Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-28
DOLEFUL DUN.
A Chrlstmae Joromiad from tho
Commercial Agency.
TRADE IS PAST STIRRING UP.


NEw EoRK, Dec 23.-R. G.. Dun e
Co.'S Weekly Review says:
Tho year Il practically over except the holt
day business. which Is emirkablv we'll s1s.
iained rs respects number or sulcs. consider NJ
the state Of industries nj tho army Of uncn.
ployed but + matcriall7 diminished In vJluu'
because purchases averaged much smaller n
value than In recent years Probably hc
stocks Of holiday gools Of the better class lcft
on hand after next week will be larger than
usual
Other business al branches included MP.
pears, from Gle ring house returns. 2ii por
cent 10 = thHn last year At the same date But
much business Is done nj prices which return
no profit merely TO keep hands together or re-
tain customers. and the losses by numerous
and hruv' failures reduce p offs even where
the volume u tran.actions has given fair
promise Changes during the past week have
not been cheering In character, but the minds
OF many arc now turning to tho dawn OF tho
new year with hope Of better things
Speculation is torpid except in few stocks
and In cotton with scanty buying wheat has
changed little In prices, though western re.
ceipts have been onl" 2 itd ~ bushels, against
$4,000 last year Wheat Is cents lower than
year ago corn, 81 cents pork, $3.50 per bar.
rel AMI otton, 2 cents.
[ Stock op8rations arc almost confined TO few
favoritss. especially industrials, which are at
fectel by fumors Of changes 10 taxation The
VI Ihlta NuuIiUuo~s huu luoNfu NnuutEullk
lines made encouraging reports and declared
usual dividends, the feeling prevails that oil
important roads must share In the sh. iukago OF
business Earnings IN December thus far are
per cent less than last yer, on ths trunk
lines Is per cent; on western wheat carrying
roads 4y per cent on other western roads,
II per cent. on southern roads, = per cent.
and on Pacific roads l12 per cent
The failure NJ the Crane Iron Co at the end
OF last week with some other smaller failures,
outwelghed the Influence OF the resumption Of
work BY a few iron works, and has Increased
depression at the east Bossemer iron IL
shipped to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh.
where II sells ut 80 u. and gray forge sells for
1913 at MahOning Valley furnaces, but even In
that region the manufacturer keeps only s,IS
Of the Connellsyille coke ovens Ut work, while
9,oss are idle. Tue reduction in prices in
b!elched cotion3 last week and Of leading
white sheetinss this week has been less effect.
i've ia stimulating trade than was expected,
and print cloths are selling at cents
The wool en- trade has started three more
mills, but six have stopped ono employing
40 - hand, and others are reported abJu; TO
stop when stocks IA hand are worked w The
sales Of wool at the three chief markets we're
only 2hj7 uJJ POUNDS for the week. agLnst'H,.
js5i ~ last year and throughout tho west tho
traie completely paruiyzol The shoe man.
uficturcr docs somewhat better Though ship
mrnts from Boston show decrease OF % per
CO l. Tor thu week and man factories nrc
working on orders now nearly exhausted while
few new orders como In and sales from stocks
are commonly rare W hich Is m ist unusua when
stocks In dealers htnls are small
Foreign trade SIN shrnks, exports for thrcc
weeks having been 10 per cent less than asst
year and imports at New York - per cent
less Tn" DELAYED treasury report in fav OF
cCining the silver bullion on hand substitution
ct Othur sues for government paper currency
Issues OF bonds and tax on incomes derived
rom corporations, at racts not much attention.
but Notwithstanding tho abundance OF money
the market Is rather less confident In feeling.
1t Is beloved, however, that the usual pinch
about January viii not occur.
Failures for the week were 3iI in the United
States, against go last year and 81 In Canada.
against Is last year