The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-04
THE STATE OF TRADE
THE WEEKLY BUSINESS REVIEW
Full and E1hAu,tl,. Reports from tn. PrOnl
h'nt COnnsrsl ard Trade CsntaI Of the
Country, showing The CoudltlSn Of
BuIlnsn snd TutIrS Prospects.

NEw YoHK, February S-There is a
slight,increase Of activity noticeable in the
dry goods trade, though on the whole busi.
ness has been dull and prices have under.
gone but slight changes.
The grain market has been very unset
tied, with continuous tendency down.
ward and with some considerable fluCtua-
tons. The market closes fairly steady with
q decline Of five or six cents on wheat and
two or three cents on corn and oats,
The trade in provisions Is very unsatis.
factory, and business has been largely
speculative.
Lard is fairly steady but shows some
weak tendencies.
Pork Is in about the same condition,
but rather more firm. There Is
nothing Of special interest to note
in wool. Holders are somewhat disap-
pointed on account of the lack Of demand,
but continue to hold strong, and to have
confidence in the future. In cotton large
amount Of business has been done-main-
ly speculative, with fluctuations in range
Of twenty points. The market closes firm,
at q slight decline.
Petroleum has been fairly active and the
market strong. Business mainly specula-
tive. Freighis dull and rates steady.
Transactions in American pig iron have
been comparatively large and prices firm.
Stocks arc small and manufacturers are in q
condition TO select their customers. Little
is doing in Scotch or English pig.
In boots and shoes the demand for goods
Is light, with some improvement noticed in
the fine line for present use, but the ship.
ping trade is backward rs yet. Manuiac-
turers have more orders on hand than
usual at this season OF the year.
The leather market Is quiet with a steady
demand for some kinds. Prime sorts are
taken pretty fast, but rough leather is dull.
The market for raw sugar is not in very
good shape, the large holders making
lnand will be limited until spring sets in.
In refined sugar business Is dull with little
] to note.
| In the coffee trade, for Brazil grades, the
demand is light rs the distributing trade
is not active. Prices are weak in view OF
the large new crop, and operations limited.
The bulk OF tea imported is sold at auc-
ton, but there is Indication OF more firm.
ness. The distributing trade is still light,
and, on account OF competition, profits are
small, The produce trade has somewhat
improved during the last few days, all
grades having better show and small
advance, and accumuations being grldu-
ally reduced. 1t is believed that tile sur.
plus will be worked off before the OPEN
ing Of the spring season. Memberships
in the Butter, Cheese and Egg Exchange are
now selling ut $500 each, an advance Of
Si50 since one year ago.
TIE FAILURE RECORD.
R. G. Dun & Co., mercantile agents, re-
port the failures throughout the country
for seven days at l40, OF which the Eastern
States furnished II. the Western IS, the
Southern 40, Middle 80, Pacific Coast and
the Territories IA, New York City Z.
While the failures are OF diminished
number compared with the previous week,
there are several for very large amounts in
various parts Of the country. A number
Of them are deliberate attempts ut fraud
upon their creditors, indicated by prefer
ences given to friends. The necessity for a
National bankrupt law was never better
shown than in several cases that haye oc.
Cured this week. One trader coolly pre-
ters his sister-in-law for $4,000 to satisfy
his conscience, leaving nothing whatever
for other creditors TO whom he owes $50,-
900 or 100000.
CHICAGO.
CmcAco, February Enhances are in q
satisfactory shape; money and borrowers
being about evenly balanced. The dis.
tnrbance on account OF the Paris troubles
has been an indefinite signal, except for
speculating purposes on change. The
banks have not at any time expressed
alarm. The clearings for the week, esti.
mating Saturday, were S52,0O0,0OO. las.
tern Exchange 77aS0 per cent. discount.
The smallpox scare has detained some buy.
ers from the city, but generally business
has gone along gradually improving. As
the plst holiday Illness wears away, trade
will likely open up lively.
The unreasonably mild winter has inter
fered considerably with some branches OF
business, but generally there is little
ground for complaint
Coal is quietly settling in price.
On Change there was much activity In
the wheat trade, and fluctuations admitted
; OF lively speculation. The deal Is, how
ever, managed by few heavy dealers,
and is no very marked tendency. What
is lost one day is regained the next.
Provisions were at times decidedly
I animated in expectation Of squeeze.
Corn was steady to-day.
Oats were weak and steadily declined.
CINCINNATI.
ClxcISSATI, February 3-Disagreeable
weather, bad roads, high rivers and diff.
culties OF transportation, by both rail and
river, are reflected in comparative stagna.
ton OF such branches us are affected by
. these things. Dry goods suffer on this ac.
count, as well as by the unexpected decline
in spring prints, which compels rcduc,
ton in heavy prints. WOolen goods are
getting out OF season. In boots and shoes
there is less dullness, but orders are not SO
abundant MS may be expected when bet,
ter weather and roads come. Groceries
continue active, with no break in prices,
Sugar is little easier, but quotations are
but slightly reduced. The iron trade shows
no signs OF weakening, and, indeed, char
coal iron is higher, and sales ahead OF the
production are refused, because enough
contracts OF that kind are already made,
Manufactured iron is in good demand and
firm.
Leaf tobacco has been active and high
prices have brought tho largest offerings
Of the year, although the river shipments
have been restricted by high water in the
. Ohio river. The highest price on Thurs
day was $50 q per 100 pounds.
The money market has been active foi
the past few days, borrowers being largely
Of the mercantile class, The nate has been
t firm at 9 per cen Eastern exchange
, scarce and higher.
] Flour has been in active demand for q
, portion OF the week, but has declined
: slightly in price.
Wheat strengthened early in the week
but declined agaip, closing weak to-day
at 81 40.
Corn has been unusually active, and the
shipments are. much increased. The price
fell during the week, but stilTened to-day
!. closing ut 65aGjlc for No. 9 mixed spot.
Oats have not been in active demand
4