The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-31
TRADESMEN GOING SLOW
ALL CONSERVATIVE BUT HOPEFUL
OF THE FUTURE.

"
Money Comparatively Easy at All
Points-Business Unprecedented in
Volume and Satisfactory in Charac-
ter-Trade in the South Reported
Fair-Speculation Increasing.
NEW YoRK, Jan. 3O.-R. G. Dun & Co. s
weekly review of trade says: Business
continues unprecedented in volume and
satisfactory in character. Measured by the
clearing house returns. trade exceeds that
Of a year ago by about ~ per cent. in the
amount, and that means volume of bust
ness larger than in any other year at this
season. The tone In commercial circles
throughout the country is hopeful. and the
money markets are now comparatively
easy at nearly all points. Uncertainty
regarding the monetary future causes some
hesitation, especially as to new undertak-
ings, but there is underneath an Astounding
confidence that IN some way the fertile
genius of the people and the measureless
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 are
some grounds for caution still
THE DRY GOODS TRADE.
"The dry goods trade is on the whole very
satisfactory fortthe season and, while buying
is conservative. both In cottons and woolens,
and prices are low enough to embarrass
some branches of production, the trade is
clearly on a more healthy basis, as well as
larger in volume, than it was year ago.
The increasing demand for wool, though
still confined to the actual needs of con-
sumption, proves that current prices, low
as they are, do not arrest production.
''The trade in boots and shoes and leather
is somewhat retarded by monetary uncer-
tainties.
sin the manufacture and sale of machin-
cry, implements and tools, business seems
to be larger than ever, and while copper,
tin and lead are all shade lower for the
week, the consumption of each is very
heavy.
IRON AND STEEL.
''The embarrassment in iron and steel
manufacture and trade is now clearly per-
ceived to be the result of a marked shrink
age in the demands for consumption. Bar
iron is very dull. The demand for plates is
very much smaller than was expected, and
for sheets irregular and 9nsatisfying, while
structural iron is dull and lower.
There is very little doing in rails,
at the prices now nominally asked, and
much pressure to sell pig iron, Virginia
competing in Pennsylvania markets, and
southern Ne. Q being offered at $14 so,
against Sl5 25 for Lehigh. No. northern
is quoted here at $16 70, and the unsold
stocks OF pig iron are now said to be AGO.
O0o tons more than year ago.
TRADE IN THE SOUTH.
Accounts from the southern cities indi-
cate only fair trade. with improvement at
Atlanta and slight improvement at jack
sonville, but increasing receipts and lower
prices for cotton at New Orleans.
"Philadelphia reports O good demand for
comoing wool, encouragement IN dry goods
and shoe trades, and Improvement in paper
because of the government award to Penn
sylvaaia makers.
"The startling death of Secretary VIM
dom caused sudden fall in the price of bar
silver from AN to 4oX in London, 1t is
stated in the dispatches. But no change
whatever in the financial policy of the gov
ornment is likely to result. though it
may easily happenB that his suc-
cessor, however able, may not possess
the fertility of resources which Secretary
Window has shown in meeting emergen-
cies. The operations of the treasury during
the past week have in no way affected the
money market. which Is well supplied
Speculation accordingly grows more active,
and wheat has advanced So cents, corn
"a cents, oats one-half cent and
coffee Is cents per 100 pounds.
But cotton is 1-16c lower and oil 2No
lower. The stock market has been weak on
the whole, but with signs OF recovery on
Thursday, notwithstanding the extreme
railroad legislation now proposed in some
western states.s
"The failures Of the week number 27S.
For the corresponding week Of last year the
figures were 246.