The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-04
PRICES A SHADE LOWER.
THE DECLINE THE FEATURE OF
1HE WEEK IN TRADE.

Avenues of Trade Opened by the
Mnder Weather in the East and
South-Business Still Restricted by
Cold in the Northwest-The Volume
of Business Last Month Large.
New YORK, Feb. 3.-BrGdStreets to-
morrow will say: THE features of the bus
iness week include an unusually large num-
Der of decreases in the prices Of staple
articles, among which are pig iron, p cents;
finished iron, 80 cents; wheat. one-haf cent;
corn, seven-eighth cent; oats, seven-eighbhs
cent; lard, "a cents; cotton, one-sixteenth
cent; raw sugar, even-sixteenths cent;
hogs 10 cents. aud steel billets, petroleum
and high wines as we'll. In contrast there
has been an ad vancement OF l cent in special
grades Of domestic wool, one-hah cent on
sole leather, one-eighth on hides, and pork
50 cents as well as an advance for rubber
goods, shoes and bricks.
"In the east and south milder weather has
opened up the avenues of trade, but in the
northwest q second cold snap has still fur
ther restricted business.
$50 far as heard from, the volume of
transactions throughout the country in
January with few exceptions, was the
largest Of any for that month on record.
Business south has been favored by the
opening 10 of traffic routes, and advices
from the larger cities announce an improve
ment in the demand for spring goods. Some
delay in placing orders for hardware and
clothing is experienced.
Wholesale merchants at Baltimore re-
port collections 10 the south freer and trade
improving.
"At Richmond the demand for groceries
and shoes is relatively most active but there
is a good request for plug tobacco, cigar
eJtes and cheroots while a lack of demand
for pig iron causes prices to tend downward.
There is no change in the trade condi-
tions at Charleston, where the prospects for
spring business are good
Memphis merchants report considerable
activity in hardware and planters sup
plies.
"A like state of trade is reportel at Birm-
fngham, where the volume equals the aver
age for the season.
Wholesale business at Atlanta is active
and of satisfactory proportions but warm
and damp weather has checked retail
trade.
"Generally favorable commercial condi-
tions in the region tributary to New Or
leans promise much for the merchants of
that city. The movement OF produce is
large, except that of meals. which has been
checked on account of higher prices. Largo
sales of sugar and rice cause prices TO tend
upward.
''The production Of cotton goods at east
ern mills is heavier than i'll auy previous
year there are no stocks in hand. The out
put Of print cloths is sold ahead TO April,
and there are no stocks at Fall River against
z29, 600 pieces held there year ago"
DUN's REPORT CHEERFUL.
Dun's weekly review of trade will say:
"Actual business is surprisingly large for
the season, and yet the fears about the
future are also large. Congressional uncer-
tainties cause the fears. but the prosperity
and the needs Of the people make business
what it is, aud never before has the distri-
button of products TO consumers been
larger than it has been thus far this year |
Hence the industries are remarkably pros
porous.
"The volume of trade measured by the |
clearings in January was nearly II per
cent larger than in any previous year and |
the railway movement shows great in
crease in the tonnage transported. Yet it is |
probably safe to say that rarely, If ever ex-
coping in a time of panic, has business been
more cautiously and coneervatively regu-
lated. Moneyed uncertainties are excused
by the continued outgo Of gold but the pas
sage of the anti-option bill by the Senate
has had no effect upon the market Rs..yet.
AT Louisville the prospects are encours
aging, at Nashville business is good and at
Knoxville improving with money In better
demand.
"At Little Rock collections are slow ana
many planters are being carried over, but
at Mobile trade is very satisfactory, with |
good prospects.
business at New Orleans is quiet with |
money IN good demand and easy, cotton |
more active and sugar strong, and the trade |
In rice improving.
TEXTILE FABRICS.
"The wonderful demand for textile fab |
RIGS is undated. For brown and bleached |
cottons the market is said to be the best for !
twenty years, and some makes of sheetings |
have advanced.
Prices for manufactured products of |
iron and steel are depressed beyond ali |
precedent. Nevertheless sales continue re-
markRbly large and the volume OF business
greater than in any previous year.
The stagnation in steel rsils
has been broken by the placing of |
orderf for 10000 tons by the Pennsylvania |
railroad, and in plates orders for 20 600 tons |
have been placed for the Cramps at Pitts
burg mills, though at very low prices.
Large structural contracts have also been
placed for building in New York.
1.-The uncertainty about the monetary
future retards business engagements, bat |
in other respects trade is most satisfactory |
and perhaps all the more safe and healthy |
for the feeling Of caution that. prevails.
THE business failures during the past
week number for the United States 225,
and for Canada 80; a total of 301."