The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-05

New York Central, construction account open.
New York ana Erie, construction account closed.
It is only necessary to say, in connection with the
above comparative statement that the constructs
count Of OF these roads closed and in the other it
Is not closed Construction account when open absorbs
large amount of current expenses when 1t is olosed
the operating expenses must all out of gross in
utme
Tho past week has been of much animation in the
dry goods trade the weather having been more propi
ous than any experien ,ed for several months. The
hotels have been wen filed with purchasers ell
draor Aspeci,l from the West and south. The long
Inter and No. intercourse with the city enabled
merchants in the interior to work sae s.oeAa 70
low ebb and particularly In the distant u
the country The collections continue fair and the
Der Of failures rather less than at this of
the year.
The serious decline in provisions and breadstus - The
West and Northwest is beginning to be felt by mer-
chants in those sections whoave dabblsd in pork -four
and grain speculation. Several failures have been
ported in Kentucky, Ohio Illinois, Wisconsin, aud
Michigan, traceable TO this cause, and it is pos-
sib,e that others may be compelled 70 follow
suit. Speculation In these articles the past year
proved very profitable and hence the disposition the
past autumn and winter with merchants to reengage
the same operations, and at very high prices As high
&c. and 7c paid for hogs at Chicago and other
points at the West which, to square expenses and leave
any profit ought TO sell In this market 1T $40 per
for pork whereas it sold yesterday at SIG so q
$40 56K Wheat and grain purchased At high prices
speculation have remained 1t the warehouses at the
West through the winter and cannot ,he opening OF
navigation be delivered in this market except at heavy
loss.
The habit of making time sales In produce as In stocks
at buyersor sellers option at one two three months
in advance has prevailed to great extent We know
where 10000 bushels Of Southern corn WAS Sold
sellers option, deliverable In al March, at 90c.
bu,hel, which compromised 1t abor. "a. No.
bushel Other cases have given stu wider margin
may b asked what bususaa ssy goods merchants at
the west nave 70 NEEDLE with trade in domestic
procuces It Is Explained BY the fact that they are
ed into .. by q system Of barter. They receive it
exchange for goods 1t good profit, AMI when they find
the trade lucrative they seducei into larger opera
tons, which work we'll until . revulsion occurs in
prices, when, unless very strong wen backed they 60
TO the wall, and the New York merchants, who have
given them undue credit, have to pay the piper L..
many of failure 1t is found that the months
New York grocery paper has been PAID and eonfdent.
debts provided for from the sales OF dry goods for which
they had blamed longer credit. reform is needed
In this system Of conducting the business and until the
trade bring down their long credits to four months
time and thus be par with grocery jobbers, there
be that stability in the trade aud exemption
rom Losses which its portance demands
The value Of the remaining portion of the cotton crop
in the country will depend much upon the favorable
commencement Of the present planting At last
accounts excessive rains had prevailed in Alabama and
other sections of he country, and had greatly retarded
the placing the seed in the ground. Should crcum
stances continue untavorabls we may expect higher
prices to rule.
The auction sales have been large the past week. and
have been well attended.
In foreign goods changes have been unimportan.
Cloths and doe skins have had good Dress goods
we're in good supply and dull Staple goods were in fair
supply, at STEADY prices.
In domestic goods the market presented fea-
lures OF importance. Prints heavy and slow
Moussline de lanes and gnghAms in only moderate
demand, without change of moment in prices. Drills
continued frm while brown sheetlpgs and shirtings
in fair request, at unchanged prices. Lawns were
in good demand and prices hrm. Cassmeres and sAtinets
dull and prices reported to DO easier Cloths
were In moderate demand, q. unchanged prices.