The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-02-07
The Condition Of Business.

earlier portion Of the week, owing to
the general reduction of railway
freight rates east and west, were
checked again later in the Week by
the severity of the weather, together
with the sudden advance of east
bound freight rates. On the whole,
as indicated by kilograms to Brad
streets, the volume Of general mer-
chandise moving during the past
week Is no heavier than during the
previous seven days. Advices from
Chicago, st. Louis, Cincinnati, Cleve,
land and other western points men,
ton the severity of the weather as
having caused traffic to drag heavily.
At no prominent point of diStribu-
ton has the amount of business
transacted equaled expectations. AT
Philadelphia traders are reported
as hopeful and full of confidence. but
buyers are cautious. AT Boston in
dry goods circles manufacturers are
reported as losing money at present
prices, but are cOngratulating them
selves that they are not producing
goods in excess of requirements, al
they were one year ago. There has
been no gain in the demand tire
since the opening of the new var.
Cleveland reports a growing tOnti.
dence as to the spring and sumner
business. while current TRANSACTIONS
are quite unsatisfactory. While the
general tenor of the advices fiOm St.
Louis are unsatisfactory, it isworthy
of note that cash purchases are
heavier than they were year ago.
The industrial situation has inn
proved sufficiently to make good a
portion of the unfavorable features.
More employees In mining and man.
ufacturering lines have been thrown
out of work, but it is noted that about
fifty iron works, tube and nail man.
ufacturing establishments, iron and
steel mills, structural iron establish
ments, and blast furnaces have begun
work again, more than one-half OF
which are in Pennsylvania. The re-
verse is cOlOred with the statement
that wages in almost all instances
haYe been reduced. Wheat has been
dull. and speculative and export de.
mand is quiet. Prices have declined,
and Indian COMMUNICATIONS have fol.
lowed suit, though to proportion
ately less extent. The -four market
has-also been weaker through alb.
sence of demand from exporters. No.
2 red closed last night OF 92c. against
954c. last week, and No. 2 mixed
corn at SOC. as compared with $3.50. q
week ago. The tendency of hog pro.
ducts has been upwards, owing to
the decrease ofreceipts of hogs at the
west. though tho weakness in grain
has exercised depressing effect.
Refined lard closed at 7.45c. against
7.45c. week ago.
The dry goods market is steady,
but wholesale buyers are again ope-
rating with conservatism and the
volume of sales is only fair. In tex
tiles, both cotton and wooden, prices
are still unremunerative, although
production Island has been for months
far short of the capacity of the facto-
ries. While print cloths are weak.
ening raw cotton is advancing, the
decreased crop movements of the
past week stiffening quotations for
the staple still further. Grocery sta.
pies have been decidedly slow, with
lower prices on sugar, mild coffee
and Japan tea futures.
A number of houses engaged in the
pig iron trade report better inquiry,
but none that can be learned of who
supply Eastern consumers mention
any material improvement. The
slight gains reported at the West con.
tinue. and in New England there is
reported further demand for South
ern iron, as we'll as No. 2 anthracite
TO mix Herewith. OF the pig iron
trade at Cincinnati the circular says
that there is good aggregate of
sales. at is probable that more iron
is being distributed from Cincinnati
this month than in the correspond
ing month of last year. prices rang.
ing from 50 to So per ton below those
accepted at that time. Production OF
Southern iron is. we think, a little In
excess of a year ago, but there is no
case reported of furnace accumulate
ing stocks, and most of the large COM
panies have more orders on their
books than for many months. This
condition of things would have been
different. of course, but for the heavy
shipments (Southern) of iron east
ward. These continue at an increas-
ed rate, Notwithstanding the reduc-