Wichita eagle., 1888-02-25
THE TRADE REVIEW,

NEW YORK, Feb. 24.-The following is
r. q. Dun q Co.'S review of trade for the
week ending February p:
Both legitimate trade and speculation
continue duller than is usual this season,
though moderate improvement in trade is
noticed at Memphis, Charleston, Kansas
City and Milwaukee. and in speculation
there has been a little more activity in
stocks
To natural causes at dullness at this
season there is added quite an unusual
uncertainty in several branches of busi-
ness. The termination of the Reading
strike has come at last. and, as was sug-
gested some time ago, it only increases
the uncertainty in the coal business. Eff
forts Rto settle the railroad wars
have not succeeded, but new
cuts cause much disturbance The
sugar trust meets unexpected opposition,
threatening its existence. Operations of
other syndicates of combinations make it
impossible to forecast the future in many
trades: and meanwhile, the uncertainty as
to congressional action on the tariff. is in
no degree lessened. Within few days
the sharp rise in foreign exchange has also
rendered the future of the money market
less clear.
The fact that the Reading strike but
Slightly affected the coal business, became
Clepr before work was resumed and it is
now felt, that with the known
shrinkage in the demand for
iron, the resumption of work by a
few furnaces would be likely to insure
lower prices. A sale of extra good forge
for S15S5 at furnace is reported, and the
competition to secure orders for rails is
lne trAr, TOD
but car building continues unusually
large. The PENNSYLVANIA alone has placed
orders for 200 cars and seventy locomo-
tiveS.
Coke producers at Connersville have
at last consented to reduce the price 25
cents, which will help manufacturers.
The decision against the barb wire pat
ents affects plants having capacity of
800, 600, but not actually producing 900.
A decrease in railroad building must affect
many branches of production. The mod
crate improvement in the stock market is,
therefore, interesting, but as yet has
scarcely lifted prices above the level Of
February l. OF new bonds issued this
year s54000,000 are for new roads, and
nearly sl2,0O0,000 additional We're listed
last week, but how many of these have
foundspurchasers no one knows.
The quick advance in foreign exchange
appears to indicate that investments of
foreign capitalists on this side has ceased
for the present, and experienced bankers
now discuss the possibility of early exports
of gold. The actual exports of goods at
New York for three weeks past show an
increase or 35 per cent over the same weeks
of last year, but no increase is expected in
The aggregate. The treasury has taken in
S., 100000 more than it has paid out during
the week, slightly diminishing bank de-
posits The situation at Washington does
So in, rI TO
the surplus and even the bill authorizing
purchases of bonds may be delayed
&DomeStic exchanges are but slightly IN
favor of New York, and the movement of
money this way seems to have ceased, with
some tendency to outgo in the direction of
Boston. At interior points the supply of
money is everywhere reported as ample,
and collections on the whole are improved.
especially in the northwest. Trade in
breadstuffs is hindered by foreign uncer-
tainties. which keep alive hopes of war and
high prices, Corn and oats have declined
about | cent each, while meal has risen as
much but is weak again. No change is |
noticeable in hog products. Oil has risen
about cents, while cotton has weakened |
The long depression in the price of leath- |
er is not vet broken, and the boot and shoe |
trade is reported satisfactory The dry |
goods market continues fairly active for |
cottons, though print cloths are shade |
easier III Ine JobDlnS trade growing actly-
ity is noticed, but in woolens the prospect |
of improvement is disturbed by the re
newal of large auction sales and peremp- |
tory sale of silks is also announced.
The business failures occurring through |
out the country during the last seven days
are for the United States 23,, for Canada |
33, or total of 30, as compared with
total of 213 last week and 2S9 the previous
week. For the corresponding week of last
year the figures were 90o made M of lS6
in the United States and 23 in Canada. For
the last four weeks the aggregate has been
Psi In the United States against 500 last
year and 15t in Canada against l41.