The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-31
THE TRADE REVIEW.
Business Indications Are not Quite Clear
Business Generally Good.

Business Indications Arc not Quite Clear
Business Generally Good.
New YORK, March 26.-R. G. Dun & Co.'s
Weekly Review of Trade says: BUSINESS
Indications are not quite SO clear. Perhaps
it ia partly because unfavorable weather
temporarily retards trade at many points,
nnd perhaps because uncertainties regard
ing results of silver agitation and the
Boring sea controversy somewhat affect
financial and commercial oaleulations, but
there is on the whole less evidence of im-
provement in distribution, and yet the
prospect in the great industries seems
brighter. The movement Of grain and cot
ton falls off, and the sharp decline IN prices
ia felt in many quarters, but inc
tone in the iron, wooden, cotton and shoe
manufactures is rather improved. The
money markets are ~abundantly supplied,
though foreign sales of stocks again cause
a rise in sterling exchanges; so that stocks
are lower, while railroad earnings are de-
cidedly favorable. With unusually con-
f1icting signs, the confidence which prevails
in'business orioles is still unabated.
Wheat has dropped to 9518, a decline Of
nearly three cents for the week, though
stronger in tone at the end, receipts having
been $500. 600 bushels, and exports only
$40, 600 in four days. Corn is nearly q cent
stronger, with exports OF l,344,0W IN four
gave, Duk OuUb AAc n AOVSAt PSAA
and lard a shade lower, oil has declined
two and three-fourth cents, and coffee an
eighth, Cotton is down to six and three
fourth cents for middling uplsnds, al
though receipts this week have been much
less and sxports greater than \ year ago;
the stocks At ports have diminished, but
are still 444, 900 bales greater than at date
last year. Silver has fallen to 40.44d. per
o.. the lowest ever quoted, and at New
York only 884 IL paid for bullion, though
no one has supposed that the silver bill
could pass over a veto. Prices of commodi-
ties as a whole have declined three-fourths
of one per cent. dur1ng the week, and arc
IS per cent. lower than q year ago at this
time.
At Boston bad weather affects tho dty
goods trade. which s'yst quite satisfactory.
Sales of weol fair in amount. though the
market favsrs buyers. At Hartford the
wool trade il fair. At Philadelphia salas Of
dry goods are smaller than OF late, though
equal to last years, wool very quiet, trade
in chemicals steady md in oils fairly
active, but other trades are quiet, with
plate glass extremely low in price. At Chi
eago increase is seen III receipts Of broad
stuffs, dressed beef, cheese and butter, but
deorease in provisions, cattle, hides and
wool. Merchandise sales are equal to last
year's. Unfavorable weather affects spring
trade at Milwaukee, IA seriously hampers
trade at st. Louis, though the feeling il
hopeful. At Minneapolis trade ia good.
though -four is very dull, and at st. Paul
business is brisk, at Omaha very active,
and at Kansas City improving in retail bus
mess, though receipts of cattle and hogs
are light. improvement is seen At Denver.
This iron trade shows a better tone. in
spite Of very low prices. Larger sales OF
pig are reported since the recent decline,
and there ia less pressure to sell, Bessemei
iron being steady at $14.50 at P%ittsburg,
Structural iron Ia fairly active with bettsl
prospects, bar iron is more active, and There
Is improved dcmand for plates. lhe
strong market for copper here anc
abroad il counted proof that a eombina.
ton has been formed. Tin is stronger, and
lend fairly active at 4.15 cents. The ooa
trade ia hssitating. much affected by doub'
whether ths Nav Jersey bill legalizing thu
combination will be signed by tho gov
ernor. The woslsn mauufAaturo in doiat
unusually we'll for the season, though yer,
low prices and sharp foreign competition
in some branches. are seriously felt. The
ohoapness Of cotton helps tho mnnufactur,
the more because the demand fairly nus
tains the prize of goods.
Merchandise exports exceoded imports ii
February by $21, 256. 124, n yet net OK
ports of gold were 50, G79. 500. Al the exoes
of exports over imports Of merchandise an,
specie in aoven months ending with Fab
rnary was El92,O 74, GG7. ii is evident tina
males OF American stocks by foreign hold
ers must have been remarkably large. Ihi
movement sesmod to have been arraate
sntil-the later disagreement IN tho Berin