The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-03-03
STATE or TRADE.
Money Comparatively Easy Esenwhcre, bat Trade
Prospects Uncertain.

ffo6peGtS onSgta3tur
New YoRK, March 2.-R. q. Dun q
Co, in their review say the actual btlsi-
ness is satisfactory for the season. Pros
poets are confused and uncertain; in
some directions promising, but in other
branches of large importance decidedly
clouded. The passage by the House
of the bill authorizing bond purchases
was designed to remove monetary I'M
certainty an influence which frets all
trade and industry. Whether the SEN
ate will pass the bill in its present form
is not yet certain, and Secretary Fair
child's report makes it questionable
whether the measure, # passed, would
prove an adequate reliance Tor
the prevention of Treasury absorp-
ton of money. But many think it will
give full relief, and that impression gave
hopefulness to the stock market for one
day. Lower prices Immediately followed,
however, and the average decline for
the week has been about 81 per share.
Western railway wars and strikes con-
tinue to disturb business. While the
earnings of railroads continue to show
that the average quantity of freight
dropping, and expenses on many lines
increasing, but Pennsylvania advances
wages on its Western lines 10 per cent.
An important cause of uncertainty in
many branches OF trade is the movement
to change the tariff. Whether the pro-
posed changes are deemed desirable or
not, those who think them probable are
for that reason moved to defer business
operations. The bill submitted Thursday
would affect so many industries and
branches of trade that individual opin-
ions, favorable or unfavorable to it,
must considerably influence transactions
while it remains pending. 1t comes at
a time when, for other reasons, there is
hesitation in most of the branches chiefly
concerned, and increases that hesitation.
1t is characteristic of many trades at
present that purchases apd operations
are for one reason or another limited to
present necessities.
In the boot and shoe trade, which is
otherwise exceptionally satisfactory,
there arc some such Indications as to
women's and ciiildren's goods. In cot
tons the recent signs of rallying may be
attributed to unusually large dealings in
the past. In sugar and numerous other
trades, operations of trusts or eombina-
tions cause uncertainty. The coal busi-
ness, since the strikes began to collapse.
has been marked by only hand to mouth
dealing. from doubt as to the future out
put, Prices of wool are steady, with
Ohio, KAT SO, and buyers have been OPP
Grating with some freedom. but any ad-
vance has been resisted. and the effects
of the proposal to change duties are not
yet seen.
The large failure in lumber and salt
interests in Michigan, following the re-
markabie shrinkage in the demand for
iron ore, indicates that the prospect in
that region is not wholly unelonded.
Elsewhere the iron trade is hesitating,
with somewhat lower prices at Pitts
burg, while the Youngstown works re-
solve to close unless better rail rates
enable them to meet Southern competi-
ton In the East the supply increases
while orders halt.
No unfavorab'e e indications appear in
reports of trade or of collections in any
a. -.
where comparatively easy Southern
trade Is clearly improving, and there are
signs of renewed real estate activity at
some Western points.
Business failures occurring throughout
the country during last week number
for the United States 202, Canada AZ,
total 244; against 270 last week. Casual
ties reported in Canada are still unusu-
ally large in aamher,