The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-11-26
Trade and it's Prospects.
Philadelphia Press, Nov. 10Th.


Trade is somewhat irregular, but it is more
certain than ever that it's foundations are solid
and that the country has entered on an era of
prolonged prosperity. The volume Of business
is exceedingly heavy, and though not up to that
of last year 1t is larger and more promising
than few weeks ago. owing to the advancing
season and more seasonable weather The
bank clearings indicate decrease OF 10 per
cent or in the country, not including New
York per cent. This comparison Is made with
period of large trade in 1890, and 1t is not to be
taken as decidedly unfavorablc. The irregular
ity in the grain shipments, wheat, flour and rye
being extremely large, and corn short, and in
iron and coal, the pig iron production and the
anthracite coal output being the largest known,
while some branches of iron manufactures are
dull and the minor metals are depressed in
price, is not to be wondered at. The eXplana-
tion is that in the four Or five weeks since the
maturity of the crops there has not been time to
recover from the dullness aud apathy and DAN
gers of the previous year.
The outlook, however, is most promising of
Immediate good results. The weather in the
West has been such as to cause better distrib
uton OF goods and more activity il the retail
trade. In New York 81 Goa, Geo worth of carpets
were offered at auction, and the prices realized
were only from 10 to Is per cent. below tne trade
lists, which indicate that merchants have mon
ey and are willing to buy goods when the oppor-
tunity offers. There was more activity in dry
goods in Eastern centers in anticipation of the
closing of lake navigation to-day. Stocks of
print cloths are onc-third below those of year
ago. The exports of our cotton goods to China
which are attracting the attention of Manches-
ter newspapers, have been l0S,0s4 packages,
against 81 ,4TS packages last year. and the value
of cotton goods exported for this year shows an
increase of $3,500000.
There are other signs of in provementin many
directions The iron trade will be stimulated
in the duller branches especially, by the orders
of the railroad companies for equipment and
steel rails, The production of pig iron, which is
now at the rate OF 1S7, 600 tons per week, will be
used as an argument in favor of buyers, and il
remains to be seen what the full effect will be
on the trade The orders of the railroad com
panies ought to outweigh any sentimental no
lions, and unless it is plain that the output is
| too heavy there will be no decline in price The
anthracite coal trade is il the best condition OF
! the year notwithstanding an increase of $500,
! 600 tons in production over last year.
| The grain markets, which have suffered fol
weeks at the hands of the bearish Spectator
| while he was SelfShly loading up at the lowest
prices he could make, look better. Wheat is
Mgher ahu. mas peeh TAKEN III very iarse quah1i
ties Tor export at hlgner cosU' inclualne
! freights, than ruled month ago, ana all al
vices indicate that the demand will increase
rather than diminish. We have already ship
ped 49, OO0,l 90 bushels and it is believed 1500000N
bushels more will be required at least. 1t is be
lieved now, with l63 steam vessels under grain
| charter, that the maximum shipments from the
Atlantic ports have been temporarily reached
| The interior and port receipts OF grain are
heavy, as they always are IN the closing days OF
navigation, and the steamers are as busy on the