Show WEE OFSURPSES This thp Condition of Affairs in Business World IRON MARKET TAKES TUMBLE Apart from Disturbances hi Speculation Specula-tion There Has Been Produced a Measure of Distrust Regarding Prices that Are Maintained by the Great Combinations Which May for the Present Deter Buying There is a Slightly Better Demand for Hides New York April 20fl G Dun Cos Weekly Review of Trade tomorrow tomor-row will say Formal reduction of t5 per ton In prices of plates and bars and closing of mills by the American Steel and Wire company have filled the week with surprises In the stock market and in the market for steel and iron products changes have begun and the end cannot well bo foreseen Apart from the disturbances In spec illation these has been produced a measure meas-ure of distrust regarding prices thai aro maintained by the great combinations combina-tions which may for the present tend io deter buying In the iron business I the formal reductions were almost wholly anticipated in actual sales Some urgent and important contracts I have been made Including that for lie New York tunnel requiring 70000 tons at prices not staled but It Is known that many others have been deferred until the prospect Is clearer There Is a slightly better demand for hides at Chicago attributed to their Improving condition but the distribution distribu-tion of boots and shoes does not keep all the factories at work Some arc closed many more are running part time and very few of those in operation have orders for a slnclc mouth There is io room for doubt that greatly restricted re-stricted buying has been caused by the high prices asked which the makers declare unavoidable until prices of leather yield The shipments from Boston Bos-ton In thrco weeks have been 3116J cases or 116 per cent smaller than last year and a little less than In 1S03 Yet a large business Is claimed in leather leath-er which is still held without yielding and satin is quoted J c higher rue textile Industries have large or ders yet to be iilled which keep many of the mills busy but there arc many others less fortunate and their hunt for orders without much regard for prices caused Irregularity in tIme lines not of established position The staple woolen and worsted goods hold steady as the makers need no moro contracts but In less favored lines both for mens I wear and In dress goods lie business i I is by no means satisfactory Wool has been Inactive without change in prices Cotton goods are by sonic sold at concessions for future delivery de-livery as all realize that present prices will not long control cost of production produc-tion Wheat has declined a fraction In price and corn advanced a fraction both markets being rendered comparatively compara-tively Inactive by 1 the certainly that the remaining foreign requirements will be easily met Atlantic exuorts In three weeks flour included have been 57liC SOC bushels against 5022711 last year and Pacific exports 23l7t27 bushels against 1152000 last year Failures for the week were 1S4 In the United Stales and 17 In Canada against 22 last year |