The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-01-10
and indications are pointing to lie.

from st. Paul states that reports from
all Western and Northwestern CATH
ranges are gloomy, and the further
West the worse they are. Out If
2l5.000 cattle driven into Montana
but 1872, 900 will survive the seyeriv
of the weather.
Word comes from Charleston that
naval stores operations during 1894
have been the most Improbable since
the war. Cotton collections in the
same territory have been generally
good.
New YORK, Jan. 3.-Buyers who
come upon the market appear 10
handle only small amounts. and, in
deed, the weeks new demand has
rarely gone beyond the most impera.
tive necessities of the hour. In view
of the season, however, it is hardly
fair time to test matters, and nothing
positively conclusive can be decided
as to strength or weakness of The
market from the basis of current
business. The indications, however.
are thought to be favorable for hold.
ers Of the more desirable parcebof
clothing woods, as the accumulAthn
of such in manufacturers hsaS ~,
been filled at any time, as wants DEF
velOpe they must continue b1ying,
and the supplies in sight are about
the only basis to draw upoT. There
is certainly no great dagger from
abroad, though a local OPERATOR re-
Gently returned from the Eastward
informs US that in a quid way offer.
ings of Australian wool "tO arriYe''
could frequently be heard, with some
sales intimated at about 3S039c. One
good point in favor of holders is the
absence of objection to current prices
nearly all custOmers submitting tC
old rates readily, and in some cases
even abandoning Drmer extreme low
bids, made only for safety, and com
ing up closer to holders ideas on the
parcels wanted. The lower grades o
stock are steadily working out also
and with the finishing up of some ole
negotiations swelling this weeks
sales up to fair proportions for tht
season, the new year seems to Oper
on a reasonably promising market
and the more sanguine operators in
sist that the outlook is quite promis
ing. 1t certainly does not look a
though buyers in want of stock coulC
gain anything by further holding off
PHILADELPHIA, PA, Jan. "a
review of the iron trade of this cOun
try and abroad has just been com
pleted by James NJ. Swank, Secretary
of the American Iron & Steel Asso
citation. He says in the United State
the demand for leading articles 4
iron and steel was less in 1884 thu
in 1888. We made less pig iron -
bar iron, fewer steel rails, less steel
for miscellaneous purposes and fewer
kegs of nails. Prices fell as the de.
mand receded. Only in steel rails
has there been any recovery from the
lowest prices of the year, but even
here the recovery is slight. Steel
rails commenced the year at S34 and
fell to $3.50 in Septem her, since
which time they rallied to S2S.
No. anthracite foundry pig iron
at Philadelphia brough $50 80 at the
beginning of the year, aud SlS at the
close. The best bar iron at PhiladeI.
phia sold at 2 cents a pound in Janu.
airy, but for many months sold al
l $40 of a cent per pound, or $40 80
per gross ton This is a lower price
than we quoted during the panic
years, except for short time in
1871.
The store price of cut nails at Phil.
adelphia was 81 60 per keg in .Janua-
ry, from WHICH there was a steady
decline to 50 10 in October the pres
ent price. The prices during the
panic years did not fall so low until
March, 1879, but from this low price
there was speedy recovery. If the
farmers in the west could dispose OF
their wheat and corn and other sta
pies at higher prices than now pre-
vail we might soon see an increase |
demand aud better prices for iron
and steel, but until the farmers pros.
poets improve we cannot see better
days for our iron and steel manufac
turerS, nor for some nthes- fsse--
turers. The country at large cannot
be prosperous if the farmers are not.