St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-25
INCREASING ACTIVITY.
Cold Weather Causes an I'm
DrOyemeut i'm Trade.

NEW YORK. Jan. 24.-R. G. Dun & Co. s
weekly review of trade says: Business has a
decidedly more favorable appearance. Colder
weather has brought general increase of
activity and improvement in collections
Heavy disbursements by the treasury for
bonds have brought easier money markets,
and several troublesome labor controversies
have been adjusted. Speculation is still re-
strlcted and moderate in volume. The Phila-
delphia market for pig is more irregular, with
some offers of No. l at $3.50 Bar iron is
dull and less firm. Plates and nails are dull.
andwhile twoPennsylvaniam mills have marked
uD steel rails TO $50. others still sell at $50
The wooden business has been little i'm
proved for all grades by the colder weather.
and is fairly active for cheaper casslmeres
and worsted, with some gain in heavier
woolens. But sales are still narrow and eau
tious; and concessions are noted in territory
WOOL at Boston, where total sales were but
2.5l2T00 lbs. The speculation in cotton
has marked up the price half a cent. The
boot and shoe trade is rather better, while
hides remain low and show no improvement
The trade in rubber goods is moderate. Lum-
Der and building materials are in steady de-
mand. In the minor details no material
shade lower. The grain speculation halts;
and, with sales of only 12,00I.O00 bu.
wheat is SEC lower, with corn lac
lower for the week at 3Sc the sales having
been 12,5Oo,9O bu Oats have risen Il2c
and pork products are little stronger while
oil has advanced cent. Raw sugar is I'M
changed, but crushed an eighth lower Ex-
cept in cotton the speculative markets show
no unhealthy activity, though money here
has been decidedly easier. The large bond
purchases of last week explain the decrease
Of 81. 100000 in cash held by the treasury.
and the rate for money on call has declined
TO 3l3 per cent Foreign exchange is also q
shade lower at S4.S6, and increasing gold re-
serves ct the banks of England and France
,iTs more confidence. In the foreign trade
also some improvement is observed in ex-
ports at New York. But the exports of
wheat have been decidedly small since
the recent rise. and flour shipments
are light, while even corn exports
appear 10 fall behind those of last year
Reports from other cities are generally more
satisfactory this week. Most reports note
improvement in the weather and in trade,
and at Chicago grain receipts double last
years, and there are gains in hides and pro-
visions. At Pittsburg, mills are ali operating
Milwaukee winter has brought definite i'm
provements. The money markets are easier
at Philadelphia, st. Louis and Omaha, firm
with ample supply at Chicago, fairly active
with good demand at other Western points.
but slightly stringent at ST. Paul There is
much less complaint Of tardy collections, and
especial improvement is noted at Kansas
City and Detroit, but hardness is still seen in
paper and shoe trade at Philadelphia. The
general improvement is reflected in higher
prices fol.stocks, which have advanced during
the week nearly half dollar per share, and
railroad traffic and earnings continue TO
show large gains over last year. The bust
ness failures number 1873, as COMPARED with
q total of 336 last week For the CORE
spending week OF last year the figures were
332