The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-18
THE STATE OF TRADE.
Regular Weekly Review OF II. q. Dun
a. Coz Business Failures.

a. Co.'S Business fanuros.
Nrw YoRR, Feb. l7.--R q. Dun 4
Co., in their weekly review Of trade, say;
IL can't be- said that business has changed
for better or worse during the past week.
Causes of recent dullness and or deprcs-
sion IN markets become more clearly visit
BILE; severe weather prolonged strikes,
and reaction from the last years over
hopeiulncss being prominent. The effects
of speculation based on hopes OF foreign
war are made plain by preliminary ac-
counts by January exports showing n loss
Of 50, 100000 In brcadstuifs, $500, 900 in
cotton; 81 5000 in provisions and $780,
900 In oil, compared with January, 1857
But improvements are expected 10 appear
In minor items, and partial returns Tor
February show better movement. The
markets continue unusually staanant, and
prices vary but little on the whole, The
average price OF stocks hasn't changed
half Of per cent. since the year opened
| Tho general average OF commodities II
| less than an eighth Of per cent. lower
than January !, or higher than February
|, the natural advance Of the season IN
some production being balanced by lower
prices In most Of the commercial staples.
The shrinkago In exports forces slow re-.
action, In wheat l0,0OO,OOO less. having
gone out In seven months this year than
last year; nt date about sJ,O0O,OO0 bushels
remain for export, In excess of supplies
for seed aud food, Whereas last years ex.
ports after this date were bG, 100000 bush.
els. The general reduction In elevator
rates Ia expected to help trading and TO
benefit producers.
Fork products have neither advanced
nor yielded, though hogs aro lower; oil has
declined cents and sugar from TO cent
The operations Of the trust turn some 10
favor lower duties. 1he recent increase
incon6doncc IN tea has been losl and collec
options are pressed for sale. Butter is
Hrmcr for good grades, with no change Ia
cheese. The dry goods market shows
great strength in cottons, though prices Of
many qualities are already high enough
for cent further advance In raw cotton.
There Is talk Of further adyaceS. The de-
mand for woolens continues modcia ate.
though better then II was, and WOOL "
firm, but buyers are still unusually eau
tious. Tho consumption Of rig irOn las,
| year tAfefNfN Nf0NNfNVO lou1 anu VI MI
iron, domestic aud foreign over 3, 1000
tons. Hut the shrinkage Of 10000 tons
weekly in production barely keeps prices
steady, aud in bar iron cut by a large
western establishment reflects the shrink
age In demand. Prices arc now $50
lower than year ago for pig 81 for bar,
~ 10 " Tor plates aud 81 for rails. Added
10 the light demand ~ cause OF weak
ncss. there II the statement that the com.
mitioc's tariff bill will reduce duties on
ore TO 30 cents, on pig TO 1850 aud on rails
10 Sil.
Az s. Louis, Kansas City and some
other western towns low rates have caused
n considerable increase ia business activity,
but at most points trade Il reported quiet,
or dull. with uniayouble weather, and i'm
practicable roads commonly assigned as
tho cause throughout the west and south
west. In southeastern States business
opens with bright prospects.
The business failures during the last
seven days number for the United States
2OO, for Canada, q. Total, 2,l, as com.
pared with 22D and go Tor the correspond
l.. II. la.sF