The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-24
DUN . co.'s BUSINESS REVIEW.

An Increase of Activity Follows the Storm,
but 1t May Not Be Permanent.
NEW YORK, March 23.--R. 6. Dun g. Co., in
their weekly trade review, say: After the 'bliz-
zard" temporary increase of business, at least,
was necessary to make up for lost time and to
meet delayed orders. The increased activity
from this cause has extended through the past
week. and ID is not yet clear whether definite
improvement in general trade has not come
with it In the speculative market there has,
certainly, been more activity, though generally
at the expense of values. Stocks. breadstuffs,
provisions, cotton, sugar and oil all little
lower but with larger transactions. Stocks have
declined about so cents per share with an import
ant fall in some of the more prominent wheat is
cent. and oats cent lower. lard and cotton
eighth lower sugar a sixteenth, and oil cents.
while coffee and tin have each gained half cent.
1t is thong hit that the future turns largely the
money market, which has been very easy; but
the steady loss OF reserves by the banks. if con-
tinued at this season, may at any time bring
sudden change. Up to March /, in spite of sales
of stocks foreign account. there is evidence
that foreign capital continued come hither,
probably on account of bonds negotiated late
last year or early in January. The reports from
the interior are generally quite favorable, con-
sidering the interruption which the storm must
have caused Comparative inactivity is
ton there is some pressure, SINGS
the storm, TO make up delayed orders,
and at Chicago and Omaha increasing trade is
noted. Collections are noticeably slow at Cleve-
land. and not entirely satisfactory at Kansas
City. but generally fair. Detroit and Cleveland
the only points where closeness in the money
market is reported, though Boston begins TO
draw from New York, and some applications for
discount come from St Louis, where rates
to per cent Of the larger branches of trade
the boot and shoe appears most cheerful, buyers
reporting good trade throughout the country.
The dry goods business has been more active
for the past week, with steady demand and
changed prices for cottons. but woolens in
less satisfactory shape. The demand for dress
goods is moderate, buyers pausing for the large
Arlington sale, and the frequency OF auctions,
of which no less than six occurred to-day, is q
feature not entirely encouraging.
The iron trade s helped by the decrease in
imports. yet the constant offers of Southern and
Western products, at prices little below East
ern quotations. continue TO depress prices.
The absorption of money by the Treasury
continues to deplete bank reserves and the
prospect of early action by Congress does not
increase. The disturbance of business by West
ern railroad strikes has nearly ceased, and there
are now reports that quarrels about rates
be adjusted. but the interference of the inter-
state law with export rates, through the various
Eastern ports, In likely to cause difficulty.
The business failures during the last seven
days number. for the United States, PIP; for
Canada 81: total. PAS, compared with 22S last
week. aud for the corresponding week of last
year, 259.