The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-19
r FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL


The week which ended yesterday, like the pre-
ceding weeks, witnessed an increased movement
in all branches of commerce over the corresponds
ing periods Of previous years. The import of
foreign merchandise and dry goods was heavy; the
export of produce in excess of the average; the
export Of specie very light. Foreign goods con-
time to be received in such quantity as to check
any reasonable hopes of material advance in
prices. Teas, however, are higher than they were
week ago, and the market is quite
buoyant. In coffee, business has been lin
tied; holders are very unyelding in their vie VS.,
and for the present buyers hold of. The same
remark will apply to sugar, in which there has
been very little doing within the past few days.
Wool has receded fraction, and the market has
in consequence become moEe active. The grocers
generally complain that at present prices they
realize loss on most articles of general merchan
disc; still, business is active and there is no sign
of any decline in the imports.
The dry goods import for the week, and for the
year to date, is considerably in excess of that of
similar periods of former years. The excess is
said to be chiefly in French goods and ar
ticles of luxury, many Of which, it is
claimed by the trade, are sent here to be sold
for account Of the foreign manufacturers.
There is no doubt that many of these goods are
selling at auction at prices which net a loss to the
owners, whoever they may be. The Southern
buyers are beginning to reduce their orders their
season approaching its termination; the West is,
however, more numerously represented than /,
was. 1t is not likely that the spring trade in dry
goods will prove very profitable to importers, but
the volume of business done will be found to have
been considerably in excess of former years.
We note decline in cotton since last week,
mainly produced by adyices of decline abroad.
The probable extent of the crop is now known at
Liverpool and in the course Of week or so the full
effect of that knowledge will have been felt Unless
some new political disturbance should take place
in Europe it is hardly likely that prices can decline
much lower, the consumption is increasing SO ra
pdy. There is thus far decrease in the receipts
at the ports. The receipt for the last cotton week
was l4,o00 bales, against 1900 same week last
year, and l?4 900 same week of 1858, making the
total receptto date s7oe 900 bales against O3s 900
to same date last year. and ,l22 900 to same date
of 1858. Several cargoes of cotton were shipped
last week to Russia and the Baltic
There Is less doing in wheat and -four than there
was at the close Of last week, buyers being gene
rally disposed to await the opening of navi
CATION before making purchases. The re
seipts of both wheat and corn at points West
are very considerably greater than they were a
year ago at the same points, and there Is every
prospect of active movement in these staples as
soon as navigation fairly opens. The stock Of corn in
Chicago is very heavy, and nearly one-half Of the
wheat grown west of that point has yet to come
iorEard' During the past fortnight the weather in
lliihols and Iowa has been very fine, and large
quantities Of spring wheat have been planted al
ready.
Ihe following are the comparative tables Of the