The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-08
THE new YEAR.
The Commercial Expects 10
See a Business Revival.
Few Changes at Present Except in
Line Of Holiday Traffic.

rHw roRE. Dec. s.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
Weekly Review Of Trade says: II is diff
cult to detect any change in current busi-
ness Prospects for business after Jan.
are quito generally considered more hope
ful. In sOine BREACHES there are larger
orders, and the wcstbound shipments Of
merchandise are "a little larger.
But the working force naturally dimin-
ishss near the end OF the year, and the
holiday traffic brings just now tempo
rary activity. which Is not OF much gem
eral Significance. The meeting OF con-
gress and the announcement OF the new
currency plan ana OF various bills pro.
posed, have not affected she situation per-
csptibiy. Payments for bonds have been
completed without disturbance, but do
nos prevent the shipment of some gold to
Europe.
On the whole, agricultural products are
scarcely stronger, and wages Of labor do
not advance, but there Is reason 20 expect
the employment OF "a somewhat larger
working force after the holidays.
Grain and Cotton.
The receipts OF wheat are larger than a
year ago, and tho exports smaller, but for
oign accounts, particularly as TO the Ar
gentine crop, have holped an advance Of
IA cents. Estimates for tho winter wheat
acreage indicate an increase OF l. 9 per cent,
with condition somowheat better than
last year. Although corn receipts have
been much larger than a year ago. and ex-
ports not one-sixth as large, the price has
changed but little.
Corton has again fallen to 52[ cents,
very close to the lowest peint for many
years and actual receipts from planta.
tions arc larger To date than In 1891, when
the crop was over 8, OoO, 600 bales. Neither
abroad nor here are there indications as
yet Of more than an average consumption.
The iron industry seems to have dis
tinotly brighter prospects at Chicago,
where pig iron is firmer and bar in larger
demand, because OF orders for freight cara,
But Besseiner iron has sold at $40 % at
Pittsburg Steol rails have been reduced
to Ss2 there, and wire rods and nails are
weaker.
Domestic lead is a shade stronger,
though foreign has sold at g. cents.
small Profits on shoes.
Heavy sales Of shoes during the past two
months, at prices TO be 70 ~ cents lower
than recent prices OF leather warrant,
cause "A KfHtLki ICE an daNaHte, anu
some jobbers have conceded "a cents on
women's grain and buff shoes, but others
protest that no advaneeis possible, and cut
down -er- withdraw their orders The or
ders for next season arc quite encouraging
as TO quantity, but It is claimen that few
can be Allied at profit, and leather seems
frmer, with no prospect Of a decline.
The wool manufacture, judging from
sales at the three chief markets since Sept.
/, has been doing 3 per cent more than last
year, but 81 per cent less than in 1852, and
the average Of 1914 qualities Of wool quoted
10y Coates Bros. is 1879 cents, the lowest
ever known, IA per cent lower than last
year. and 80 per cent lower than IN 1852.
Manufacturers arc receiving more orders
for spring, and still have considerable do
mand for heavy goods, particularly for
overcoatings, on account Of a change In the
fashion, and there is much confidence ex-
pressed that they will be able TO continue
production at about the present rate after
Jan. l. The cotton manufacture shows no
material change. though the demand for
spring is very backward.
The liabilities in failures for the last
week Of November were s.. Qgs i07 against
81, 904, ,416 for the same week last year. The
failures this week have been $50 in the
United States, against Ss5 last year, and
40 ia Canada, against ~ last year.