Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1893-12-12
The Business situation.

Jhat business affairs are improving
steadily. 1t is just six months ago
that the collapse of the Cordage
Company gave the signal for the
general break in credit that swiftly
followed. In all these months the
production and distribution Of
manufactured goods have been
steadily decreasing until at least
one-quarter of the productive capa-
city of the country was idle. Now
the pendulum is swinging in the
other direction, for the reason that
the requirements for consumption
have absorbed all the surplus
stocks and the country is bare of
supplies,
The most marked change of the
week has been in the iron trade,
which in the best barometer of gen.
eral business conditions. Not only
is the output of pig IRON increasing,
but the demand for finished mate
terial is larger. Besides this the
steel rail combination has collap-
sed, and while this is an unfort-
unate occurrence for the concerns
that make a speciality of this pro-
duct, it is nevertheless a favorable
omen for the general trade, in as
much as buyers of other forms of
steel and iron have been expecting
a break in prices when this oc-
Cured and have been holding off.
The atmosphere is clearer, there
fore, and there is more reason to
expect a decided improvement. As
it is with iron so is it in other de-
partments of IN anufacturing.
There have been more inquiries
for woollen and cotton goods, i'm
plying larger purchases in the near
future, and the shipments of boots
and shoes were only II per cent
less than a year ago. The clearing
house returns, which in September
we're 30 per cent less than in 1892
and in October were 25 per cent
less, were lost week only 81 pei
cent less.
Moreover the staple business OF
the country, the movement of the
crops, has been entirely satisfac-
tory. The exports of cottons last
week we're 16 per cent larger than
the week Immediately preceding
amounting to 29O14O bales. This
compares with exports of 154,695
bales in the same week last year
The November crop report indi
Gates that the earlier estimates oi
the Government in regard to corr
were too low and the crop is now
placed at 1,64S,S ,S50,000 bushels, ol
somewhat larger than last year anC
5 per cent greater than was esti
mated in October. But against
this must be placed a still greater
congestion in the worlds wheat
market and the discovery that Rus.
sia is underselling us in Western
Europe. Moderate exports anC
heavy receipts at Western centers
have depressed the price of wheat
/ cent bushel and corn has de.
clined J cent in sympthy. Pork
has fallen so cents a barrel and
live hogs IL per hundred-weight
while cotton is practically un.
changed.
The great source of our wealth
is in the agricultural community
The crops are at least fair, and the
steady demand for farm products
is having an effect upon the rest Of
the country. 1t is quite clear that
the limit of economizing has beer
reached and that the credit of the
purchasing classes has improved
sufficiently that merchants are will.
ing to buy more freely. In such
situations as this no retrograde
steps are taken, and as the confd-
ence of merchants increases theiI
purchases will become larger.
| Nevertheless the condition Of many
merchants is far from satisfactory
The number of failures keeps very
large, averaging about $50 week,
whereas 200 is a normal number
for this season. It is known, too
that in many cases extensions OF
credit have had to be given. But
the tendency is now so decidedly
toward better conditions that there
is no reason to expect any further
important disasters, although the
strain is by no means removed
Philadelphia Inquirer.
Cabby Ito clergyman who hai
| IL IL. IL l...l NY L.