The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-02-18
DuN'S WEEKLY REVIEW.
important Branches of Trade
Gradually EnIarging.

! Business failures occurring through
out the country during last week, as
reported to II. G.. Dun IL Co., num-
ber for the United States, 273; Canada,
AS; total, ,319. against 297 last week.
In spite of much dullness and COM
plant in some important branches
trade is gradually enlarging. The
east does not feel the benefit because
the western business is largely met by
the western distributing centres and
that alone is increasing heavily while
the southern trade, which is more
largely met by the distribution from
the east, is unusually dull.
But the west is steadily increasing
in orders for manufactured products
and is likely to buy more largely In
five months than ever before. East
ern consumption is also fairly up to
the maximum, as labor is well en-
ployed. The stringency at the south,
owing to the over production Of cot
ton and hurtful speculation in the
past, is at present the only force re-
tarding the general improvement in
financial and speculative circles; never
theless some apprehension appears
because of the advance in foreign ex-
change from $4S6 to $4S7 In spite of
the enormous merchandise balance in
favor of this country.
1t is argued that this shows a very
heavy withdrawal of foreign capital
from The country, because silver legis-
lation is feared, or for some other
| rooCon onl fbot offoot Eurona will
pay for breadstufls and cotton needed,
by surrendering titles to American
property. If so, this country can
fairly well afford to own itself.
The exports of merchandise con-
tinue to exceed last years for five
months at New York about 81 per
cent, while in the value of improve
ments the increase is very slight.
There is considerable evidence that
large blocks of American securities
are being sold here by foreigners, but
the market has taken them without
serious disturbance. At Philadelphia
more orders are seen for manufac-
tured iron, and increased business in
dry goods, especially in staple dress
goods, being sold far in advance.
while wool is quiet, with fair volume
of sales.
Cigar manufacturers are busy, and
trade in groceries and chemicals un-
changed. Speculations in products
has been more active, but, in spite of
the abundance of money the tendency
of prices is lower
Wheat fell to SO 3-8 cents here, but
recovered over a cent, and after sales
of 33 ,000,0 ,000 bushels is l cent lower
than week ago. Western receipts
are diminished, but exports diminish
still more.
Corn closed only 1-S higher, and oats
3-S higher; but pork products are a
shade lower.
Cotton is Lilo lower for spot, and
February has SOLD below Z cents, the
receipts continuing enormous.
Coffee is fraction stronger.
Silver has also fallen to about the
lowest price ever quoted, 41.56 pence
per ounce, recovering slightly to 41.62
pence.
The great industries make progress
in spite of low prices and produc-
ton, which seelh to threaten a re-
action.
Pig iron shows little concession at
Philadelphia and some shading 4ere
by southern concerns, and bar iron is
as dull as ever, at light demand fGl
plates. Structural iron is unsettled
by the collapse of the steel beam ooIn-
bination, and the price has fallen to
2 l-2 cents, but coming expenditures
by tho great railroads promise an
unusual demand, and the news comes
of the opening of additional furnaces.
At the high prices demanded by
agents, coal is exceedingly dull.
The boot and shoe business is get
ting better, with more orders, but in
some cases prices are weaker.
A little more activity is seen in dry
| goods, and large number of Western
buyers are doing fair business. The
demand for spring goods is growing,
but clothiers are still in the dark. Cot
tons are affected by the poor Southern
trade, but the prices OF some prints
and sheetings have advanced, and or
ders for knit goods are fully as large
| as year ago.