The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-02-06
TRADE REVIEW.
The Volume is Unprecedented; the Tone
is Good and Prospects Flattering.
The meeting adjourned.
tDun's Report.)

r. c. Dun Co. S weekly review of trade
saws that business continues unprccc-
denied in volume and satisfactory in
character. Measured by clearing house
returns, trade exceeds that Of a year ago
by about 2l1 per cent i'll amount, and that
means volume OF business larger than
in any other wear at this season. The
tone in commercial circles throughout the
country is hopeful and money is now COM
paratively easy at nearly all points. The
uncertainty regarding the monetary fu-
turc causes some hesitation, especially as
to new undertakings, but there is conf
dcnce that the fertile genius of the pe0-
pie and the mcasureless resources Of the
country will meet every difficulty. SO
strong is this feeling that it is often hard
to realize that the pressure and anxiety of
November and December lasted until
within thirty days, but there were some
grounds Tor caution still.
The dry goods trade is very satisfactory
tor the season, and while the buying is
and prices are low enough to cmbarrass
some branches of production, the trade is
clearly on a more healthy basis, us we'll as
larger in volume than it was year ago.
The increasing demand for wool, though
still confined to actual needs for consump-
ton, proves that current prices do not
arrest production. The trade in boots,
shoes and leather is retarded by the none
tary uncertainties. In the manufacture
and sale OF machinery and implements
business is larger than ever, and while
copper, tin and lead are lower for the
week the consumption is very heavy.
IRON AND STEEL.
The embarrassment in the iron and
steel manufacture and trade is now clearly
perceived to he the result Of shrinkage
in the demand for consumption. Bar iron
is dull, the demend for plates is much
smaller than expected and for sheets ir-
regular and unsatisfactory, while struc-
tural iron is dull and lower. There is very
little doing in rails at prices now nomi-
nally asked and the pressure to sell pig
Virginia competing in Pennsylvania mar
kcts and Southern No. 2 being offered ct
$l4.5O against $l5.25 for Lehigh No. l
Northern, quoted here at $l6.75-and un-
sold stocks of pig, now said to be 100000
tons more than a year ago.
Accounts from Southern cities indicate
fair trade with Improvement at
Atlanta and some Improvement at
Jacksonville, but increasing receipts
and lower prices for cotton at New Or
| leans.
Philadelphia reports good demand for
wool, encouragement in dry goods and
shoes and an improvement in paper be-
cause of the Government award to Penn
sylvania makers.
SILVER FALLS.
The startling death Of Secretary Win
dom caused fall in the price of bar sill
yer from ~. to 1873 in London, it is said
in the dispatches, but no change in the
polio, Of the Government is likely to re-
suit, though it may happen that his sue
cessor, however able, may not possess the
fertility of resources which Mr.. Window
has shown in meeting emergencies. The
Treasury purchases last week have not
affected the money market. Speculation
grows more active and wheat has advanced
33i cents; corn, ~, cents; oats, Z cent,
and coffee, Is cents per 100 pounds, but
cotton is l-16 cent lower, and oil. 23SS
cents lower
The stock market has been weak on the
whole, but with signs of recovery Thurs
dav, Notwithstanding the extreme rail-
road legislation now proposed in some
Western States.
Failures for the week, 27S; for the same
week last year the figure was 246.