Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-01-14
THE TRADE REVIEW.
Weekly Resume Of the Situation by
K. G.. Dun & Co.
THE BUSINESS HORIZON
frightened by Events of Unusual Impor
.ance-Trade Less Active In the In
terror and Settlements Unsatis.
factory-The Weeks Failures.

NEW York, Jan. 12.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review of trade will say:
Events of unusual importance during
the past week have helped the improve
ment of business.
The agreement of railroad presidents,
if signed by the companies at the west,
which thus far hold off, will give sub
stantial reason to hope for a better era
in railway management. Not the least
important feature of the arrangement is
that bankers of large influence commit
themselves, i'll case the compact is
signed, to refuse their c~ountenance or
aid to the negotiation of securities for
new competing lines or extensions where
either of the railroads agreeing to the
compact object. The report of the inter-
state commission shows that on 1870, 900
miles of road, for the year ending June
80, 1888, the stock and bonds were of
equal par value, but on 81! per cent. of
the stock no dividend was paid, and on
90 per cent. of the bonds no interest,
while the proportion paying less than 4
per cent. was sc per cent. of the stock
and 81 per cent. of the bonds.
The decision of Judge Barrett holding
that the sugar trust is illegal and void,
III ClitCL ii uIoSOlublOH Vi tIIc
taking part therein, is of large impor-
The principles of the decision would APP
ply to very many of the combinations
for the purposeot controlling production
and prices by which legitimate trade has
of late been SO much disordered. No
change occurs as yet in prices of sugars,
and it may be premature to suppose that
other forms Of agreement, escaping the
legal objections found in this case, may
not continue to control the markets.
There are signs in Europe that the
copper trust is trying to cast upon the
public part of its accommodating load,
through the organization of a copper
bank.
The combination IN coffee has not pre-
vented a decline of &c in price, and spec
ulation in hogs and lard has tended
toward lower figures.
Another fall in wheat has occurred,
the price closing 1Bc lower for the week,
exports being still arrested. Corn fell
lie, and oats advanced nearly one cent,
with oil practically unchanged and cot
ton a shade stronger.
The monthly statements of the iron
furnaces / n blast indicate a production
much the largest ever known; the
Meph'y ouePut VI diitHiacite ANU c9ke
iron, January 1, was 142, ASP tons,
against 1856, 627 a month ago, and 12l, 307
a year ago. For the past year the pro-
duction is estimated at $50, 600 gross
tons. The enormous supply makes the
market dull, as few are disposed to pur-
chase beyond immediate needs. and
stocks at some furnaces are accumulat-
ing. In the rail market no change is
reported and no considerable transac-
0 n the demand for bar iron is some
what improved.
The coal trade is very dull and the re-
striction of the output is now so far en-
forced that the record for the last week
of December was only Ala, 3S2 tons.
For the year1S8S the output of anthracite
was 38,111 1928 ons against "a, $3.50, SIG
for the previous year.
In the wool trade the demand is not
large, but prices are firmly held in the
belief that stocks are scarce and that
manufacturers will in time be forced to
buy largely.
Cotton goods are in better demand at
steady or improving prices, and the de-
crease in port receipts of raw cotton
for a day or two is hailed with s~atisfac-
ton by operators for an advance. The
exports in December were 425, OO0, 600
pounds against 319, DOC, 900 for the same
month in 1887, the average export price
being about the same.
OF oil, the exports were but 40, 500, 900
gallons, against 90, 500, 900 gallons the
pevious year.
Sales in speculative markets have been
small during the past week, and the
general tendency of prices for commo-
dities as a whole is still downward.
Reports from interior towns this week
are fewer than usual. and indicate a less
active state of business. The failures
OF tardy cohections rather frequent, and
pm the Whoie the settlements attending
II beginning OF a new year seem to