The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-09
FEELING TRADES PULSE.
SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT STILL
FELT N IT'S THROBS.

Metals Have Played the Leading Roles
on the Commercial Stage During the
Failures and the Uncertain
Prospects of Speculation the Only
Unpropitious Signs.
New York, March S.-R. g. Dun e.
Co.'S weekly review of trade, printed to-
day, is as follows:
The suspension of the Reading Iron
Works and the panic in copper have made
metals conspicuous during the past week.
In many other directions, however, there
are still signs of improvement, the demand
for money has rather strengthened, railroad
earnings continue to indicate traffic larger
than that Of last year, and the bank clear
ings exceed those of last year by about Is
per cent, wit h the gains more widely dis
tributed than usual.
THE ONLY CLOUDS.
But for several important failures and
the uncertai1 prospects of speculation, the
outlook would be altogether more favorable.
The failure of such an important iron
establishment has checked, at least for the
moment, the feeling Of increasing confidence
which seems to have been due less to an in
crease IN the demand than to a decrease in
the pressure to sell At Pittsburg prices
were a little better, and at Philadelphia and
New York more firm without an advance.
| was understood that some diminution in
the weekly output had been effected in Feb
ruary.
n CHANGE OF FEELING.
But the Reading failure, with the pros
pect that the large works may be closed for
time, has so changed the feeling that
buyers are likely to be conservative, and
| any pressure TO sell would weaken prices.
In bar iron and plate there is no improve
ment, rails are unchanged, without further
sales reported; nails are week and the mar
ker for structural iron is slow and unsatis-
factory.
COAL DEPRESSED.
The coal market is also so despondeut that
a meeting Of companies is expected next
| Tuesday to protest against the state Of
| things prevailing, a I'd, it IS said, to reduce
the schedule of prices. But the actual sales
are reported alb ut 50 cents below the sched-
ule already the output is over 887, 900 tons
| below last years. and yet the accumulated
| stock at Port Richmond alone is reported at
| 100000 tons The market for bituminous
| coal is also dull.
| COMMODITIES THAT ARE HIGHER.
Oil has risen a fraction, coffee has again
been advanced nearly cent to 10 cents,
and the market for pork products is
! stronger, with mess pork so cents higher
at $l2 80.
After declining sharply to 94I cents, a
fall of , cents, wheat rose TO ~ cents on
! Thursday. but declined half cent on
| Friday. But on thursday there was some
buying for export to France and quick
| advance
Corn and oats have risen half ceat each,
with but moderate transactions.
The price Of cotton has been maintained
in spite Of news that the movement in Feb
ruary had reached $4,000 to $4,000 bales
SUGARS ADVANCE.
Reports from Cuba helped in the advance
of three-siXteeuths of a cent in raw sugar,
| but leather is again a shade weaker fo'
some grades and the tone Of the wool
| market is depressed b tn by the couserva-
tive demands Of manufacturers. many of
whom are running only half time, and by
| reports that the spring clip is likely to show
an increase of 20 per cent.
The dry goods market has been irregular,
but equal to expectations, with fair trans
actions in mems wear goods for the season,
and active jobbing trade in cottons. Prints
are irregular, but print cloths are shade
| stronger.
FROM INTERIOR TOWNS.
The reports from the interior towns gen.
| orally indicate Improvement in the volume
of business and in che demand for money,
! which is still i'll ample supply, however at
| II airy All tOlulS LOT I6RlUltldUe demands.
Reports Of slow collections continue, but
are not more unfavorable than heretofore,
and recent failures of more than usual i'm
| portanca do not appear to have caused
disturbance
The foreign trade continues large, the ex-
! ports excee ling last years about II per cent.
and the imports about AZ per cent, and
the rate of foreig exchange remains IN
altered, though money here has been rather
| dearer.
| TREASURY OPERATIONS.
During the past week the treasury has
taken in only $500, 600 more than it has dis
burSei, but Withdrawals for Europe do not
reappear as yet.
The stock market has been dull, irregular
and somewhat depre -sed, but the transac-
tions have been mainly confined to traders
on the floor and hope of success III crganiz-
ing the inteI state compact still sustains
| holders.
The general average of prices for con-
modities has declined during the week
about II of per cent.
| The business failures occurring through
out the country during the week number, for
| the United States, PAL, and for Canada Az,
total Of 2Sl against 232 last week.