The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-07-27
COMMERCIAL.

Only a few of the railroads are
willing to make public report concern
ing the decrease in their business
during the period of the strike but
the litigation which is apt to follow in
the near future will show whether the
So per cent. reported is too much or
too little decrease in the business
covering that period. Though stocks
have been reported as shade stronger,
in reality they are quite a shade
weaker as reading between the lines
shows plainly.
Wheat is reported as likely to ma ke
the lowest record in price ever known.
This is quite possible until it passes
from the weak hands of the farmer
into the strong hands of the specuLa-
tor and middleman who knows how
to manipulate it for a rise. What
they don't know about manipulation
for rise-that is when they have the
goods to SELLS hardly worth trying
to learn.
If farmers could only manage to
live without being obliged to sell at
the beck and call of spectators there
might be some financial hope for
them but no protective laws are
shaped in their favor.
Should war ensue abroad for any
length of time the wheat that is now
borne down would soon bear up to
enrich the speculator who never plow-
ed field in his life or never intends
10 SO long as cornering the necessaries
OF life can so easily be made to pay
better. At SO some cents a bushel
wheat would seem to afford chance
for speculation.
The slight advance in the price Of
corn is publicly noted and deplored,
for the reason, it is claimed, that
this years crop promises a most
excellent yield" Now, as to the
"most excellent yield of corn this
year, we will only remark that it must
be elsewhere than in our immediate
section of county. There are in fact
but few fields about here that can be
called up to the average. Considering
Its retarded growth to start with corn
will do well about here if it comes up
TO the average yield fit were Della
ware peaches that the regular COM
mercial reviews were alluding to we
might possibly be able to agree with
them.
AS to oats, never very prolific
crop In Pennsylvania, it is intimated
that speculation has already begun
and considerably to the disadvantage
OF spectators who were mistaken
about the outcome of the oats busi
ness Like other folks, spectators are
sometimes mistaken, and at other
times they get caught in the traps
they frequently set for others.
Owing to strikes, &c, pig iron is
quoted as dull, indeed. Besides, there
is no brisk demand for the slim out
put,of furnaces. Only about one-half
OF the producing forces of the country
are engaged at present in iron manu-.
iehNtN'H' s.
Textile manufactures are reported
as full of orders for goods, but the
prolonged uncertainties about the
tariff legislation still pending makes
the operators in the national combine
deem it policy to further hesitate not
withstanding there Is no great amount
of wealth in the idleness of plant
in which there is large money. Orders
deferred may yet prove to be orders
lost with some of them. Where the
closing up of business was more to
inAlence tariff legislation than for
any other cause, 10 lose more than
they gain by 1t would serve them abol
rght.
Notwithstanding the depressed con
| di,oaa still prevailing in consequence
Of The premeditated close,cp of about
all projected industries prices stil
have downward tendency SO far a;
/ domestic trade is concerned, while
foreign trade Slows no important
! change.