Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-12-26
THE STATE OF TRADE
r. c. DUN g. CO.'S WEEKLY RE-
VIEW OF THE SITUATION.

VIEW OF THE SITUATION.
Business Continues Large But a Por-
ceptibie Loss of Feeling of Confidence
Complaints of Slow Collections-Hope
for an improvement Soon.
New YORK, Dec. 2O.-R. G. Dun g.
Co.'S weekly review of trade says: Bush
ness continues large for the season, but
there is a perceptible loss of the feeling
of confidence. The causes appear to be:
o. the prospect of important monetary
legislation. the effects of which are not
clearly forescen; CD the frequent fail
ures and greater difficulty in making
collections, and (3,) less satisfactory con-
ditions in some large branches of indus
try.
Probably more people are affected as
to business undertakings often uncon-
sciously. by the uncertainty of finan-
cial legislation and its effects than by
any other cause. Though the rate
for money on call is lower than a
week ago, and money is lower at Bos-
ton and Philadelphia, there is still a
stringency at most points throughout
the country. Complaints of slow COL
]ections have rarely been more general,
and in many cases settlements can be
made only with notes or renewals. But
in all quarters there is hope that after
Jan. i things may improve in this res
pect if legislative prospects do not mean
while cause greater shrinkage of credits
and curtailment of purchases. Foreign
influences are not now disturbing. EX-
ports of products for the two weeks of
December from New York show gain
of per cent. over last year and the to-
tai of last December was hardly ever
surpassed. Though imports continue
heavy they are greatly exceeded by the
exports at present Exports of cot
ton thus far this month exceed last year
and also of provisions, but there is a
heavy decrease in grain caused by the
speculative prizes here.
Trade at the south is fair. at most
points'rcporting healthy at New Orleans
with larger cotton receipts; dull at Mem
phis, but more confident at Little Rock;
good at Nashville: less confident at Jack
sonville, and at Atlanta the accumula-
'tions of cotton are large.
Money is very close at all points. the
banks helping customers as far as they
can, but collections are not UP to the aY-
,eragc.
Across the Mississippi, ST. Louis has
colder weather favoring all lines of
trade, but at Kansas City the holiday
trade is below the average. At Denver
the trade is only fair. AT Salt Lake is
improving some. At Omaha it is fair.
AT Minneapolis it is steady for lumber
and Improving in prices for -four, and at
st. Paul confidence is returning. Col
lections in this region are only fair.
At Chicago the receipts of wheat and
wool are a third below last years; of
hides larger and of other products about
the same. The sales of merchandise
exceed last years. Money is firm and
regular, business is supplied and there is
confidence in the immediate future AT
Milwaukee and Detroit the trade is good.
AT Cleveland it is fair and at Cincinnati
very quiet i'll wholesale lines. Pitts
burg reports more confidence in the
trade in manufactured iron and in glass
it is slower and Bessmer booms are
lower. The banks are less apprchen-
sive but cautious.
Confidence improves at Boston
Though money is easier at Philadelphia,
the noteworthy feature is the general
difficulty of collections, especially in
iron, paints, oils, jewelry and glass.
Trade is fair in all these lines and glass
plates are sitter, but lower prices are
expected in wool, and the demand for
ltobaccolis light.
The anthracite coal trade lis democrat
lied, and restrictions of the output do
not restrict. A general breakup of the
combine is being apprehendcd. Iron
shows no improvement at Philadelphia
or here. The demand for finished pro-
ducts generally is slack and the closing
'of moreifurnaces is likely to be forced
.Copper;is unsettled, but tin is q shade
stronger 2O.s5 cents and lead at 4.lO.
The dry goods trade feels the influence
of recent failures and of the stringency
lin. commercial loans.
In the speculative markets the ten
'dency has generally been downward,
Though wheat,is IL cents higher than
week ago in spite of the phenomenally
large exports and the accommodating
stocks.
Corn is Is cents lower: pork IS cents
per barrel; hogs As cents per 100 pounds,
and oil a fraction lower Cotton and
coffee are unchanged for the week.
1t is noteworthy that the speculative
markets are :all .hesitating in the feeling
that monetary legislation may indefi-
nitely alter the situation. Hence the
largely increased immediate supplies of
money by tho imports Of gold, and
treasury disbursements have less effect
than might be expected.
The business failures occurring
throughout the country during the last
seven days number AO4 as compared with
374 last week. For the corresponding
week of last year the figures were 342.
DESPERATE MINERS.