St. Paul daily globe., 1890-12-13
DUN'S REVIEW.
A Reduced Volume OF Business
Throughout the Country.

NEW YORK, Dee. 12.-R. G. Dun s.
Co.'s weekly review of trade says:
The business outlook is mote hopeful,
but the past disturbance and cOntinu-
ing uncertainty are felt in reduced
volume Of business throughout the
country. which, though slightly larger
than Year ago, no longer shows the
material Increase until recently main
tanned. The South reports fair bust
ness, III spite of the continuing de-
cline in cotton. Spirits move freely
at Savannah, oranges at Jack
sonvllle, and sugar, m0lasses and
rice at New Orleans, all at good
prices. The supply of money is
ample for necessities at New Orleans.
but at other points money is tight,
though banks help their customers as
IA: as they can in legitimate business
only. AT the West colder weather has
helped trade at Cincinnati, Denr0it and
SOME other points. and trade is only far
at Denver; good for the season. with
large cattle and hog receipts at Kansas
City; strong, with liberal distribution
OF goods, at st. Louis; fair for the sea-
son at st. Paul and more active in hOli-
day lines at Cincinnati. Chicago busi-
ness continues much larger than last
year, being little affected by Eastern
troubles. and the receipts of most prod
uctS show increase. At Pittsburg the
worst is thought 10 be over, and money
and collections are easier, though iron
has declined, and there is less
demand for manufactured products.
Philadelphia notes little Improvement.
The shoe trade notes sharp falling off,
especially in Southern demand. Boston
observes improved demand for leather
at the lower prices, and wholesale
trades generally quiet. Iron pr0duc-
ton increased in November. reaching
1S3, SAG tons Dec. /, a gain of nearly 5000
tor the month and over l4.O0O compared
with last year. Several new and large
furnaces have gone into blast, but
later dispatches show that within two
weeks number have stopped produc-
ton and one Southern establishment
has failed. Quotations are lower. S1S
No. |. with rails lifeless and
decidedly less demand for bar
iron aud plates. 1t seems clear.
also, that sticks Of unsold iron at fur
naceS are increasing, SO that curtall-
ment OF production seems to he un-
avoldable. The woolen manufacture is
doing decidedly better than year and
six months ago, but heavy woolens
open at last years prices; some over
coatings have advanced 3(05 per cent.
but Others are lower; some grades of
union cashmere are per cent higher,
but the great majority realize no ad-
vance, and there is q waiting market for
knit goods and shrinking demand for
dress goods. though plain soft wool
fabrics command 5(0715 per cent above
the lowest prices OF the year. The cot
ton manufacture is less satisfactory,
and some works are SuSOeudjng
production, print cloths having
fallen to &c for 6-4s. The specu-
lative markets have not been
very active. but wheat has risen 14c
and corn 2Mc and oats 15c. Pork prod-
!ucts are unchanged; cotton. 1-16c low
er; oil, 24c lower. and coffee, &c low
ier. The rise in breadstuffs is not sns-
tanned by foreign demand. exports fall
ing far below those of last year, week
by week. nor by prospects for the next
crop. since state reports generally show
increased acreage of winter wheat and
excellent condition. Tin has risen 15c
during the week. but copper is of un-
certain price, offers at 16c for Lake being
unavalling, and the market Tor lead is
thoroughly demoraliZed by impOrtati0nS
OF 5000 tons at the recent speculative
prices. Treasury payments for bonds
dO not yet appear iii statements of cash,
which show 10 loss for the week. The
most significant fact is that large pro-
portion of the money was taken in gold
by the sellers Of bonds, presumably for
withdrawal until uncertainties about
silver legislation have passed. The
commercial troubles outside of none
tary stringency are mainly due to ex-
cesSive pLr .hases made in anticipation
of great rise in prices. Those who
made such purchases. in the belief that
in spite of the expected higher prices and
the short crops consumption would be
as great as ever. find themselves en-
barrassed by distinct shrinkage in the
distribution of products to consumers.
The business failures occurring
throughout the country during the last
seven days number 374, as compared
with total of 3l2 last week. For the
corresponding week Of last year the
figures were 29O.