New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-14
SOvE RrSJNESS FIG URES.


Business is usually much affected, during
the later weeks of Il session Of Congress, by
homes or fears of legislation. This year the
refunding bll is almost the only one that has
any immediate effect on commercial or finln-
cial affairs. The fact IS generally recognized
that the passage of good bill would greatly
stimulate business, bring vast amount
of hidden money into the market and enlist
all the power of the Treasury to prevent any
financial Ieverses. The probability that such
a bill will pass already has some effect upon
business, and it is m unusual and fortunate
circumstance that commercial and industrial
interests are not now threatened with deStrut-
tive legislation, although this Congress has
previously shown itself particularly prone to
notwithstanding. Possibly defeat in NOvem-
Der mas laugh. demagOgues that it does
not pay to threaten industry and property.
There is no fear of disturbing changes
of the tariff, nor of the success of any attack
upon the financial or banking systems. In
conservative circles there Is some apprehen-
sion that the money market may become IN
conveniently tight before the year ends, unIess
n good funding bill helps to unlock boarded
money, bat there is general feeling OF con-
fcncr that our large excess Of exports over
imports will presently enable us to draw from
abroad all the money that may become
nccdful.
Thus far this ytar exp 'rts have been much
largcr and imports much smaller than in 1850
To the same date. Last weeks imports at
Newly ,rk were nearly $2,O0O.00O below
those of the ccrrrsy ondlng week last year, ana
the aggregate for SIX weeks ending February
II was So, 472, 529, against So, ,929 for
the corresponding six weeks in 1850. On the
other hand the exports for six weeks ending
on Tue day last were $13,60j,322, against
S362 5I 504 for the corresponding weeks last.
ycgr The exports of cotton for the week
cn.ling Friday were 97.GS5 bales. against
1929 bales for the same week in 1880, and
the total since January l WIS GjS, l06 bales,
against SOB 2G last year n gain of 80 per
c.nt The outward movement of brcadstnif'
also continues much larger than il was Il year
ago the quantities from seven Atlantic ports
TO February ;, 1881, were. Of II ,ur, SO. 200
barrels against 1sG7G9, and Of wheat,
COL, SOC bushels against l,SJS,OSS. The
state OF prices does not Indicate that the
cxport movement is likely to be arrested. Last
week there was slight advance IN bread
stuff, and Il Il ght decline in cotton; pork
and bacon advanced slightly, while cheese,
tGllow and lard were unchanged; petroleum
WAS Unchanged and tobacco declined. On the
whole, since the new year began prices have
been growing more favorable for u large cX-
porting business
The reports of the Treasury and the banks
show that the amount of specie ut this point
is $IGOO,0O0 larger than it was one week
ago. though tine banks gained only 500, 000
About half the increase was due to transfer
of 81. 200, 900 in gold coin from the PEiladel-
phia mint, but the excess of receipts over
payments by the Treasury was drawn from the
banks, which, rs they report no loss, must
have gained like amount by re-
ccpts of specie from the interior.
The amount of lrgal-tcndcrs on hand
decreased about SOL 900, bur mainly,
it is believed, because of deposits at Washing
ton to provide for II surrender Of circulation.
During the past week the exchange of high
for low-priccd bonds, in the deposits on ac-
count of circulation, was larger than usual
81 200, 600 of four and half per cents
and 100000 OF four per cents were
withdrawn, while $1,37O,O0O of five per
cents were added to the deposit. Had
not the Senate Committee reported against
the anti-bank section of the House bill, it is
probable that the surrender of currency would
bv this time have become enormous.
Telcgraphic reports Of the extraordinary
rain thaw and food, in many parts of the
country, aud of the unprecedented blockade OF
many railroads by the severe snOw-storm i'll
the Northwest, give warning that railroad
earnings cannot be expected to show Il remark
able increase for the first half of February.
In further explanation Of the comparatively
,nodcrate increase in January, The Financial
| Chronicle observes that the wheat and cotton
movements in that month were light and that
| the comparison is with n month of 1880 Ill
which extraordinary gains were reported.
| But no other explanation is really
| needed than the general fact that
the winter has been one of almost unpre-
| cedrnted severity, 80 that wagon roads i'll many
paris of the country have been rendered inn
practicable for heavy loads nsiderablc part
Of the time, while branch roads AMI trunk
roads have had no small difficulty to keep
Their lines open. The interruption in January
| was equivalent to a suspension of work for
| nearly or quite II fifth of the time, and yC,
| The Chronicles table shows an increase in
earnings tor january OF 81, la, 423, or 10 per
| cent. Ii may well be remembered, roo, that
| most of the freight not moved i'll mIdwinter,
because of the severity Of the weather, will
| come forward to swell the traffic later in the
season.
II there are any birds in this section which feel in