement of failures by branches of business is peculiarly interesting, because it shows that w-ar and tears of war have not caused Increase in commercial disasters. The surprisingly large and general decrease in trading defaults would without doubt be accompanied by corresponding return* as to (manufacturing, but for excessive expansion in some lines, and the helpless condition reached by a few large firms in other branches. Failures during the second quarter have been smaller than In the same quarter of the past four, years in trading, and in manufacturing smaller than in the same quarter of any year excepting IbM. The fiscal year haa ended with financial results a shade beyond general expectations, and the new war tax begins to increase revenue, not seriously disturbing business in any line. No reason yet appears to apprehend that the war revenue will fall below expectations. "Failures for the week have been 229 In th® United States, against 206 laet year, and 17 in Canada, against 30 las* year."