Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-07
STATE OF TRADE.
The shrinksge In the Demand fer
Products the Chief Cause Of the
Present Dulinesss
Railroad Earnings Bsgin to Show More
Losses than 6stns-The Loss for
March Nine Per Cent.
NOT ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY.

NEW YORK, April evidence eccu-
mulates OF the shrinkage Of business dur
ing the last month, and 1t is still uncer-
tain whether 1t is not the beginning Of
reaction. About half the western and
southern centers report some improve
msnt in business for the past week, but as
many report dizziness, with collections
somewhat slow. The eastern trace is not
up to the expectations of the great trans
porting companies by water or rail.
Those to New England report q larger
trsfflc than that Of last year, when the
movemen. was increased by the coming
enforcement Of the interstate commerce
act. Those to the south report
traf1c not as large as that
Of last year, but excellent with 8
hopeful outlook. The great trunk lines
from New York shipped westward 9s 454
tons in March against l30. IA last year,
aud the esst bound shipments from chi
cego for two weeks have bean 104 $40
tons against l55, 706 last year. The rail-
road earnings begin to show
MORE LOSSES THAN GAINS,
on the whole the net loss fJr the roads
reporting thus far being about 8 per cent.
for March. The shrinkage In exchanges
in March, outside Of New York, was also
about 8 per cent. All monetary anxiety
to great extent relieved. April pay
ments caused no pinch. The money
markets are rather close, but few points
are now seriously embarrassed. Foreign
exchange is lower with no sign OF de-
msnd for money from abroad.
OF -four and wheat the exports for five
weeks have been q shade less than hslf
of those Of last year. Ia corn only 43
per cent, and CT cotton sO5 per cent
Prices after three months Of remarkable
stesdiness were lifted by variety of
speculations rapidly, but show weakness
agsin. The general level is now less than
If per cent above that OF January, with
an improvement IN the products made
scarce by last years drouth, but gen.
eral decline in Manufactured products.
The Treasury increased Its balance alb out
$40. ooo,000 in March without caus-
ing q pressure. For the pas
week it has taken in $1,000, 900
while adding 100000 to b.nk deposits.
Whatever II may be later, the monetary
supply Is not now the cause of difficulty.
rhe present shrinkage In demand for
products
MAY NOT LAST,
but It is for the moment the chief cause
II dullness. Wool has also been weaker |
with fair volume of trade, but manu-
lecturers buy only for present needs and |
trade in wooden goods Is restricted.
In cottons the upward tendency has |
been arrested, and though the best makes |
are firm and In moderate supply, other |
grades are weak. Print cloths are little |
lower, and the jobbing trade is below ex
p cts,ions.
S2eculstors in coffee lifted the price
little, only to meet sudden fell. The |
sluggish demand at the current prices is
not surprising,
Summer pork packing Is estimated Is |
per cent. below last year,, but prices do
not stiffen.
10 the hardware trade disspp ointing
slsckness is reported. L1rge transGc-
tons were prompted in hides fer the
week by lower prices, but the market is
again dull. Large offerings aud lower
prices are reported in the tea market, and
8 fuli supply Of butter with holding on
Of best grades.
Weakness ID sugar Is attributed By
some TO the supposed arple supplies al
ready secured by the trust refnerles.
While the sickness in demand for
products is In part explained by the I'm
usual activity OF last fall and winter, and
lie part by recent storms and strikes, the
IS to the seton of Congress
is an influence of weight. Comparative
dullness usually prevails in the year OF
Presidential election, and il would not |
be prudent to count upon speedy re-
turn OF the gresE activity OF last year.