The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-12

Merchants are naturally combining their pur-
chases TO the demands of their holiday trade,
and will await the settling of the years bust
ness before gong extenslveiy into new pur.
chases. The apprehension of political interfer-
enee with business affairs will doubtless prOlong
the feeling of uncertainty until the action of
Congress is more manifest than at present. The
vol ume of mercantile failures continues dlseour-
aglngly large, the total number reported for
last week bling 307, against 242 the previous
week. 1t is worthy of nOte however, that the
wholesale men OF indianapolis are weatheriLg
the rough with remarkable courage, and
failures of business men, compared with other
commercial centers, have been strikingly few.
The export trade of the country is not as act
i've as could be desired, but the people have
learned the wisdom of economy in the use OF
foreign production; and the import trade mas
accordingly suffered, also, diminution in volume.
Provisions and breadstufs have advanced, with
the assistance of speculative influences and the
circulation OF reports that war between France
and China is inevitable, and that the peace of
Europe itself is threatened. The receipts at
western centers have increased somewhat, but
are still below the customary amount at this
time of year.
In the speculative markets there has been
considerable activity, hut attended with great
lrregularity. The bears of one day are the bulls
OF the next and vice versa. Room traders have
been doing the most of the business, every
feature showing that the brokers are dealing
more largely among and feeding
more upon themselves than fattening on the
general public Manipulation, rather than actual
worth, is therefore potential In deciding values.
The results or such operations cannot be regard
ed as indicative of the state of trade, except in
sitted from those OF purely speculative charac-
ter The general situation may be summarized
as one of continued depression but not OF dis
couragement, much less of decentralization.
Grocers report trade slow. Sugars strong at
quotations COffees barely steady, the tendency
stlll being to lower prices. The produce mar
kets present no new feature. The arrivals of
eggs, butter and poultry are about equal in
quantity to the consumptive demand. Potatoes
aud green apples in good supply and selling
rather slow; but better demand is looked for,
with the nearer approach of the holidays, for
most articles in the produce line.
GRAIN.
There is little change to note in the local grain
markets. The Board of Trade Price Current
says of wheat: Locally, we note little change in
this cereal Under light receipts the millers are
free buyers, but find choice milling article
scarce. Our markets are much higher COM
paratlvey than seaboard that with 16c per
hushel freight added, shippers are practi-
cally barred ont. New York is sc higher than
yesterday, and Baltimore is 1205sc frmer for
cash, while Chicago is steady. We quote:
NO. Mediterranean, track LOS
No. red, track ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 81
Mixed, track. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 81
COrn-Prices continue firm, and because of
light receipts buyers Offering full quotations,
but we notice feeling of caution among deal
ers, which would indicate a lack of faith in the
continuance OF high prices. Undoubtedly the
chief basis of the present marked advance is
bpeculdbIOH, anu Wnlle the manlpuiaJOfS nave
led the cOnfdng ones up to the plane of their
desire, the country, and especially the "lambs,"
may hear something drop. Seab0ard is higher
Gil around, ranging from A902c. We quote:
No. white, track Observation-Disclosures. "a
70 3 white, track ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. "a
Yellow, track. Observation-Disclosures. So
High mixed, track. IS
Mixed. track. Observation-Disclosures. So
Unmerchantable, track 40
Sound ear, track ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. SIS
Sound ear, new, track Observation-Disclosures. 3S1o
Oats-Owing to scarcity the seller can almost
command his own price. Cash deliveries are
higher We quote:
No. white, track. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 81
Rejected, track .--..---..t-....... 80
Rye-No. .. steady; So bid; no sellers
Hay-Prme timothy, quiet; SO bid; none Of
Tered
GRAIN IN STORE.
Dec. 10, 1888,