Telegram-herald., 1888-03-11
BUSINESS SITUATION
TENDENCY TOWARD LOWER PRICES
Business Less In Volume Than Last Year
Several Possible Cause.-The Sup
ply of Money Reported to
BE Ample.

New YORK, March 10.-The following is
Z. G. Dun & Co.'S review of trade for the
week ending March 10: Business begins to
fall below that of last year in volume. Rail-
road strikes and the possibility of their ex-
tension. the uncertainty as TO the tariff, and
the mode of preventing the accumulation of
money in the treasury, the death OF the
German Emperor, and the doubt as to it's
financial effects conspire TO check new ven
lures and to limit purchases TO the imn.edi.
ate needs. Thus the exchanges outside Of
New York fall below those of last year, and
the decline at nearly all the principal GEN.
tery of distribution Is considerable, Though
the numerous smaller cities still report
gains.
The tendency of the market is generally
toward lower prices. though the average for
all commodities is as yet hardly one per
cent. below the highest point touched soon
after Years. In the stock market the
downward movement has been more of a
benefit, though without any excitement.
The causes above named and especially the
considerable foreign sales since the decease
OF the German Emperor was anticipated
| fully account for the average decline of
aDeut one dollar per share; inueed, the re-
markable s.eadinesS OF the market under
the circumstances Is constantly mentioned
But this implies measure OF unreality in
the curren: prices. Markets which do not
respond TO natural inh1ences are with
reason disturbed.
The appeal to the courts by the Burling-
ton opens a way to a legal decision whether
any combination of men can lawfully ar
rest traffic on one railroad, because IL per-
forms its duty as common carrier in taking
freight from another. II is fe; that the de-
cision may prove of great importance in the
end. but il can hardly be reached soon
| enough to have influence this season. The
earnings continue large but the increase in
expenses also continues.
The wheat market has been lifted two
cents by the foreign news, but with the
result OF completely arresting the export
demand. As reported the exports of last
month from the Atlantic ports were less
| than half of those of the same weeks last
year, while exports as large as last year
would still leave considerable unsold sur
plus next July. The expedency of sd-
vance is doubted. Corn and oats have also
| risen ABOUT one cent, and oil little more.
while the foreign news has checked the
decline IN pork products; but cotton and
| sugar are lower. with some grades of iron
and wool The 3ecline in sugar has been
small. The belle hat the trust may be
effectuslly resisted seems to increase. A
| drop of half cent in cotton caused some
| failures here and at the South, out does not
! surprise any who have observed tn at the
| receipts from the plantations are still about
| 3o0,oyo bales above those of last year to
| date. The belief that the crop will reach
| 500 600 bales appears to gain strength.
| Ia dry gooas the market demand even for
| cotton goods has become m0der-
| ate. The uncertainty as to prompt trans
| pOrtation checks speculations. ss does also
| for prlnt cloths is light at sc; not long ago
| the uncertainty as 10 the tariff The inquiry
| 10 was strong 81 &C. The wool market is
steady for the better grades, which are in
| small supply. bat other lots are slow Of
sale, except st concessions, and msnufac-
/ turers generally are buying only for tue i'm
| mediate want The boot and saoe trade is
/ steady. and manufacturers are busy. The
/ feeling that leather can hardly 90 lower
| helps purchasers. Iron does not 90 strong.
| II the supply for good grades il limited. 90
/ is the demand. While grades iess known are
| offered a. concessions
| The Treasury has laid out money more
| freely The past week and hss added 500 0oo
| 70 its deposits in the bsDss and yet mas
/ taken In s. % 0oo more than it has. paid
/ out. The expoF sti0o Of early exports Of
| gcsd is sRrenS taens1 by trade accounts. III
1 dicating pr0ssose excess Of i'm ports oTs-
/ ths reports in feor6ary and BY lhe recent
sales Of securities on foreign &C. lat Bat
I the supply Of money ~ 81 Interior points
| reporting = ample, snd collections ere no
where matter of speculation.