New-York tribune., 1885-02-23
NOTES on INDUSTRY AND TR4DE.

WoOLLRN MANUFA CrURE.-At the annual meet
ing of the Lowell Manufacturing Company at
Boston. it was announced that the decline in
nrices Of products had made il necessary 10 give
notice of u reduction of wages. but II was hoped,
with the reduction that the company would be
able ~ sell its product and keep at work full time.
4 most striking statement was thereupon made by
the treasurer showing that the prcc OF extra
supcr carpets nearly p per cent lower Tor the
six months ending October lssl, than for the six
months ending 1850, and of fve-framc Brussels
more than - per cent lower; that Is, the solllng
value of our full years product Il less at last sea-
sons prices than al the prices of 1850 by an
anonnt exceeding the Ichoic amount paid IN year
for wages We should be. rs compared with leSO
worse of this year at present prices. even If 10
wages nj al were paid orabor 1t was stated that
a reduced cost had been effected by better manage
ment and larger production, and the hope was en-
terta,ued that an improved condition OF trade
would soon appear.
GRAy-Tho ofllclal statement of exports of
brcadstuts for January shows a very encouraging
increase in thc quantity of shipments. the wheat
moysment being more than double that If January,
issi. and the movement Of corn being about 40
per cent larger than IN January of last year. In
-four. however. the increase was only
about 80 Der cent. and In icornmeal it was smal,
with al decline inj oatmeal. barley aud rye. But
when prices are regarded, IL appears that the IN
crease in value Of exports Is By no means propor-
toned TO the increase in quantities The average
price # wheat sent out in January was only s3l2
ccniA against 81 o. in January. 1854, loss Of 23i2
cents In corn. the average export pfico for the
month was only 5Ol2 cents, against 03 cents in
January of last year. a loss of l2i2 cents
Consequently the tota value of bread
stuils exported in January was Sl7,o5o.95l.
an increase of 10 per cent. Inc adj
vance in the German duty 70 cents would seem
moro important to this country, but for the fact
that the entire German imports for eleven months
ending November 80, of both wheat and flour. were
equivalent to only 10,GO0,000 bushels of wheat.
In France. however. the discussion of proposed
advance in duty appears to affect the country mar
kcts. which have been generally rising only two
ont of III reporting lower prices January "a, and
only seven ont of l02 reporting lower prices Jan
uary 81. In Great Britain, OIL tho other hand, tho
country markets are generally declining. aud out
of nftv-scvcn reports January 80 none were higher.
while forty five wcro lower. The prices on English
sampcsayoraged 3D. less to the quarter than for tho
previous week The market III this country isa little
affected by the absurd controversy between statstl
clans of the different boards Of trade, who are uu-
able TO como anywhere near agreeing as 10 the
amount of the visible supply.
CoTroy-As II on purpose TO emphasize tho re-
ported dIscouragcment i'll tho cotton manufacture
AZ Fail River fu rthcr advance of Il IN the price
of raw cotton occurred last week, while the prices
of prints and cotton goods remained unchanged.
Indeed il is reported that there was a loss active
demand for white goods, and that some makes of
brown goods wero marketed at very low prices by
iobbcrs The fact that the crop movement has
Fallen below estimates Is given as reason Tor the
stillue,s ia prlco horo and at Liverpool, and tho
wintry weather at the South, with heavy SHOWS
in Mississippi, Is supposed to rtard preparation
for tho next crop. The exports last week,
Lo,vcvcr ycre only 90 600 bales against l0l 900
boles for the corresponding week last year. while
the rccclpts wcro "a 900 bales, against 65 600 last
wear Thus far the receipts at ports exceed those
| TO date for the previous crop year about 10000
bales, while the exports from September To feo-
rnnry go we're 1s7, 900 balea larger than for
the same period of the previous crop year.
! IRoN MANUFACTUnE.-Tho Victoria Iron Furnace
| and mines one of the largest establishments IN tho
county. has shut down on account Of ovor-stock
This n rather curious circumstance, IN view oi'h
fact that sales of Virginia continue To De IT,
| ported ut Philadelphia VI low prices while pel'er
demand for Other qualities has recently led the
managers of several furnaces to resume opera
| lions in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The con-
trast illustrates the fact that tho iron mar
ket Is growing more differentiated, so TO speak,
year by year. Different quaitios are securing more
strictly independent markets of their own. This
change is hkoly to continue as the peculiar htness
of different qualities of iron for different uses in
manufaoture becomes more fully understood. 1t
was noticed recently that the splendid establish
ments at Birmingham. Ala, found it difficult to
obtain market for their products, notwithstand-
ing their ability to produce very cheaply. The
Victoria establishment is owned by English capi-
talists, who invested English money in very large
amounts In tho Development Of mines, and in put
ting up magnificent furnace and coke works. and