The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-20
REVIVAL In BUSINESS.
MORE HOPEFUL COMMERCIAL orr-
LOOK IN THE SOUTH.
Several Noticeable Increase. I'm the yolu,,.
of Trade-Busine. More Active in
the Cotton States.


NEW YORK. Jan. I9-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
Special kilograms from many OF the
more important cities. based on interviews
in leading lines OK trade. make IL plain
that the improvement reported a week
ago, characterized as the turn in the tide.
had been retained and added to. Exccp-
lions are noted at some Of the larger
eastern manufacturing centres. Pittsburg
is more hopeful but while retailers have
increased purchases. there is little gain
in iron or steel. Philadelphia emphasizes
further concessions IN prices for wool,
but there are contradictory reports as 10
the manufactured product. Attention Is
directed To the taking OF iron and steel
contracts by competing western concerns
at "ruiuous prices" although q is admit
ted that trade I'm drugs, paints, and glass
is much improved
Manufacturers Of cheap iewelry. novel;
ties. and card board. az Providence ro-
port increasing orders. Jobbors I'm shoes
at Baltimore say trade is fairly safis-
factory, and travellers from that city
say the condition Of business throughout
the South is such that revival there
must appear In a short time General
business continues slow In portions n
South Carolina affected by cyclones hut
IN Georgia It is improved while I'm North
Carolina the spring demand has not fully
started. Boston reports increased sales
in several lines. due 10 buyers who have
held off so long they are obliged % TO-
plenish stocks. There are slight Increases
in the eastern shoe trade and exports
of leather are fair. Cotton goods have a
better tone, and prints and wash fabrics
are In fair sale, as are shirtngs which
are reduced 20 three and ee-fourths
cents. General trade at Charleston Is exc
pected 10 become more active as soon as
planters and merchants have perfected
ARRANGEMENTS for the new year Notwith-
standing cotton Is lower. general trade at
Savannah Is more active, and at Augusta
all lines report an advance over last
week. druggists are behind on orders, ard
dealers in groceries and dry goods much
encouraged. Spring trade an Atlanta
opens with some activity, and the manu-
facturers' output has increased. Chatta-
nooga jobbers say collections are Inn
proved. and that hardware Is more active.
Trade conditions AZ Cincinnati have Inn
proved with manufacturers ana JopDefs
i'm merchandise a better feeling IS re-
ported at Louisville. as well as actual
gains. AT ST. Louis demand for groceries,
dry goods. shoes. and hats has Increased.
as have orders for finished iron ami
steel. the latter being equal TO those lh
any preceding January.
Trade az Nashville starts out IN re-
duced volume. though iobbers express
themselves fairly well satisfied. Even
Memphis reports larger sales OF groceries
and plantation supplies than anticipated
but al Mobile. Birmingham, ana New or-
leans and Galveston, no gains are re-
ported.
Improyement in Trade Slow.
NEW YORK. y. y, Jan. l9.-R. O. DUN
A, Co.'S weekly review of trade to-moiio"
will say
While industrial improvement continues
the gain is slow, and the Increase ~ lIe
purchasing power OF the people by ehial7'
ment OF the force at work, Is III
measure c0unterbalanced by the loss ih
purchasing power Of the people throush
reduction in wages paid. During the past
week dispatches have told OF iedu-O"'9
averaging - per cent. in fifteen iron anu
steel works. and averaging 10 II per cent
i'm eleven textile works, nve "mpioylhs
thousands OF hands, each having redneen
- per cent.
Meanwhile twenty-five textile aud eleven
iron and steel concerns resumed WHOLLY OF
ina part, against seventeen textile AMI FOUR
iron concerns stopping or reducing force.
The volume Of business done has Increased
i'm leading branches. but not largely, clear
irgs fall below those Of last year for inc
same week ZIG per cent, and un'ef-
tainty regarding the future as yet prevents
the ventures essential TO prosperous "e-
tivity.
Textile works ro3uminS are mostly ear
net and knit goods concerns. with some
worstcd works. Though more mills are
at work. and there Is more speculative
buying. prices nevertheless decline. LoWell
brussels carpets have been reduced
per cent, the demand for WOODEN goods
Increases, but Is very small and Is largely
confined 10 goods Of low cost ana trade
in dress goods is decreasing. Cotton goods
are weaker. Lawrence brown sheetinss
at Al C., low grade bleached at ~
print cloths az 3-4 with dun market
American shifting prints at 81. heftlhia'
prints at 4. and Lancaster and Ames-
keag ginghams al and 3-ic. ln ',in
manufacture the depression Indicated %.
imports OF raw silks for six months nor
a tfird as large as those of year .e
Most shoe manufacturer are DONG "'.
moro than half the usual business 'h'
some are well employed. ana tne 'isp
ments from Boston this year mus lol
have been - per cent. less than lh,l 80,
10 date Acain. there Is reporter ",'
business I'm iron and steel pfohue'', Oh.
y, low prices. Steel rails were reduced
January fst TO 81 per ton. ana az fltls-
h,,ro steel biilets are selling az >i'.'''
s,eeI bars and tank steel q L2c, beams ~
tx and wire rods az $3.50 Al Philadel-
mia consumption Increases very little.and
he market IS all In buyers favor. AZ
Putsburg Rcssemcr pse-iron Is quoted az
SlD75 or less. and contracts for coke are
made at 81 for six months, while some
southern-forge iron IS sold at price
Welding only $40 al furnace. Structural
work is I'm fair demand. and there IS
more business in wire nails az Lie. but
no improvement is seen In bar or pipe.
Chicago reports increase in structural
work. But lower quotations.
Idle money constantly accumuiaics here.
and trust companies offer six-monthS
loans az . per cent. yearly, While per
cent. Is the prevailing rate on call
Failures for the week have been 4"'
I'm the United States. against 80 last year.
last