The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-03-10
Review Of Trade.

udI uuSlHeSS Is satisfactory TOT the
season. Prospects are confused and
uncertain, in some directions prom
ising but in other branches of large
Importance decidedly clouded. The
passage by the House of the bill au.
thOrzing bond purchases was de-
signed to renew the monetary uncer-
tainty, an influence which affects ALI
trade and industry. Whether the
Senate will pass the bill in Its present
form Is not yet certain, and Secretary
Fairchild's report makes question:
able whether the measure, if passed,
would prove an adequate reliance
for the prevention of Treasury as
sumption of money. But many
think it will give full relief, and that
impression gave hopefulness to the
slack market for one day. Lower
prices Immediately followed, how
eyer.
The western railroad wars and
strikes continued to disturb BUSH
ness. Because of cut by the Cana
dian lines, the eastern trunk roads
announced a reduction of ten per
cent on east and westbound rates,
March 5th. and efforts to settle the
western war were defeated on Thurs
day by the st. Paul. Only partial
revival of traffic on the Burlington
d Quincy has been attained. AT pre-
vailing rates business is not so profit
able that the company is impatient.
While the earnings of railroads con-
tinue to show that a large quantity
of freight for the season is in motion,
the rates are dropping and expenses
on many lines are increasing, the
Pennsylvania has advanced wages
on the western lines ten per cent.
An important cause of uncertainty
in many branches of trade is the
movement to change the tariff.
Whether the proposed changes are
deemed desirable or not, those who
think them probable are for that
reason moved to defer business OPP
eratlOns. The bill submitted on
Thursday would affect so many in.
dustries and branches of trade that
Individual opinions, favorable or I'M,
favorable to it, must considerably in
fuence transactions while it remains
pending. 1t comes at time when,
for other reasons, there is hesita-
ton in most of the branches chiefly
concerned, and Increases that hesita-
ton. 1t is characteristic of many
trades at present. that purchases and
operations are, for one reason and
Onother, limited to present necessi-
ties.
In the boot and shoe trade, which
is otherwise exceptionally satisfac-
| tory, there are some such Indications
as to women's and children's goods !;
in the cottons the recent signs of
hating may be attributed to unusu-
ally large dealings in the past !; in the
sugar and other trades the operations
of trusts and combinations cause I'M
certainty. The coal business. since
the strikes began to collapse, have
been marked by only hand to mouth
dealings, in doubt as to the future
output.
The prices of wool are steady, with
Ohio Xxx at 32c, and buyers have
been operating with some freedom,
but any advance has been resisted,
and the effects of the proposal to
change the duties are not yet seen.
A large failure in the lumber and salt
interests in Michigan, following the
remarkable shrinkage in the demand
for iron ore. indicates that the pros
pect in that region is not wholly UNI
clouded. Elsewhere the iron trade
Is hesitating with somewhat lower
prices at Pittsburgh, while Youngs-
town works resolve to close unless
better railroad rates enable them to
meet Southern competition. In the
East the supply increases while Or
ders halt.
No unfavorabie indications appear
in reports of trade or of collections
in any part of the country. Money
is everywhere comparatively easy,
though at Boston and other import
ant points it is felt that revival of
business activity would soon be fol.
lowed by some pressure.
Southern trade is clearly improv-
ing, and there are signs of renewed
real estate activity at some Western
points.
The Treasury has returned by
banks 81. 100000 of the deposits dur
ing the week, and in all took in
81, 900, 900 more cash than it paid out.
For the month of February the debt
reduction was S7,560,000, almost en-
tireIy through the increase in cash
on hand, though S5,000.000 was paid
surrendered bank notes, and the
bank circulation diminished 50, Il, sos.
The volume of trade represented
by payments through the clearing
houses is about q per cent larger
than last year outside of New York,
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