The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-14

The Snow-Church Companys weekly
review OF trade says:
The genera economical system Of the
country during the past week presented
the rather anomalous condition Of an i'm
proved state OF trade, both domestic and
foreign, coupled with at least fair chow
ing in railway ana transportation earn
ingS, while, on the other rand a steady
decline took place among all the Wall
street exchanges Especially in what
are styled the speculative commodities
was the decline pronounced. Cotton IS at
Il price lower than it has ever been within
the recollection Of the eldest planter or
dealer the reason for this being that
the present crop is probably largely in
excess of the worlds requirement OF
American cotton, u say nothing OF the
stock left over from previous crops. Dur
ing the past week wheat went below all
former records Of low prices in this sta
pie, having been kept up previously by
the wonderful strength in corn, but at
last going down with bump. II has
been a lively race down the tObOggdn be
tween wheat and cotton, with the latter
slightly i'm the lead. The prices in cot
ton made tho final break the latte" part
of last week, when the October and No
Vemher options sold below six CeutS, OC-
tober touching 5.95, and establishing new
low record. The principal cause Of this
weakness was the pressure OF the interior
markets to dispose OF their receipts. For
some weeks all the important Influences OF
the market nave ltIutl 10 lONtI Ilt
price Of wheat Tae available stocks
are reported to be about fifteen million
bushels greater than year ago. The
Atlantic exports for the week IN question,
and since August lst are reported to
have been about one-third smaller than
last year. but the fall in prices during
the week was Ito cents.
Stocks IN general, though depressed, are
not at all near the lowest prices on rec
ord. The reason seems TO be, not only
D, i.l, IL. IL,
commodities, but that there is a smaller
supply actually In the streets than ever
before This lauer consideration, in a
time of less financial depression, should
operate to boom prices in stocks In
way to suit the most fastidious; but the
general tendency of the present time
is toward a conservative policy In such
operations however much Of money there
may be and wherever it IS. Further, at
a period preceding election times, dull
markets, and cannot, therefore, be con-
sidered too strongly as indicating the
real strength of the market
While the financial condition Of the
country is always more or less reflected
by the condition Of the great stock mar
kets, leaving foreign considerations aside.
the trades are frequently dull in times OF
the highest eXhiliratiOn in stocks. and
wee versa During the week recently
ended there has been found much among
the trades to inspire confidence az TO the
future. and in some directions, little of
a favorable nature-at least. for the pres
emit Among the retail dealers il ap-
pears that there is a wide diversity In
the various trades, the details from diff
ferent points, presenting, on the whole a
conflicting and varying mass, Of which II
Is Is, nara to draw any reliable deduction.
The main facts disclosed are. first n
marked Improvement within the MAST
month, and considerable excess over the
business done year ago, particularly in
the necessaries of life But. scond n
appears that the volume Of trade nj
present is on the whole. considerably
less than in a normal year at most noints
ana IN the more important trades Is an.
nareutiy about % per cent. smaller than
in September, 1892. '''"''