The New York herald., 1875-12-18
go TO 4 p N
COMMERCIAL REPORT.

COTTON ON THE SPOT FIRM-FUTUREs, 1-16C.
3-32c. LowER-FLoUR oUIET-wHEAT STEADY
CORN FIEM-oATS FIRAI-PoRK EASIER-LARD
FIRM--PETRoLEUM STEADY-SPIRITS TURPEN-
TINE STEADY = RosN NoMINAI.-oILs FIRM
FREIGHTs sTEADY-HEMP AND JUTE FIRM
wHIsKEY EAsMR-CoFFEE QUIET-sUGAR
NOMINAL.
FRIDAY, Dec 17-e r. NJ
As the holidays draw the drlness the general
merchandise markets deepens, and business grows
0small by degrees and beautifully less with almost
every successive day So far the wholesale business
of this city these assuredy the days
"small thngs,p and the oldest merchant If not the
eodest inhabitant" taxes his memory in vain to find
It's counterpart in the past Certainly the mer-
chandise markets have been duh ''many a
time and off, yet protracted
duness when valuations far down upon
the actual Of production importation,
before known The hopeful indication however, ms We
have before remarked the absence OF panicky feeling
which prompts holders Of merchandise their goods
upon the market and thus precpitate what they
dreada commercial panic The general Of the
camille public good. Now and then Of the
ones drop of, but, general thing, they
die natural death, not having had sufficient
vitaityi e. capitalize conduct business Of any magni-
tude at any time that the first adverse they
waterogged and they thenceforth drn about until
they finally stranded Thus has been with Of the
downtown failure" this And yet the dropping off
the weaker craft Is not thing
20 contemplate because Of It's influence upon the rest
Nevertheless these the times which them,
and unmportsnt FIRMS should 20 by the board rather than
h with business relations The past
especially noticeable for the absence
mercia activity and for the positive inactivity and depre
articles OF merchandise. In too many evils trade has
been at almost complete stand, there being
IS not sctuaiy wanted for immediate use There
apprehension with regard the future
simply an indispositon 70 buy some explanation for this
OF affairs may be found In the great uncertainty with
regard 10 the financial questions OF the timewheher Con-
gress will do anything nothing looking " more stable
currency whether shall drift along with the tide
equal chance Of being carried safely the rapids
swamped II Is hoped that alter the holidays
In some OF trade there appears be
ground for this hope already In the dry goods considerable
chases being sunenduced by the extremely low
The export In breaduns has been of
abroad have been o character 70 discourage shipments
hence, even AZ prices considerably below those nomi
naly current which have favored the buyer all
through the week, though there has been no
decided brcax. Prices current to-day, however show
considerable decline. In provisions very little has
DONE prices but little changed Frcghts ruled
quiet but generally strong the berth
aud charter On Change to-day business light
though about large usual nowadays IN -four but little
dun there literally market for H. The prices bid
the as rule 80 low that sellers would
theess seemingly Indifferent entertaining the belief that
would be lower before they would be higher Sellers
appeared think differently a. all events their orders not
sell a decline were strictly obeyed Meantime the
stock Is large and increasing and the wheat in good
condition. The market closed steadier Corn has ruled
comparatively firm al the week, and though there
close to-day showed considerable advance nom the
lowest point, aud the market was hrm Oats have ruled
advancing first but subsequently becoming demoralzed
and prices tpmbled doUp. eVspg RsAI, kEoys0ps hare