Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-03-31
INCREASING TRADE,
Without Any Addition to the Accrnins
Profit, Causes . Perplexing situation
An unsatisfactory Showing, on the
Whoies OF. the Business Outlook, Though
Not without Some Encouraging fea-

FRONT, Causes q Perplexiny situation
An Unsatisfactory Showing, on the
Whole: OF the Business Outlook, Though
Not Without some Encouraging Fea-
tures.
NEW York, March a4.-R. q. Dun &
Co. s weekly review of trade, issued To-
day, says:
1t Is perplexing to be Obliged to rerort tha:
business grows larger in volume. At the same
time not more profitable. Uncertainty does
not diminish, but has rather increased In the
Judgment OF many commercial bodies whica
have urged the president 10 veto the segnior-
age bill Prices OF commodities do not rise,
but are on the whole about l5 per ceat, lower
than last week, though then the lowest ever
known In this country, and 1919 per cent
lower than year, ago. No more gold has
gone abroad, and stocks average only 3
cents per eloj higher for railroads than
last week, md exactly the same for trust
stockss but soma foreign purchases and the
satsx wntid6@of holiday expi.liu tie s;eadi.
ness More mills are at work, though the pro-
portion OF productive force unemployed is still
from fifth to a third In different branches of
industry, and many mills are stopping because
their orders have run out, even while a larger
number are starting with orders enough for a
time. The prospect of getting constant or
remunerative employment for works and
hands does not change The fact that orders
keep only part OF the force at work. while both
prices and wages tend downward, though spring
is near at hand, renders present business
less profitable and the future less promising.
The starting Of four furnaces by the Illinois
Steel Co.. and one other at Pittsburgh in
creases the output OF iron, and some sales
have been made at the lowest prices vet re-
ported with indications Of continued demand
for structural work, especially at the west. On
the other hand the demand for wire in various
forms, which led the way to improvement
seems TO slacken, and nails are said to be sell
ing lower than ever, below / cent A reduc
tion OF 81 cents in freights from Pittsburgh to
Tidewater only adds TO eastern while 1t takes
from western business. In minor metals busi
ness Is a little larger but at the expense OF
furthur decline to ab0c for lake copper while
tin is steady and lead shade higher
In shoes some concerns which have been
running on large orders for cheap goods find
their orders exhausted; but for other medium
and low priced goods the demand is improving,
and shipments from Boston for the month
thus far have been IS per cent less than last
year. Textile industries are answering the
growing demand for repenishment OF stocks
with handto-mouth production, some mills
getting orders enough to start, and others,
which have filled orders in sight stopping
without trusting 10 future trade.
The demand for cotton goods is fairly large,
but with reduction in prices Of some grades;
and the accumulation of print cloths con-
tinues A large auction sale OF silks brought
fairly satisfactory prices. Sales OF wool for
three weeks have exceeded last years 80 Q per
cent, though the transactions this month
last year were about 40 per cent below the
average. There Is more demand for such
wool as Is needed in the manufacture Of un-
derwear, dress goods and worsted but fine
fieeces are almost unsaleable, Ohio XXX being
quoted at % cents and carpet manufacturers
buy sparingly, though about half their ma
chinery is active.
Wheat cotton and pork have declined a lit
tie. wheat making another record shade be-
low 81 cents at New York. Corn was Il cent
stronger with western receipts 2S7i, ,69S bush
| els, against 953,3..! last year.
The termination OF the rebellion In Brazil
| opens new scope of coffee which is reported
very large, but prices are as yet steady Cat
| tie are low abroad almost beyond precedent,
| so that exports are retarded Some hope of
| cheaper coal Is encouraged by reduction OF
| rates on the Lehigh road to 40 per cent, OF the
price in New York barber. The volume of do
nestle trade measured by clearings for the
| week has been 3, l-l0 per cent. smaller than
| last year and outside New York l7.9 per cent,
smaller, the decrease being there less but at
New York greater than for the previous week.
There Is encouraging increase, the first for
many months, in Inbound tonnage from
Chicago, and at indianapolis tn movement is
almost us large us last year, while west.bound
tonnage OF highclass merchandise is also
| large The accumulation of idle money contin.
ues, as it could not If business were materially
| enlarging, and the demand for commercial
| loans is no better than 1t was March /, While
interior rates OF exchange harden, the banks
here are again discussing the need Of reducing
interest paid on deposits.
The treasury has been losing little of its
balances lately, customs receipts for the
month so far being only s9.076, 759, against sl5.
1873 last year, while internal revenue Is also
shade smaller With long delay in fixing the
| basis OF taxation, treasury embarrassments
| increase and since the Blani bill passed. the
government bonds recently purchased are
quoted at prices below the csst with interest.
The failures for the week ending March IL
involved liabilities Of only s!55s,sls, and for
| the two weeks OF March only IS351l0 pof
| which e.. $50 81 were OF manufacturing and a.
| ii6,06a OF trading concerns. Some deferred
reports will further swell the aggregate but
at San Francisco the assumptions now ex-
ceed the failures A number OF railroad re-
| ceivershps are noticed though none OF impor
| tance. The failures this week number 224 in
| the United States, against 2i7 last year and
| 30 in Canada. against 20 last year. 1t is note.
| worthy that Canadian failures are considera-
| bly, increasing.