Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-03-01
REVIEW OF TRADE.

Business Throughout the Country Still
Hesitating Until the Future Becomes
Better Outlined-The Volume of Money
In Sight still Beyond the Demands OF
Trade. and Rates Lower-Movement Ol
Staples Fair with Better Promise-Busi-
ness Failures for the Week. Etc.
New YORK, Feb. 24.-R. G. Dun &
Co. S weekly review of trade, issued to.
day, says:
waiting condition of business is one of the
weekly fluctuations and means nothing. Bust
ness OF all kinds is hesitating until more can
be determined about the future. and mean.
while orders which will keep hands at work
Tor time are given and accepted. this week
increasing, as in some others decreasing, with
out ahording reasonable indications OF the fu'
ture- Prices are again greatly depressed, as
low or lower than ever having been made In
wheat, silver and some manufactured prod
ucts; and neither cotton wool nor raw iron
have advanced.
The glutted money markets continue to show
tnat the volume OF business is still inadequate
to employ their circulation available, and the
withdrawal of about $50, 900. 900 from the New
York market by the sale of government bonds
does not cause the expected Strengthening OF
rates. With misunderstanding shipments
OF merchandise to other countries foreign ex.
change rises, and some exports Of gold are ex-
pected.
The volume Of domestic trade does not seem
to increase. In all clearing payments the de-
crease Is 4i.6 for the week, against 37.OS for
the previous week, and about S7.5 for the
month thus far. The railroad tonnage east
bound shows a decrease in February of 3S.2
per cent. and the number of loaded cars pass
Ing Indianapolis is SO per cent. less than for
the same week last year. In earnings Of rail-
roads the decrease is smaller-for the second
week of February 1871 per cent, and for the
first week 1915 per cent, against 1873 per cent.
Tor January. The decrease in receipts on the
trunk lines, nearly IL per cent, and on granger
and southwestern roads. IA to 81 per cent, is
greater than for the first week Of the month.
Speculation in railroad stocks has been
stagnant, and the average of prices has
scarcely changed 10 cents per share. closing
slightly lower, Notwithstanding the dividend
on Burlington gave some encouragement, and
there were some purchases for European &C.
count. General liquidation is not now feared.
but reduced earnings do not encourage buyers.
Sales of industrials were on some days 60 per
cent OF the whole. and with varying reports
from Washington they advanced an average Of
about 4S cents per share.
Heavy liquidation again appeared in wheat
on Monday, and after Tuesdays sensational
advance, again on Wednesday. with prices
about the lowest yet made. Western receipts
have been only .20l bushels against 3.0O2.-
6l4 last year, and Atlantic exports only 4sl, 22A
bushels, against 99l ,2a5 last year. and the de-
crease in visible supply had little influence
Corn and oats were slightly stronger and hog
products but little changed. Cotton was q
sixteenth lower, with considerable trading, the
receipts from plantations still exceeding those
OF last year, but the exports showed o rela-
lively large increase While Ellison reports
foreign consumption nearly full. takings OF
northern spinners since January have been
80 per cent. smaller than last years to date.
Hesitancy and uncertainty still control tho
money market Rates are even a shade lower
than in recent weeks; commercial paper be-
inn mall In L. f,R xrhi 10
loans are seldom made at more than per
cent. Foreign exchange has advanced about
cent, and but for the strong condition OF the
European banks. gold would have gone abroad
already. further decline in silver takes the
price below the lowest previous record and is
partly due to q heavy shipment from New
York during the week. The treasury deficit
in February is somewhat smaller than in jan
uary, for though customs receipts do not en-
large and for the month thus far are SO per
cent. less than year ago, the internal revenue
for the month shows some increase over last
year.
Industrial changes have been few, but a
little better demand for some textile goods
has started more mills than have stopped.
There is better feeling in fancy cottons,
though some goods are q shade lower. Wooden
dress goods are steady, with fair demand.
Though orders for heavy woolens and worsteds
are light, they are little better, some agents
having made fair progress.
encouragement is feit by some In tAe caicu-
lation that clothiers have done about the
usual spring business while manufacturers
have done about 30 per cent, so that c1othiers'
stocks must be reduced While two purchases
of wool, aggregating 100000 pounds, are re-
ported all sales at three chief markets have
been only 3,47O.SOO pounds, against 5,52S. 500
last year, a decrease of ST. PSF cent.
Prices of commodities now average abou
onefourth per cent. higher than q month ago,
but lit per cent lower than year ago. and,
excepting this year, have never been SO low on
the whole as they are now.
The failures during the past week numbered,
in the United States, 2S3, against 1893 last year;
and Canada 81, against 81 last year. Both in
number and in magnitude. commercial disas-
tiers have diminished, and in the first half OF
February the liabilities thus farreported of
all firms failing amount to only 90. 1893, 1893 Of
which S3,679.845 were of manufacturing and
81, SIS, 467 of trading concerns. The aggregate
Of failures were 8, $40 ,2o2 in two weeks Of jan
uary.