The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-23
H0W'S BUSINESS?
THEQUEsTION ANSWERED FROM SEW
j. ERAL PROMINENT CITIES.
SsFISus Effects Of the Floods at Chicago
and In the NOElhWsst-BusInGS for
the Past Week, and Prospects
for the OpsHing Season
Money Matters.
TRADE PARALYZED

By the Plethora OF water At Chicago
Coed spring Trade, aud Encouraging
Signs for the RatuFe-IndleAtl0ha Of
the Strikes.
CHICAGO, April 93.-Ths business in
Chicago and the tributary country for the
week ending tonight has been sadly de.
moralizsd by the plethora OF water. In
many cities there has been only tele.
graphic communication at times, and bust.
ness with the outside world has been par.
alyzsd. Chicago has been able to keep
up its railroad traffic, although some lines
have been much inConvenienCed by the
foods here and along their lines, Busi.
ness has been further impeded, too, by
the very evident determination ot the em.
ployes, and especially those OF the trans.
portation lines, to strike unless their
wages are raised, They have struck 10
many instances, and have always been
able 10 get all they demanded or q liberal
advance. 'It
While this fact hiuders trade, It
speaks volumes forts activity, for the men
are already getting living wages, aud the
fact that they demand more pay with
such confidence Is proof that they know
that the business warrants II. This ia q
fair inference. Every railroad depot and
freight office evidences 1t, A visit to the
business houses In every department Of
trade Is inspiritiug evidence Of 1t.
Without exception they report firm
spring trade, and the manufacturers state
that they are behind In orders from
month to year. Reports from outside
the city are equally encouraging, and al.
though the spring Is late and the winter
has been a severe one, 1t Is believed that
these disadvantages will be more than coun.
terbalanCed during the rest OF the year by
the activity ot the farmers, the enterprise
oi the tradesmen and the industry ot the
mechanics, who are encouraged by the
prospects and BY the results Of last years
work.
The grain markets have been unusually
excited, with strong upward tendency,
which reached its highest point to-day and
closed at outside prices. Wheat huCtuated
smaEtly every day, the total change for
the week being 3 cent? and the prices for
May delivery ranging from 81 03i 70 tl10i
Corn was equally unsettled and propor.
tionStely stronger, prices ranging from
42t to 44tc; while oats, which are com.
monty slow In movement, 0utstripped the
other cereals, prices running up from 35;
10 $3.50. Rye was firm and steady, while
barley took an upward turn, reaching 81 10
to-day. i. E1 j#
Provisions have been more active than
for any week this year The daily huctu.
atoms were heavy. The speculation was
very large, and at times the excitement
was intense. The dealers are freely az.
serting that there Is no corner in the prop.
or sense Of the term, but It Is very evident
that the major part of the provisions are
In few strong hands, and It is not to be
sold out except Rthigh figures The price
broke suddenly on the morning OF Wed.
nesday and Thursday, the decline amount
ing to nearly two dollars per barrel on
por k and sixty cent? per 100 pounds on
lard. Bulk meats are remaining pretty
arm; while there was almost q panic Ia
others. II did not lake long, however, for
the market 10 sLiffen up and
to-day the feeling was strong and con.
fdent again. II seems probable that the
break was engineered for the purpose Of
shaking out the weak holders and giving
the clique better grip on the product.
The receipts Of grain and hogs aud cattle
have been reduced greatly BY the floods.
but are nevertheless we'll up to those OF
last year. But for the heavy weather and
flooded tracks II is probable that the
movement would have been greatly In ex.
cess Of last year. With settled weather
very heavy receipts are looked for. The
stock CT grain In store is steadily dtmin.
ishing under strong loreign and do.
meetic demand, aud the supply Of pro.
visions 10 neither heavy nor Increasing.
The usual contradictory reports respecting
the course Of prices as based on produc.
ton and supply, are going the rounds.
The bottom facts seem 10 be that the win.
Ter wheat In the northwest Is much in..
jured, but will, with fair weather, yield q
fair return. The largely increased acre.
age will compensate for the injury. The
spring wheat will be late In the ground,
but good prices will induce the farmers TO
put In large amount, and the corn and
oats acreage will be heavily increased.
The movement Of staple and fancy dry
goods sol generous proportions. Grocer.
les are practically unchanged In prices,
and are selling very fair. Fruits are scarce
and high, with the supply rapidly dimin.
lshing. Building materials are In high de.
mand. Bricks are wanted badly. Building
Is greatly retatted by the high prices OF
labor and scarcity OF maetialI The wealth.
or has begun 10 be settled and pleasant,
and altogethet the spring has opened with
aYAnlIanH nRhtniaaa fok Ika vaaR