Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1889-02-18
BUSINESS IN GENERAL.

Increasing Etc.
r. G. Dun & Co 3 Review of Trade
for the week ending February 8:
"rhe average price of commodities,
which had been gradually declining
since January LIST, and for some weeks
previous to that date, has taken a turn
upward during the past week. The
advance has been shout one per cent.
in the aggregate, and Is shared about
equally by speculative and non.specu-
lative articles. A change for the bet.
ter in this respect, after so long Pc
Rod Of declining prices with large
business in progress, is usually a ia.
vosable INDIGESTION for the future; but
in this instance the temporary inf1u-
ence Of change Of weather, and Of
certain speculative movements, must
b. remembered. 1t has been q mat
ter of surprise, however, that the vol
ume of Legitimate business has con-
tinued larger than in any previous
year, Notwithstanding the unseason-
able weather in January, and the de-
terfihg influence of falling prices.
Outside New York the payments
through Clearing Houses in January
cover about Is per cent. larger than
last year, and the colder weather tends
to remove an important cause Of de-
preston.
"The iron trade is thought by some
to have touched bottom. The Thomas
Iron Company has named $3.50 as
its contract price for Grey Forge,
which is called equal to SIS for South
ern iron at tide.water, but has not yet
decided upon its price for foundry
grades. Some Southern sellers have
withdrawn from the market, and ex-
cept for Bessemcr pig no further de-
preston appears; but OF that grade
considerable sales are reported at SIS
by manufacturers who had taken larg-
er stocks than they are able to use
with profit. No change appears in
rails, and it is claimed that the only
sales below $27 have been made un-
der exceptional circumstances. Coal is
phenomcnally dull, and many collieries
are stopping. The mines at Pittsburg
have resumed, and the coke strike
has been abandoned. In minor met.
ais there is little change; but the Syn
dicate's stock of foreign copper in
creased 1900 tons in January.
"The noteworthy feature in reports
from interior towns is that all record
some complaint as to collections; one
city reports no improvements, another
rather poor, and Others somewha,
dull or decidedly slow. But no UT.
easiness is expressed, and slackness al
this season is not unusual. though it is
rare that the complaint is So general.
Business is almost every where called
quiet, but when comparisons are
made some excess over last year is u.s.
ually observed-a Cleveland about
20 per cent. An increase of late ha,
appeared at several points. There is
nowhere complaint as to the supply o.
money, but the ease is generally con
nected with moderate or slack de
mand. No advance in rates is notet
at any point.
"The stock market has been strong
er, with an advance of about 81 pei
share, but It has been chiefly in spe
cialties which are said to enjoy the ad
vantage of leadership-in other words
which are effectually cliqued. A gen
eral change in tone has come, as Otter
) happens, in spite OF less favorable
news, for the final decision of Judg'
Brewer adverse to the Iowa railroad
is of consequences not only to them
1 but to others which have hoped tina
the principles OF his earlier decision
would shield them against State en-
actments. Progress appears in tn
agreement of railroads on paper, bu
! reports of cutting OF rates are NOR
definite and frequent. The earning
B are still large, and there is grown
0 belief that positive Improvement wi
0 in some way result for shareholders
Foreign trade continues large, and fe
five weeks imports show gain ovv
, last year of 80 per cent, and expor