The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-13
TRADE Review w.


Co, New York.
NEW YORK, Feb. Z. Though at a higher
level Of prices, business continues to exceed
last years on the whole, and is in charac-
ter moro healthy and conservative than
usual. With less speculative excitement,
with a sense OF uncertainty making buyers
cautious in nearly all lines. 10 that pur-
chases are closely confined to the actual
demand for consumption, the volume OF
business transacted is nevertheless much
greater than a year ago in some Of the most
important branches, and in scarcely any is
there material decrease. Money markets
are everywhere easy, in part because spscula~
tive liquidations and the marketing of
crops have liberated large sums for which
there is no immediate use, and the volume
Of currency in circulation therefore de-
creased nearly $4,000 900 in January. But
it is noteworthy that while outstanding le-
gal tenders, bank notes. silver certificates,
silver notes IN silver coins all decreased,
there were over $11, 900, 900 more gold GER
t~ificates taken out and held in circulation,
Reports this week from all parts of the
country indicate a fair valume of trade for
the season, easy money and collections gen
orally fair, though at a few western points,
and in the grocery trade at Philadelphia
rather slow. The south has the embaarrss
ment Of a further decline in the price Of
cotton, but receipts are large, and general
trade is somewhat better ut New Orleans.
though receipts OF sugar are light; trade is
improved at Atlanta, fair in volume and
quite cautious at Memphis, and dull at
present, but with bright prospects at Savan-
nah. Business at st. Louis is of fair vol
ume, but not so well sustained as before; at
kQnaQq CIfy 81 fair NVaYQOQ for the QQQanns
ut Denver improving and at Omaha and
Milwaukee quiet. Chicago notes slight in
crease over last year IN all grain, and good
increase in cured meats, hides and wool.
heavy decrease in dressed beef, lard and
butter, larger sales of dry goods. clothing
and shoes. and an enormous cattle trade,
live stock receipts in January having been
1,561, 400 head, 10 per cent greater than n
year ago, and the largest ever recorded in
any month. At Boston the feature is the
good trade in wool, exceeding last years,
and leather and hides are firm, but many
shoe factories are working on short time,
spring business being backward and buy
ers cautious.
No especial change il seen in iron and
steel, but resumption of work by some Ala
bama furnaces increases the excess Of pro-
duction over present consumption; ship,
and buyers hesitate to take rails At the
price fixed by the combination. At many
bar mills scarcity Of orders is felt, and
struc ture and plate iron are irregular.
Heavy exports of copper are reported,
S.OO0,0O0 pounds of Lake and 1000. 900 Mon
tana. but domestic consumers hold of. Tin
is lower at D.l cents and lead steady at
4.35. The coal trade is still congested, the
the January output having been 9, 225,OOO
tons; a quarter more than last year, and
some mines are stopping. The cotton man.
ufacture shows no material change though
the trade in goods continues fair for the
season. In the wooden manufacture signs
in goods is cautious it is steady and large.
One large establishment, which has been
making worsteds at Bradford. England,
has bought property and prepared works
near Philadelphia. The demand for wool
of ali kinds lifts the price a little. but es-
pecially for the coarser and worsted grade
Wheat has advanced III cents. and corn
and oats nearly a cent, on moderate sales
lard and hogs being also 10 cents per 1l
pounds stronger. and oil 2ss cents, but cot
ton il a sixteenth lower. The exports from
New York are now falling below last years
especially in breadstufs. But there is ne
present reason to apprehend any unfavor-
able influence from foreign trade, and the
treasury has in no way disturbed finances
Money Oh cali mas dropped from 20 TO two
per cent, and foreign exchange remains
steady at S4.S7.
the last seven days throughout the country
rs reported to Il. G. Dun d Co., the Mer-
camille agency by telegraph. number To-
the United States 2Gl, and for Canad,
forty-five, or a total of 30G, as compared
with n total of 800 last week. and $50 tn,
week previous to the last. For the CORE
spending week Of last year the figures wer.
32l, representing 265 failures in the United
States, and tifty-six in the Dominion o
Canada.