The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-13
THE Raj REVIEW.
Reports SHOW Hut Little Change from
Last Week.

8NHEA#E 80 ~ stA# H.
Repor,s SHOW Hut l.its,e Change from
h Last Week.
Nxw Yoax, March 7~.-Congresa has sd-
iourned, and the possibility OF M extra
legislative session no longer hangs oyer
business, 40 that the momentary basis
cannot now b affected by any lawmaking
earlier than December next. Nor II there
much prospect nov that a serious change
will be made next winter. Meanwhile the
appropriations voted have been 40 large and
liberal that the treasury surplus must be
considerably reduced, n the available
supply Of currency increased within the
current year. Against these facts there is
to be reckoned the outgo of gold, which the
treasury has now decided to check by Chatg-
ing q slight premium for bars taken for
export. This does not prevent shipments
Of 5000 0 this week. and probably will not
prevent larger shipments in the near future.
but a prospect of good or ops next fall, and
adjournment of western leg islatures with
out seriously injurious enactments, may
give u new impetus to the foreign
demand for American securities. The
one unwholesome factor 10 that
upward rather rapidly, the average having
risen more b one per cent. during the
last week, and the exports of merchandise
are thus liable to be restricted.
Reports Of trade from all parts of the
country show little change since last week,
though there is perhaps a little less activity
on the whole. Chicago reports an extraor-
binary decrease in dressed beef receipts, and
a heavy fall in receipts of grain, lard and
hides, but large gain in cured meats and
wool. Dry goods sales are above last years,
with collections easy: III clOthlnR ana 6hoes
sales are also larger than a year ago, but
collections not quite SO satisfactory. Trade
is generally good at Boston, but better in
materials than in manufactured products.
Some grades of leather are stronger, and
hides firm, but prices of boots and shoes do
not improve.
The only speculative market that has de-
clined curing the week is the cotton
market, receipts showing an increase of
a, 600 bales over the last year, and exports
an increase of $4,000. The fall OF an eighth
puts the price close to the lowest ever re-
corded in this market since 1904. But
wheat has risen over one cent, oats one and
one-fourth cents, and corn nearly two
cents. coffee an eighth, oil two and one
fourth cents, butter five cents, and pork
products a shade. The speculative wave
which began with the prospect OF
free silver coinage last spring, will recede
in time, not to the advantage OF those who
hold large stocks of products.
The wooden industry il in a far better
condition, the output OF knit goods, wors-
teds and dress goods, and the medium and
lower grades of mems cloth. being larger
than at any other time for five years. but
the more costly grades of cloth are not yet
in strong demand. Cotton manufacture Is
not favored by the demand for many grade 8
of cloth, but the boot and shoe manufacture
10 doing a little better of late, though em-
barrassed by unsatisfactory prices.
The treasury has put out, silver notes IN
cluded, only $4,000 0 more currency thar it
has taken in during the past week, but the
money markets are generally well .supplleo
for legitimate business needs, though at
some points stringent or more active. The
reports as to collections grow a little less
satisfactory, and yet it is the prevailing inn
preston that business in all parts OF the
country is on a solid footing, and will pros
per when good crops come. The exports OF
products from New York were larger last
week, but for the past month show a de-
crease of about eight per cent. and the I'M
DO rs meanwhile show a marked increase:
The railroad earnings continue heavy. and
years. but decidedly less than the advance
in prices, indicating a material decrease In
quantities transferred. The stock market
remains comparatively inactive, with weak
ness in some stocks, but a general under
tone of strength, n the opinion grows
that no particularly harmful legislation IS
to be expected this year i'll western states.
The business failures occurring through
out the country during the past seven
DAYS, as reported to r. G. Dun u Co., the
Mercantile agency, by telegraph, number,
for the United States, 235, and for Canada,
thirty, or a total of 1885,, as compared with q
total of 29O last week, and 295 the week
previous to the last. For the correspond
ing week of last year the figures we're 26O,
rerresentinp 223 failures in the United
States, and thirty-seven in the dominion OF
Canada.