New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-29
MONEl md BUSINESS.

A tendency to shrinlage in the volume Of bust
ness just before Presidential election, when the
attention Of thousands is largely devoted to poti-
cal activity, is to be expected But the shrink
age does not appear in the exchanges outside of
New-Yorl, which continue to exceed last years
by about 10 per cent, nor in railroad earnings,
which show an aggregate about as large as that
of a year ago. Foreign trade is smaller and the
movement of breadstufs is much smaller than
last year, and the cotton movement, though in
creasing, is still much behind. Hog-pac<ng is
about 400, 900, or 1-2 per lcent, below that of
last season thus far, and the movement OF live
stock is smaller, and the output of petroleum,
while the output Of iron falls below last years
materially. Yet, in spite of all these facts, the
volume of exchanges and of railway traffic seems
to be fairly up to last years mark.
This is not because prices are higher, some
might imagine. For the general average of prices
Of all commodities is slightly lower than it was
year ago, notwithstanding the great advance in
wheat Many products are considerably lower,
and the tendency on the whole appears to be down
ward, notwithstanding the large expansion in the
circulation of late As for railroad earnings, rates
are so irregular that it is not possible to reason
accurately from earnings to quantities transported
But the small gains thus far reported for October
are entirely due to a single read, the Northern
Pacific for on all other roads reporting, seventy
two for the first week sixtv-six for the second and
thrty-five for the third the aggregate is sl2,5S4-
273 against 81 2, 6o5 544 last year, and, moreover
the recent falling off in number Of roads report
ing indicates that some are longer able to make
favorable reports
Wheat has advanced four cents, though no ad-
verso as to the yield appears Western receipts
are 100000 week, the visible supply increases
over 100000 bushels in week. and the exports
from Atlantic ports for the week ending October 30
were but 52,342 bushels. European customers
are very rapidly supplying their wants from Russia
and other sources of supply, while exports from
the Pacific ports are not small. 1t will not take
many weeks of this sort Of thing TO make wheat
carrying tifesome well os risky, ard, meanwhile
corn has declined "a cents. hogs eighth, pork
so cents per barrel, lard 49, and coffee 80 cents
per 90 pounds. sugar quarter, and refined sugar
an eighth. The COLLAPSE In lead has affected to
some extent the market for minor metals but great
quantities of lead have been forced to sale with
out depressing the price below $50. The coal
market is considered weaker, the recent output
having been exceptionally large, and the market
for iron is duh and weaker, though holders main
tain quotations in the hope that large demand
will appear in November
COTTON mas stHened httle, Out III later deal
ings options lost the small advance, and the re-
cepts last week were 270, 7O7 bales, while the
exports were 10000 against $4,000 last year
Neither in this nor in the woollen Manufacture
nor in the dry-goods market, is any important
change expected until after the approaching cleo
tion, and opinions as TO the course of the market
in the case Of the success Of either party are
much divided. While manufacturers will be able
TO act with more confidence hereafter If protec-
don prevails the immediate effect Of change