The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-14
A DULL TINE IN TRADE.
CHICAGO AND EASTERN CENTERs
ALONE REPoRT IMPROVEMENT.

Hesitation Noticeable at Nest Western
and Southern Points-Farmers Still
Holding Cotton Back for Higher
Prices-No Increase in the Payments
Through Clearing Houses.
New YORK. Feb 13.-R. @. Dun & Co.'s
weekly review Of trade says: There Is
some improvement in business at the east
and a more confident feeling, and at Chi
cago the tone is very hopeful. But at most
other western and nearly all southern points
business shows no increase in volume and is
rather hesltatiDg. Payments through all
the clearing houses for January show
scarcely any increase over last year, al
though the yearly and quarterly disburse-
ments on account Of previous business were
very much larger than year ago, and the
returns for February thus far exhibit sub
stantially the same situation. The indus
trial outlook is modified by the great strike
Of the Connellsville coke workers, which
must cut of large supplies Of iron If it
lasts, and by great decrease in the iron
output
THE GENERAL MARKET.
1.-THE coal market is dull and weak the de-
s-ed grades are rising. The sales at Boston
in january were 1903, 400 pounds, against
II, 5S9, 300 last year, an increase of so per
cent, and the market for dress goods is par
ticrlarly active, the agents looking forward
to time of extraordinary prosperity. But
! orders for heavy goods are scanty, and
clothiers, remembering the heavy los,as of
the past winters, are buying with great eau
ton. Trade in cotton goods is fair in vol
ume, and print cloths are a shade stronger
in price. The boot and shoe trade shows
some improvement as to volume, though
the prices obtained are not highly satisfac-
| tory.
THE SUGAR TRACE.
"Sugar refiners are buy, with ample orders
for future delivery, tholgh the present
trade is naturally ligat. Ihe grocery trade
is fairly active. and indicates 10 decrease in
the demand for assumption. Provisions
have cen a shade weaker, with fall of
lSs cent in corn and wneae, and oats have
! declined each fraction on small
sales. but coffee and oil are stronger
and cotton unchanged. The low prices OF
cotton tend TO make trade dali at the SOUTH
farmers holding back for higher prices
But at New Orleans the general trade inn
/ proves materially; at Nashville it opeas
very we'll, though buyers ara cautious; and
at other points reporting it is only fair or
dull
| TRADE FAIR AT ST. LOUIS.
''St. Louis reports a fair volume, bus no
i'm proyement, while Kansas City finds a
better wholesale and quiet retail trade. At
| Denver and St. PAU trade is fair. AT
| Minneapolis trade is active in lumber,
with excellent logging prospects. AT
| Omaha it IS without imorovoment, and
at Mila aukee and Detroit, quiet Cleveland
rep orts fairly good trade in most lines, aud
pig iron slig Itly better, but 100000 tons
of ore are on the docks, half CT which is
unsold Pittsburg notes better demand
for merchant iron, because Of the strike,
and good trade in bottle glass, but dullness
IN other branches Of the glass business.
THE SITUATION AT CHICAGO.
"At Chicago the wool receipts are more
than double last years, and there is some
Increase in lard and cheese, but heavy de-
crease in corn aad dres ed beef. The dry
goods, clothing aud shoe trades consider
ably exceed last year. Philadelphia reports
improvement in wool AMI fair trade in dry
goods and clothing. good orders in
jewslry, and fairly satisfactory trade
in paints aud chemicals. AT
Boston general trade is good; some large
mills are buying wool freely and more buy
ers OF boots and shoes appear. Throughout
the country the money markets are c)m-
paratively easy and undis;urbed, though
the demand is coed and the supply hardl =
adequate at Cleveland, aud at Omaha the
market is Close
1.-The businegs failures throughout the
country during the last seven days num-
Der for the United States 262, and for Can
ada IS. For the corresponding week last
year the figures were 240 in the United
States and ~ in Canada.