Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1888-04-14
SIERRA COUNTY:
ehRlNKAGE IN BUSINESS.
Uncertain whether 1t Is Rot the E~ein.
ming ofn Rsaction--Dun 8 Co.'S Weekly
Trade Review.

Uncertain whether 1t Is Rot the B~etn.
ming ofn usaction--pun 8 Co.'s Weekly
Trade Review.
New YosK, April 7.--R. @. Dun & Co.'s
weekly review Of trade will say: Eyilenca
nccumuntes Of shrnSage in business dur
ing the past month and 1t Is stu uncertain
whether il is not tho beginning ot a reac.
tion. About half the Western and South.
ern centres report some improvement in
business for the past week, but as many re-
port dnllness. with collections somewhat
slow. Eastern trade is not up TO expecta-
tions. OF tho great transporting COM
panics, by water or rail. those 10 New I'm
gland report larger traffic than that OF last
year, when the movement was increased
ty tac coming enforcement oil thr lutcr'
State act. Those TO the south re.
port trslhc not as large rs that ot
last year, but excellent with hopeful
outlook. The grsst trunk lines from New
York. shipped westward rs, i5i IN MARCEL
against Ijb i4t last year. and cast bonu.i
shipments from Chicago for two weeks have
been l0t.J2J tons against l5j. ,0h last year
The railroad earnings begin To show more
loses than gains on the whole. the not loss
for roads reporting thus far being about .
per cent for March. The shrinkagc IN OK.
change il March. outside OF New York, was
also about . per cent These evidences ot
past srnkage'arc partly attrihuia5le to
tie great storm, aud partly 10 western
strikes, which seem no longer likely
to cause serious disturbance But
larger rnl moro lasting cause u
tho prevailing uncertainty as TO tho
future. Monetary anxiety is 10 great cx.
tent relieved. April payments tatised no
pinch. money markets. rather closc At but
tcw poiuts, ARE nowhere sef'onsly enbar'
raased foreign exchange is lower, with no
sen of demand for money from abroad.
Though tho bond purchase bill, 10 i passed
the Senate. may not be approved IL ~.
sures the President OF ample power. aud
purchases will therefore be made IN casc oi
necessity. But the decline IN merchandise
exports for the past four weeks has been
20i< per cent. against an increase oi 3.G per
cent. in imports. Of flour and wheat, e.
ports for live weeks have been shade iess
than half thosc OF last year, OF corn only
~ per cent. and OF cotton cox per cent
Prices, after three months Of remarkable
eteadiness. were lifted bya variety of spec
ulations rapidly, but show weakness again;
the general level 10 now less than three
quarters Of ono per cent. above That of jan
uary ]. with improvement in farm products
made scarce by last years drought but
general decline in manufactured products.
The Treasury increased its balances about
VA MafCu without tauSIitS pres
sure, for the past week il has taken ia a
million aud Lalf. while adding 500, 600 to
| bank deposits. Whatever IL may be later,
! the monetary supply is not now ca.isc oi
difficulty.
The present shrinkagc in demand for
| products may not last. but il is for the
moment the chief cause Of dullness. In
| the iron business. n depression exists greater
than has been felt for years, tho snspcn.
l = .l.l Ia -
announced. including the great Edgar
rhcnpsoil works near Piitshnrg, and tic
| ehiwl makers at n meeting have decided
tllAL withnut lower fuel aud frcghts they
cannot meet competition from the south
md west. The price OF coke. now ntiilii-
naily 81, enables western works 10 produce
more eirapiy mill pig iron at flttshugs Is
a little lower Wool has also been weaker.
with falr volume of trade. but manuiac-
turrrs buy only iur present needs. aud Inc
trade in wooden goods IL restricted. In
cottonS the upward tendency has been ar.
rested, and though the hest makes ave firm
and in moderate supply. other grades are
weaker. print cloths n little lower. aad the
ljobbing trade below expectations.
The spccuia;ors in coffee lifted the prices
| A little, only TO meet ssid3an fall. Slug
rish demand nj current prices Is rot sur
,rising. summer poll packing is esiin,2i-
/ ]
pfirrs do not sti'en. In Tie hardware
trade Disappointing slackness is reparied.
Large trsnsartons were prompted ia h'drs
for q week by lower prices. but the niar~ot
a Aeain dull Large offerings ard Lower
prires are reported in the tea market.
and a free supply Of butter, wiil, yieid-
ling on best grades The weakness in
sugar is attributed by some orc 10 SIM
nosed ample supplies already secured by
,rnst retincrie.. Spreckels hes decided TO
locate new refinery al Philadelphia. Tho
la;e,, changes in the pending tarih bill do
not appear TO satisfy the trade. Whiin
prcsent slackncss in demand for products IS
In mart explained hy the unusual activity
Of last fall snd winter and W part by re.
-cut storms and strikes. uncertainty IS 10
the action OF Congress is an influence oil
weight. Comparative dullncss usually pre-,
v.,ls in wear OF Presidential election, and
4 would not be prudent TO count upon
speedy return Of ths grea, activity q last
s.yeaf.