The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-04-19
Business Condition of 1he Country.

New YORK, April 13.-If dullness in
trade were always a bad sign, the
present outlook could not be called
hopeful. At only one or two interior
points Is the actual business transacted
satisfactorily. In volume nearly all
report comparative in activity at pres
ent with hopeful anticipations; though
at several points a considerable slack
ening of trade is now noticed. Money
has become light at some western and
southern points; the complaints of poor
collections being much more frequent.
The clearing house returns for
the first week of April, which includes
large deferred payments as well as
quarterly settlements. showed gain of
eight per cent. over last payments out
side of New York, but current transac-
lions do not increase to that extent,
if at all. The inactivity has caused a
yielding in general prices notwith-
standing a light advance in some
speculative imports.
The government report showing in
jury to wheat was the occasion of a
sharp advance in breadstuffs,
higher, though it has lost
part of the gain. and corn gains also;
but oats no higher than a week ago.
a Chicago corner in pork bled some
short sellers, but prices quickly re-
acted.
Cotton is a shade stronger, for
though the crop already in sight eX-
ceeds the entire crop of last year and
the fascity of short crop estimates is
proved, receipts are now falling off.
Oilhas risen 81 cents.
Sugar has also gained fraction,
but coffee is uncertain and
by some shade to secure trade, and teas
are slow and hesitating.
Butter is weak. Eggs lower and beef
does not improve.
In the dry goods trade there is only
moderate business with some cutting to
secure transactions. Print cloths have
declined to 81 cts, and the tone seems
weaker for cotton goods generally, eX-
cept for the most favored makes.
In wooden goods no change
appears, and the weakening wool
market distinctly reflects the
disposition of manufacturers to
confine purchasers to present deeds. A
large sale of Ohio XXX at twenty-nine
cents, is reported.
The boot and shoe trade continues
more active and cheerful than most
others and the demand is good, but
prices realized are slightly lower. Leath
er is quiet with a volume of trade.
The report of iron furnaces in blast
April 1SG, indicates slight increase
since March 1st. The demand is
satisfactory but the offering of
southern iron at $500 to 5000
for No. and $16 to $3.50 for No. 3
still disturbs the trade. Sales of 90
600 tons of steel rails at the east and
1O, 600 at the west are reported, at I'M
changed prices; but bar iron is low and
irregular on account of western offer
ings. Wire rods and wrought iron
pipe are lower, and nails are slow,
the western association having virtu-
ally reduced the rates for all below
$1,000.
The stock market, after some raise
and reaction, stands where it did
a week ago.. Large foreign purchases
of bonds are constantly coming out,
| and there are signs that foreign buying
/ exceeds selling of stocks.
The business failures during the
past seven days number for the United
| States 200, and for Canada %, or to-
| tai of ODD, as compared with DOT last
week and 1T for the corresponding
week of last year.