The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-24
THE STATE OF TRADE.
THE WEEKLY BUSINESS REVIEW.
Fall aad Exhaustive Reports from the PrOmI.
a'ut Commercial and Trade Csn,Sr Of the
Country, showing the Condition Of
BuIIasEI and Rutars Prospects,

NRw YoRK, December 23-Merchants
generally, report business largely of holj
day character. Merchandise is in mode
rate demand, and while some lines OF trade
are comparatively active in Others there Il
but little animation and light sales, Nc
great activity is anticipated until the spring
trade fairly sets in.
The dry goods trade is generally very
quiet, the holiday trade which has been
keeping the iobbes busy having dropped
of. Prices have been well upheld.
The tendency Of the grain market has
been downward, Wheat declined 8 cents
this week and corn ~ cents, and prices
tluctuated within these ranges, the market
closing steady with slight exhibition OF
tirmness.
Lard and pork have been weak, the de.
cline being precipitated by the failure of a
leading bull broker, Prices somewhat re.
covered and the market closed firm at an
advance.
In cotton the market has been quiet and
steady with the volume Of business small,
closing weak,
In wool buying has been very moderate,
holders having confidence in the future,
and are firm US to prices. There are no
futures Of special interest Petroleum is
dull and unsatisfactory, In freights fair
amount OF business IL doing The emarket is
steady In American pig iron, aud fair
business has been done, and for the better
grades higher prices have been realized.
Scotch ply hus not sold largely, hut prices
are firm with tendency TO advance. The
prices may create speculative movement.
In manufactured iron there seems to be no
falling off In tho demand, which has for d
long time been very active and prices arc
well sustained, Tue leather trade is gener-
ally very quiet but good demand is an.
ticlpated soon. Dealers arc not disposed
to make much concession In prices. The
bootand shoe trade Is slack, Nothing OF in.
terest has occurred during the week. There
is no change in the lumber market. The
produce trade Is dull and prices steady, but
there is large amount OF both butter and
cheese In storage which will not be moved
without loss. The bulk OF this, however, is
In the hands OF strong firms who can stand
the shrinkage. There Is no trouble antici.
pnted among dealers.
Drugs are little more active. There
has been u rapid advance in quinine
Opium shows u moderate advance, and
there seems tO be general belief that the
worst Of the depression in this line OF bust.
ness Is over.
Raw sugar Is dull and unchanged. Re.
lners are not doing much, Holders are
firm and prices unchanged.
AT the sale OF 5000 half chests OF green
tea, Thursday, the bidding was not ami
mated, and an average decline Of one cent
per pound was established. The market
appears demoalzed.
In the coffee trade there are no special
features to note. Tho new crop is coming
in fairly. The product Is estimated at
least MS large as last year. Large operators
are keeping out Of the market and are
rather respondent at the outlook.
The failures the lust seven days through
out the country were III, which was u
very large number compared with the early
part Of the year. The Southern States still
furnish tho largest quota, the disasters in
that section numbering IS; IN the Eastern
States, "a; Western, AZ; Middle, 81; Pacific,
0, and New York City 10.
CHICAGO.