The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-25
Present Condition Rather Dlsap-
pointing, but Much Expected
in the Spring.
Wool 1s as Dull as Ever, With
Prices Steady at the
Decline
Tendency of tho Domestic Product 1.
N Downward-R business Failures for
the Week-The Prospects.

grams to Bradstreet's point to no material
change in conditions affecting the general
business situation. Trade thus far, on the
whole. is disappointing, though good deal
of confidence is expressed az to what the
spring may bring forth. Depression OF
cotton prices and AL exceptional conserva-
tism on the part of both buyers and sellera
at the south are as yet unrelieved by any
increased activity, although Savannah and
Galveston report a moderate demand in
some staple lnes. Cotton factors are
making smaller advances than usual to
merchants and planters. The wooden in
dustries east are sluggish, except for fan
nels and carpets. Structural iron prices
are demoralized. Steel rails are only
'nominally $50 per ton at the mill. Demand
for iron and steel is more and more of
hand-to-mouth character. Stocks of pig
iron are increasing, and finally break has
come, with sales of 4,O0O tons Of No. X
Allentown, Perth Amboy delivery, at $14.5O,
and 1900 tons of another Lehigh valley
furnace offered at the same figure. South-
ern irons have been hawked at pricos sup
posed to represent cost.
Staple dry goods, hardware and to some
extent boots and shoes are in rather better
movement. Petroleum il a little more
active. On the Pacific coast ocean freiQhts
are up a little and wheat prices as we'll
Salmon packers are trying to enforce re-
duotion in the Alaska pack this year.
Hardware and farm implements and build
ing materials are moro active in the north
west. Bank clearings at fifty y-eieht cities in
the United States aggregate $1,3sO, ,O7O, 1874,
NhrnE two no kb0,, 1ask
35 per cent moro than the third week of
February, 1891. The gains are chiefly at
New York and Philadelphia, the former
showing an inorease of 53 per cent and the
latter Of AZ per cent as compared with the
week year ago.
Wheat prices advanced five and one
eighth cents this week on better foreign
advicss, larger export demand, larger de-
creasesin available stocks and rumors Of
operations Of bull clique. Exports of
wheat from the United States ports for the
week ending Feb. II equal 4,O42,OOD BUSH
els against 3,641. 900 bushels the week be-
fore, 2,O86,O0 in the week year ago, and
2,236, 900 bushels in a similar period two
years ago. Indian corn exports for this
week continue phenomenaliy heavy, g. M3,-
600 bushels. as compared with 2,927, 900
bushels week ago. and as contrasted with
only $4,000 bushels in the like week a year
ago.
The remarkable strength of foreign ex-
changes and the appreciable fear of ship
ments of gold to Europe have tended to
repress activity or strength in the stock
market. The announcement on Friday
that 100000 had been engaged, though
not unexpected, had further disturbing
effect upon speculation, and offset the in
tluence of reports that the coal combination
has made further acquisitions OF mining
interests. The prospect of legal interler-
ence with the leases effected by the Read
ing company has also been Il factor in the |
weeks market and tended to reduce the
speculation in the coal shares to moderate
proportions. The nceItainty of the spec
ulative situation has naturally caused re-
cessions in prices, although strong under
tone has been shown, and European SELL
ing of securities seems to be less pro-
nounced. This last fact, however, has not
checked the advance of exchange rates, de-
mand sterling reaching at the close OF the
week 4.sS11a. Rumors are current that
premium for gold which would facilitate
shipments at the above figure. At the
same time the money market has been dull,
easy and undisturbed by these manifestn-
tions. The silver market has rallied
slightly on rumos of an intended rupeo
loan for India.
There were 260 business failures in the
United states this week. against 214 last
week, 2#3 in the week year ago, and 253
i'll the like week of 1890. The total to date
this year is 9, 120, less than in like por-
tion of 1891, 1890 or 1889. About IS per
cent of the weeks failures were of con-
Germs where the capital employed was not
in excess of $4,000 ench; nearly IL per cent
had from $4,000 to 100000 capital, nine of
them from 600 to $4,000, six from $780,
700 to 100000, and one failed where tho
capital was IN excess of 100000.
Wool is as dull as ever with prices steady
Mt the decline. The sluggish demand for
woolen goods prevents makers from antici- ,
patlnR wants for raw wool. 1mportations
ot Australian have been large. and the
downward. The large share of that i'm {
ported is of lower quality than last ycar. s
california. Texas and territory woods are +.
quiet and unchanged, with downward
endency. Raw cotton prices continue to Y
ecord heavy receipts by dropping, the loss /
or the week being 1-16c. General dry a
foods are in fair demand. Cotton mills are =
'old we'll ahead. Prints and ginphama are
n good demand. Tapestry brussels Garrett I
re higher.
In the Canadian Dominion general trade
9 only moderately active, raw wool and
taDle dry goods being most in request. =
)rdefs from the maritime provinces and a
'ortlon OF Quebec are unsatisfactory, Cam '
da reports forty-thrce failures, n material +
eduotlon from last week. Bank clanrinos 1
t four cities in the Dominion show res j.
luctlon OF II per cent. this week as COM
jared with last. Il
Dead, Unidentified, Rich,
CREsroN, Ia, Feb. A.-The body of Thos, :,