The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-12-30
The STATE .oE TRADE.

r. g.. Dun Co.'s Weekly Review Indics.
ting the General Condition OF Trade
Through hout the Country-yothinE Part
icuiariy Cheering In the Outlook
business Failure for the Weeks. Etc.
New York, Dec.aS.-R. G. Dun b
Co.'S weekly review Of trade, issued to-
day, SAYS: sA4
The year is practinliy over, except the holi-
day business. which Is remarkably well sus-
tained as respects the number OF sales, cousid-
eriI the state of industries and the army OF
the unemployed but is materially diminished
in volume because purchases average much
smaller in value than in recent years. Probably
the stocks OF holiday goods Of the better class
left on hand after next week will be larger than
usual Other business. all branches included.
appears from clearinghouse returns 81 per
cent. less than last year at the same date.
But much business is done at prices which re-
turn no profit. merely TO keep hands together
or retain customers. and the losses ly nu-
merOus and heavy failures reduce profits even
where the volume of transactions has given
fair promise. Changes during the past week
have not Ieen cheering. but the minds OF
many are now turning to the dawn OF the new
year with hope OF better things.
Speculation Is torpid, except q few stocks
and in cotton. With scanty buying wheat has
changed little in price, though western re-
ceipts have been only 2,7i6.5i4 bushels. against
l. 4lgS. .Ol6 last year. and Atlantic exports only
57iC95 against ore last year. Russian ex-
ports are beyond all precedent, in OctOber and
November - 6Oo.OOO bushels. against oSO,OOO
last year. and that country is selling at ruin
Gus prices because producers ind IL necessary
To realize.
Cora has declined IL cents with western re-
ceipts 3.Tii2lI bushels against sII5.575 last
year. while exports declined to S3i, $50, against
.S3SaG last year. Pork products have been
somewhat active and lower: pork IS cents and
lard oue-quarter cent. Wheat is cents lower
than year ago. corn Sig cents. pork - so bar
rel lard cents. hogs IL cents. and cotton
cents After falling an eighth. cotton Tecov-
cred shade on an estimate that the crop had
been only 6.6D,OJl bales which is less than the
yield Of last year. AS receipts from planta-
iions are already IaiOOO bales more than 4 year
ago, and continue greater week by week. the
estimate my be received with caution.
Stoci operations are almost confined TO
few favoritcs especially industrial" which
are affected 10y rGmors OF changes in taxation.
The general result IS n decline OF ss5s per
share in trust AMI sl-91 in railroad stocks,
which are lcsitimatcly weakened by continued
decrease in earnings. The war Of rates con-
tinues. and though Vanderbilt lines made en-
cOuraging reports and declared usual divi-
deads. the feeling prevails that all important
roads must share in the shrinkage OF business
Earnings in December thus far are u per
cent. less than last year-Ou the trunk lines IL
per cent, on western wheat carrying roads 2t9
per cent, on other western roads II per cent,
on southern roads SO per cent, and on Pacific
roads la:prr cent. There was u special weak
ness in New England and in Atchlson, as it
was stated that arrangements made abroad for
that company were broken on by cable after
the death Of Mr. Masoun.
The failure OF the Crane Co. at the end OF
last week. and some other smaller failures.
outweighel the influence OF the resumption OF
work Ivy few iron works and has increased
| depression at the cast Bessemer iron Is
shipped 10 Philadelphia from Pittsburgh
where it sells NJ slOT5, and gray forge sells for
| 80 y ut MahOning Valley furnaces; but even
in that region the manufacture keeps only
| S.i3' of the Connellsville coke ovens at work,
while 9dSs are idle.
The reduction in prices OF tleached cottons
last week. and of leading white sheetings this
week has been less effective in stimulating
trade than was expected, and print cloths arc
selling at 3. The wooden manufactu has
started three more mills. but six have stopped,
one employing 1890 hands. and others are re-
ported about to stop when stocks in hand are
worked up. The sllts OF wool at the three
chief markets were only a,5O7 900 pounds for tho
week against 55g7 400 last year. and through
out the west the trade is completely paralyzed.
The shoe manufacture does somewhat bet
ter. though shipments from Boston show q do
crease OF u per cent. for the week and many
factories are working on orders now nearly
exhausted. while few new orders come in and
sales from stocks comparatively rare.
which is most unusual when stocks in dealers
hands are small.
The closing of the St. Nicholas bank with
liabilities Of s3.TD3OO) caused no excitement.
Custom has hardened the street to reports OF
failures. and II is generally expected that the
close OF the year may bring more than usual
Foreign trade still shrinks. exports for thres
weeks, having been 10 per cent. less than last
year and imports at New York % per cent.
less. The delayed treasury report In favor OF
coming the silver bullion on hand substitution
OF other issues for government paper currency.
issues Of bonds and 4 tax on incomes derived
from corporations. attracts not much atten-
tiOn. hut Notwithstanding the abundance OF
money the market is rather less confident in
feeling II is believed, however that the usual
pinch about January will not occur.
The failures for the week number 81 in
the United States, against 2-3 for the corre-
spending week last year; and 81 In Canada,
against i last year.