New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-15
uOVEy AND BUSINESS,

Three important causcs con attributed 10 swell
busincss transactions last week the rise
IN the stock market and efforts tor the
control OF some properties; the iaIl III cot
ton and the collapse of some spectators
IN Ncw-Orleans aud Liverpool, ana the
active speculation IN corn and the unccr-
tam movements IN wheat. As result the eN-
changes at the chief cities were large, rs might
be expected, but they were also large ut IT.
Iouis. Baltimore and New-Orlcaus, where they
have recently been small. collapse III an
important trade causes large transactions for
the moment, as well as an Improvement. But
il is also true that the exchanges at the smaller
towns are larger than they were last year. This
is not saving very much, for business at tins
time last year was exceedingly dnll, ana the
exchanges outside Of New York in February
were II per cent less than i'll the same month
of the previous year. But theIe Is cohsuetd-
BILE increase now, and much more hopeiul
tone. which, If not based too much on merely
speculative activity, helps to promote pe'ter
trade Rcal-estate dealings are especially
large. and The Real Estate RecOrd says that
business was "never moro prosperous anu
"the brokers are making more transactions
land more money than IN any previous season.
Architects are busy with plans. and builders
"are making contracts for the construction OF
"more houses tins year than any previous one
ain the history Of the CITY,"
The colapse in the cotton market is just what
must have been anticipated, in view OF facts
mentioned here from time tO time; especially the
depression of the manufacture III Europe ana
the great accumulation OF stocks here In the
vain hope of forcing the world to pay what
prices our holders please. Receipts are large
and do not support the current Idea that me
crops will prove smaller than was anticipated
| Exports last week were larger by 10000 bales
than for the corresponding week last year, but
the exports for the crop year are stu ZSo.ooo
! bales short. The stock at the ports is 2OO,O
| bales larger, and at interior towns 100000
! bales larger than a year ago, making aOont
| 100000 bales held, against less than
! | 100, 900 bales last year Thus there must be
locked up in cotton about SIC, 100000, much
of which banks have loaned Results thus tar
do not Justify the wisdom of speculative opera
lions which are obviously against the general
| tone of the worlds market. Cheap silver
makes India more effective compe itor with
the United States i'll two ways: it lowers the
price at which Indian cotton is offered In
EurOpe, and it lessons the demand III the East
for cotton goods.
The attempt to hoist the price of corn, how
ever palpably artificial. was quite successful.
and it is not limited by any considerations OF
actual supply or demand. The price shows an
advance of 2l2 cents for the week. Wheat de-
cIined 10 about 80 cents but recovered to 81 .
Bacon and lard were weaker, and also butter
and eggs. In dry goods there was only fair
demand though prices were maintained except
for print cloths, which declined sixteenth.
The tone of the iron market is stronger, both
because the coke strike is closing furnaces at
the West and because the publication of steel
statistics shows remarkable increase i'll con-
sumption not dependent on railway prospects.
The coal market is a shade stronger on account
Of the promised combination to control all
anthracite supplies. But if 1t were really OK
pccted that the combination would do all that
il promises every ton of anthracite would be
worth at least dollar more than 1t is now.
Money is exceedingly abundant on both sides
of the ocean. Ii is noticed as an extraordinary
phenomenon that the rate Of interest Is only
1l2 per cent at Berlin, as well AZ at London
and at New Y ork. Nevertheless gold has been
shipped during the past week to Europe, and
the shipments need little explanation In view
of the uncertainty as to silver coinage and Its
effects, and the probable realization OF foreign