New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-20

market, after some days Of dulness and reports
of new wells, a slight advance was made. The
iron and coal markets continued unsatisfactory,
but in dry goods little more activity ap-
peared, and the stoppage of mills for a time
made print cloths little sitter. 1t may be
added that the general course of business. as
indicated by Exchanges outside of New York,
showed decrease of over G per cent in COM
parison with last year, and at Philadelphia and
Baltimore, as at New Y ork, the decrease ex-
ceeded 20 per cent.
Under the circumstances further gain in the
bank reserve was to be expected, and it in
creased S2,S69,00O. The surplus reserve, as
ia natural at this season, again mounts upward,
but at its lowest was $35, 600, 900 greater than
in any previous year for the first week OF April
The banks did not gain much from the Treas
ury, for comparison of the Treasury statements
shows that it lost, in amount of gold owned,
about 81 1888, 900, while gaining in amount OF
silver owned about 81 100000. There was O
slight increase in the gold held, and about
81, SOC, 900 more gold certificates put out On
the other hand, there was an increase of more
than 5000, 900 in the silver held, and a decrease
of still larger amount in the silver certificates
outstanding At New-YO'k, however, the ratio
of payments in silver to the total receipts for
customs was little less than for some weeks
past, so that for the month of April, thus far,
the proportions of gold and silver certificates
received have been almost precisely the same
each about 40 per cent.
A feature which has attracted considerable
attention has been the advance of sterling ex-
change, twice during the week, y cent each
time. The marked advance in prices OF gram
no doubt had more TO do with this change, by
checking the export demand, than any increase
in the demand for money at London. But it is
not unlikely that, if the peace reports prove
true the rate of exchange may crop with the
price of grain.
More dishcartening news as TO industry than
any received during the active hours of the
week came late Saturday night, in the state
ment that the Association of Iron and Steel
Workers at Pittsburg had again resolved to
demand the same scale of wages for the coming
as for the past year. IF this decisit is adhered
to, a strike of importance is quite certain to re-
suit, and permanent injury also to the iron
interests Of the West, for the wages paid in
that section have been so much higher than in
Eastern States that in time of depression the
difference is vital. Possibly the success of
some other recent strikes gave hope TO the men
that, in spite of the statements OF employers,
the wages demanded would be given without
struggle. The railroad coal operators OF the
Monongahela region, however, still refuse To
pay the wages demanded by miners. and con-
ceded by the river operators. The carpet
weavers' strike and the batters' strike have
recently ended, but the miners are leaving the
Wilkesblrre region in considerable numbers,
because of the stoppage, and the miners OF the
Cumberland region are now reported to have
decided upon demands which insure another
strike. Generally the industrial outlook would
be more encouraging than for some time past,
but for the numerous controversies between
employers and workers.