Wichita eagle., 1888-03-03

NEW YORK, March 2-Following is r.
q. Dun g. Co.'s review of trade for the
week ending Saturday, March 3.
Actual business is satisfactory for the
season. Prospects are confused and uncer-
tain, in some directions promising, but in
other branches of large Importance de-
cidedly clouded.
The passage by the house of the bill
authorizing bond purchases was designed
to remove the monetary uncertainty and
influence which affects all trade and in
dustry. Whether the senate will pass the
bill in its present form is not yet certain,
and Secretary Fairchilds' report makes it
questionable whether the measure, if
passed. would prove adequate relief for the
prevention Of treasury absorption of
money.
The western railroad wars and strikes
continue to disturb business. While earn
ingS of railroads continue to show that a
large quantity of freight for the season is
in motion, the rates are dropping and ex-
penses on many lines are increasing.
An important cause of uncertainty in
many branches of trade is the movement
to change the tariff. Whether proposed
changes are deemed desirable or not, those
who think them probable are for that rea-
son inclined to defer business propositions
The bills submitted on Thursday would af-
feet SO many industries and branches of
trade that individual opinions, favorable
or unfavorable to it, must considerably in
fluence 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 in
creaSes that hesitation. 1t is "A character
istic of many trades at present that pur-
chases and operations are, for one reason
or another, limited to present necessi-
ties In the boot and shoe trade, which
is otherwise exceptionally satisfactory,
there are some such indications as to
womens and children's goods; in the cot
tons. the recent signs of halting may be
attributed to the unusually large dealings
in the past; in sugar and numerous other
trades, the operations of trusts or combi-
nations cause uncertainty. The coal bust
ness, since strikes began to collapse, has
been marked by only hand to mouth
dealing, in doubt as to the future output.
The prices of wool are steady, and
buyers have been operating with
some freedom, but any advance
has been resisted, and the effects of the
proposal to change duties are not yet SEEN
No unfavorable indications appear in
reports of trade, or of collections i'll any
part Of the country Money is everywhere
comparatively easier, though at Boston
and other important points it is felt that
a revival of business activity would soon
be followed by some pressure.
Southern trade is clearly improving and
signs of renewed real estate activity at
some western points. The volume of trade
represented by payments through clearing
house is about 81 per cent larger than last
year, outside of New York, but with no.
ticeable losses at Boston, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Cincinnati and Kansas City.
Business failures occurring throughout
the country during the last seven days
number for the United States POP, and
Canada ~, total of pa failures. COM
pared with total of 30 last week and 273
the week previous. The casualties report
ed in Canada are still unusually large in
number