Wichita eagle., 1888-02-18
AT A STANDSTILL.
Trade Was Inactive the Past Week. but
Better Feeling is Shown.

New YORK, Feb. 17.-R. e. Dun q Co.
i'm their weekly review of trade today: 1t
can't be said that business has changed for
better or worse during the past week
Causes of recent dizziness and depression
in markets become more clearly visible,
severe weather prolonged strikes and re-
action from the last years over hopeful
ness being prominent. The effects of
speculation, based on the hopes of a
foreign war, are made plain by the prelim-
mary accounts of January exports, showing
a loss of So 400, 600 in breadstuffs, $500, 900
in cotton, 81, 10000 in provisions and $500,
600 in oil. compared with January. 1881
but improvement is expected to appear in
minor items, and partial returns for Feb
ruary show better improvement
The markets continue unusually stag
nant, and prices vary but little on the
whole, The average price of stocks have
OF per cent since the year opened. The
general average of commodities is less than
an eighth of per cent lower than Janu-
aIy or higher than February I. the nat
ural advance of the season in some pro-
ducts being balanced by lower prices in
most of the commonest articles.
The increase in exports forces a slow re-
action in wheat, 100000 bushels less
having gone out in seven months this yeBr
than last year. At date about $1,000 600
bushels remain for export in excess of sup
plies for seed and food, whereas last years
exports after this date We're III, 600 600 bush
els. The general reduction in elevator
rates is expected to help trading and to
benefit producers.
Pork products have neither advanced nor
yielded, though hogs are lower. Oil has
declined IL cents end sugar from \ to Il
cent The operations of the trust turn
some to favor lower duties. The recent
increase in confidence in tea has been lost.
and coffee options are pressed for sale.
Butter is firmer for good grades, with no
change in prices.
The dry goods markets show great
strength IN cottous, though prices of many
qualities are already high enough for one
cent further advance in raw cotton There
is talk of further advances.
The demand for woolens continues mod
crate though better than it was and wool
Is firm, but buyers are still unusually
cautious.
The consumption of pig iron last year
exceeded 6,SU0,0O0 tons and of all iron.
domestic and foreign, over S.l000o0 tons.
But the shrlnkage of 1900 tons weekly in
production barely keeps prices steady and
IN bar iron the cut 10y large western es-
tablishment reflects the shrinkage in de-
mand. Price are now Sl.10 lower than "A
year ago for pigs, So for bar. 81 to 81 for
plates and s. for rails. Added TO the light
demand, as a cause of weakness. there is
the statement that the committees tariff
bill viii reduce duties on ore to 30 cents.
on pig TO 40. and on rails to Sill
At St Louis, Kansas City and some
other western towns low rates have caused
considerable increase in business ac-
tivity, but at most points trade is reported
quiet. or dull, with unfavorable weather
and lmpmcticable roads, many have as
signed the cause throughout the west and
southwest. In the eastern states business
opens with bright prospects,
The business failures, during the last
seven days number: For the United
States, .si: for Canada. 20. Total Oh as
compared with 2S9 last week. and ". for
the corresponding week last year.