St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-12
DUNsS REVIEW.
Large Volume Of Business and
Confidence in tIse Future.

NEW YORK, Dec u.-R. G. Dun & Co, in
their weekly review of trade, say: AS the
holidays draw near, all signs indicate a large
volume OF business al the present with grow
ing confidence of improvement in the future,
except in parts Of the South, where the I'M
usual accumulation of cotton and its low
price have depressing influence. There is
no lack OF money IN any part of the country.
except at some Southern points. and the
mere fact that cotton now accumulated at
few points and interior towns represents
fully $4,000. 600 in value paid to planters at
once explains the difficulty and suggests
that II IS not permanent 1t is Il good sign,
also, that collections are on the whole i'm
proving, though slow at New Orleans and
some Southern points, and only fair in some
lines at Eastern cities
Reports from all parts of the country show
very fair activity in the distribution of mer-
chandise. AT Boston shoe manufacturers are
more busy and cotton staples firmer. At
Hartford wool is more active. AT Philadelphia
larger sales of iron are noted. AT Cleveland
trade is good, exceeding last years, with lit
tie complaint of collections and at Cincin-
natl trade is especially good i'll groceries and
hats. but quiet in lumber. AT Detroit trade
equals last years and the outlook is favor
able. At Chicago great increase is
seen in breadStuffs but lack of transporta-
ton through the country causes some en-
barraSsment, and perhaps part of the decline
in receipts of cattle, butter and cheese. Mer-
chandiSe sales much exceed last years and
collections are far ahead. At st. Louis holt
generous
distribution is seen i'll heavy clothing, shoes,
groceries. and drugs and oils
AT Milwaukee mild weather retHrds trade
some, but at st. Paul and Minneapolis bust
ness exceeds that of previous seasons very
much, and at Duluth the lumber and iron
trades ale active; at Omaha the car famine
retards business. and at Kansas City it is
qmeler than was expected. The Southern
cities all report some embarrassment and at
Little Rock trade is dull: at Nashville
money is close; at Montgomery large stocks
of cotton held cause strong demand for
money; at Savannah trade is slack and pros
poets called dubious; and at New Orleans,
though receipts of cotton are heavy and of
sugar liberal, and the demand for all the
great staples is good. collections are slow,
and the delay in payment OF sugar bounties
is especially noticed.
The expected reduction in prices of car
pets has come. from l0c on body Brussels to
sc on ingrains which are now said TO be
cheaper here than III England. Among
clothiers the better class of goods are in eX-
cellent demand. Trade in knit goods is
quiet and i'll dress goods satisfactory, but
some concessions are noted in flannels
Print cloths show some Improvement, and
prints are more active. The boot and shoe
business clearly increases. The iron bust
ness is more active. The rail mills go into
next year with orders for 100000 tons. Lake
copper is lower at 10. &c; tin and lead are very
dun, and coal weak.
The monthly crop report gave little help to
speculations. 1t showed q yield of wheat
corn and oats which aggregates 36 per cent
more than last year S, and 80 Blu for every in
habitant against 80 bu in 1890.
Cotton is unchanged. Pork products are
slightly stronger, coffee quarter of q cent
and oil 15sc higher, without great activity in
any branch OF speculative trade. Exports Of
domestic products continue unchecked and
for the last week were A per cent more than
for the first week of December last year. Yet
preparations for yearly settlements abroad
cause such remlttances that imports Of specie
are stopped by the decline in foreign ex-
change. The Bank of England has lowered
its rate of discount to 3L2 per cent and is
gaining. while the German and French banks
are losing gold.
The treasury has taken in more money
than it has paid out by 81, 300, 900, but added
to circulation 1000 new treasury notes
and has drawn down balances in banks
100000. Favorable monetary prospects
strengthen the market for securities espe-
Iecially as il is evident that disbursements
in dividends interest and profits about Jan
], will be large, and will seek new invest
ments. With a better tone some securities
have advanced, and there is no feeling of APP
prehenSiOn regarding the none tary future
The business failures during the last seven
days number, for the United States go and
for Canada 40, or a total OF go as compared
with totals of $50 last week and 295 the week
previous TO the last. For the correspond
ing week of last year the figures
were 374. representing 347 failures in
the United States and q in Canda.