The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-31
THE TRADE REVIEW.
Holiday Huslnsss Large All Over he
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Prosperous.

Holiday Huslnssa Large All Over ths
CoaAtry, - Ind ustries Prosperous.
New YoRK, Dec. @.-[Spocial. THE last
circular issued by X. q. Damn y Co.'s
commercial agency says; Holiday trade Il
not always a just measure Of the prosperity
Of the people, but il 10 satisfactory to know
that at most points it Is unusuallv large
this year. though some localities report
that il is less han last year. 1t indicates
that tho people feel able to oxpend more
LITERALLY than usunl. and 1t returns large
outlays to the manufacturer of holiday
goods. General trade this season Is usually
light, merchants being engaRea in taking
stock. hut at many points it 10 feportsd
larger than usual and even larger than last
year. The volume Of trade measured BY
%olearlnps of the various cities outside OF
New Yosk was six per cont. moro than last
yeas for tho first half Of December. and
later repo to show an increase OF about nine
PEI cent. ~Ihemoyement of products con-
tinues extraordinary, in spite OF the fnct
that it is retarded in many western states
by wet weather and bad country roads, ana
even moro BY the car famine, all roads east
honnd being blocked by the avalanche OF
FIRE ght offered. 1t is said that the Rock
Island alone has 5000 cars tied up near
Chicago or OH eastern roads, and other
western railroads are troubled III the snme
way. But this very blockade is proof that
nm enormous husiness is in progress, and
the marketing OF products prepares the way
for larger distribution of merchandise.
Reports from other cities show less COM
plant rs to collections. and u large trade
IN progress. Boston reports quiet whole
sale trade in dry goods, bnt retailers are
doing a big business. and shoe manufac-
turers still have orders to keep them busy.
Leather Is steady and hides quiet. Iron
manufacturers talk more encouragingly
and tho money markets are frmer. AT
Pittsburgh trade ID unusually good in all
lines, with iron and steel manufacturers
mo,e hopeful, and the glass trade fairly
good. At Chicago sales aud collections OF
merchandise exceed last years, in spite OF
soft country roads, and the holiday trade is
phenomenal; receipts of wheat, corn and
rye are double last years, of dressed beef
three times last years, increase in Hour 10 a
third, in cured meats a quarter. and IN oats.
barley and cattle large, Notwithstanding
the complaints Of car famine throughout
me vest Money i easy ana demand
the unreasonable weather, jobbing
trade is good and retail trade very active,
and at Minneapolis the cut of lumber for
tho year is 450, 000, 900 feet. the output OF
-four POI, 200 barrels against 139.OOO last
year, and the general feeling confident. At
Omaha trade isRood though money is close.
Southern citiea report less c~heerfully, the
low price of cotton causing dullness at
Memphis and Galveston, and also at savan-
nah. But, at New Orleans business il more
active and larger in volume, though cotton
receipts IRE heavy and sugar is fairly active,
with money in strong demand.
The great industries close the year with
more than usual activity. even the wooden
mills having orders enough to keep them
fairly employed, and a number have re-
Gently started, but non shut down. Cot
ton manufacturers find a good demand, and
engagements of plants ars re-
Shoe factories complain that usual
are lacking, and yet they are fairly
active. Paper mills are busy and are max
ing many additions of machinery and
buildings. The iron manufacture has been
out moro pig than ever before,
though some works stop for the holidays,
and the tone of the market is stronger,
with rather. more demand for finished
products.
The stock market has been stronger with
advance of $1.25 for the week. The
new railroads built in 1891 cover 4, 1873 miles,
making 17l,000 in operation. Exports con-
enormous. for three weeks of Deem
Der from New York exceeding last year 35
per cent, and remittances abroad having
closed, foreign exchange is heavy and de-
clines to $4.83A. The t:easnry has paid
in during the week, although receipts of
internal revenue are large; for the month
more than IS. 1000. Money is plenty and
cheap. and there is a general feeling that
conditions will continue for some
The business failures occurring through
out the country during the last Six days, as
reported to II. g. Dun &.Co., the mercantile
agency. by telegraph, number, for the
United States, 257, and for Canada,
or n total of 292,
as compared with totals of 335
last week, and 800 the week previous to the
For the corresponding week of last
in the United States and thirty in
tha dominion of Canada ~