Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-04-02
THE CONDITION OF TRADE.

MOn'y Causes Some Uneaslness-he'
ports Generally Favorable.
r. G. Dun & Co.'S Review for the
week ending March "a, is as follows:
"After the 'blizzard,' a temporary
increase OF business, at least, was
necessary to make up for lost time
and to meet delayed orders. The in.
creased activity from this cause has
extended through the past week, aud
1t is not yet clear whether a definite
improvement in general trade has not
come with it. In the speculative
markets there has, certainly, been
moro activity, though generally at the
expense of values. Stocks, bread
stutfs, provisions, cotton, sugar, and
oil are all a little lower, but with
larger transactions; sales Of stocks
have reached 100000 shares for the
week, Of wheat Al 100000 bushels, OF
corn 100000, and OF oats S,O00,-
900 bushels, of cotton 79S,OOO bales,
and of coffee 81 900 bags. Stocks
have declined about so cents per
share, with an important fall in some
OF the more prominent; wheat cent
and oats l cents lower, lard and
cotton an eighth lower, sugar a six
teenth, while coffee and tin have each
gained half a cent.
st is felt that the future turns
largely upon the money market,
which has been very easy. But the
steady loss Of reserves by the banks,
If continued at this season, may at
any time bring a sudden change.
Up to March LIST, in spite Of sales Of
stocks on foreign account, there is
evidence that foreign capital continu-
cd to come hither, probably on ac-
count of bonds negotiated late last
year or early in January. Tho re-
turns Of foreign commerce for Feb
ruary show imports exceeding exports
OF merchandise by $lO,l9 ,9o2, max
Ing the excess for two months, $685.
476, while the net exports Of gold
were 1881, 169, aud Of silver, 81 $780,
437. Considering half yearly interest
and dividends due abroad, and IN
d,rvaluations of imports, certainly
more than $2O,OOO,O0O of foreign
capital must have come mther. But
exports since March 1st fall q per
cent. below last years, and imports
are per cent above last years; the
la.ge movement of cotton and other
products seem to have passed, and
meanwhile the market indicates Gales
Of securities en- foreign account.
"ihc reports from the interior are
generally quite favorable, consider
ing the interruption which the storms
must have caused. AT Southern
points the activity and the early open
ing Of spring trade inspires hopeful
anticipations, though the margin for
profits is very narrow. Comparative
inactivity is the rule at Northern
points, though here and at Boston
there is some pressure since the storm
TO make up delayed orders, and a,
Chicago and Omaha increasing trade
is motel. Collections arc noticcably
slow at Cleveland, and not entirel,
satisfactory at Kansas City, but gen
orally fair. Detroit and Clevclant
are the only points where closeness il
the money market is reported, though
Boston begins to Graw from New
York, and some applications for dis
count come from St. Louis, where
rates are 6 to 8 per cent.
"Of the larger branches of trade
the boot and shoe appears most cheer
full, buyers reporting good trade
drought the country. The dry goods
business has been more active for III,
past week, with steady demand ant
unchanged prices for co,tons, bu,
woo!ens are in less satisfactory shape
Ihe demand for dress goods is mod
crate, buyers pausipg for the large
Arlington sale. aud the frequency Of
auctions, OF which no less than 81,
occurred yesterday, is feature no.
entirely encouraging. Tic iron trad,
is helped by the decrease in imports
which fell to 1858 tons for Janua.,
against 9l,241 last year, and for Feb
ruary, British shipments to this ccun
TT? wess o~y J2,4.6 tons, agains
!l1.io3 last year. Yet the constan
t'3ars OF Southern snd Western prod
Uc.s nj pri.;.s a HATH, ta'o,v F,c.ert