The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-08-25
ouN.s COMMERCIAL REVIEW.

81 y "a ~
President, VIII Provide n Definite Basis
for MISUNDERSTANDING the Serious In
jury to Corn and Some Other Conditions
Exercise ~ Restraining Infiuence-A Great
Boom Not Probable.
New YORK. Aug. 1s.-R. G.. Dun g.
Col weekly review of trade. issued to-
day. says:
The new tariff bill, if signed by the
president as expected, provides a
definite basis for business. No sup
Elemental legislation is thought posi-
Bile until next year at least. Large
improvement has been expected from
any settlement, the more because
of a vast amount of business deferred
from week to week in the hope of more
definite conditions. The rush of such
business, or ven a part of it, might
easily double transactions for a time.
1t is not to be overlooked that the eff
feet of new duties upon many branches
of industry and trade is p~roblematical,
and may be determined only after some
months of experience; and meanwhile
the serious injury to corn and some
other conditions exercise a restraining
influence. While it is not wise to look
for Il great BOOM" there is warrant
for a reasonable and prudent hopeful
ness.
1t is too early to look for effects of
the new situation in the great indus
tries, but the gradual recovery which
has appeared for some time is seen in
a better demand for products. Specu-
lation in wool has been stopped. and
The sales, which have been 6.9?9, $50
pounds for the week, and 14,55J. $50 for
we weeks of August, against 1897 100
last year, and 16, 3S5, 800 in 1892, natur-
ally diminished on Wednesday and
Thursday, as it is expected that the
recent advance may be lost. though
no change yet appears. As wooden
manufactures has the old du-
ties, with free wool until
January 1, orders are expected to be
governed by the consuming power of
the people, with the accumulated bust
ness so long deferred, and while recent
trade has been enough to crowd the
mills at work OIL some s~pecialties, it has
been far short of the capacity of all
the works in the country. Makers
will be pressed within the next week
to put prices on spring goods, of which
Il few lines are opening. Cotton man
ufacturers have been carrying eX-
traordinary stocks of goods for the
country. and the strike threatened at
New Bedford will not alarm them. but
the reduction of wages seems likely
to be accepted at Fall River. A smart
increase in transactions is reported,
buyers and sellers having at last }
common basis for Judgment.
Resumption by iron and steel works
which was stopped by the strikes,
continues to depress prices of some
finished products, but with more fur.
naces operating. prices of pig iron are
not lower. Comparisons given to-day
show a fall in prices ranging from 20 to
Al per cent. in iron and its products
since October, 1890. which sufficiently
accounts for the idlc,ess of more than
a third of the works. The demand for
structural forms seems smaller, does
not increase fer railroad use. though
traffic improves, but for some other
products is better.
The boot and shoe industry leads all
others in recovery from depression,
and shipments from Boston for two
weeks are ~ per cent. larger than last
year. Demands for speedy delivery
and numerous sales from stock indi.
cate that jobbers r carrying short
supplies.
Speculation in corr has been very
active. the price falling 4 cents, rising
SO and falling ,, with varying reports
of injury, which i'll some of the great
corn states is undoubtedly severe.
While western receipts in two weeks
have been only 2.426.57s bushels,
against 4.37s, 1O3 last year, the high
price explains imports of only 54l.6S5
bushels, against 3,O31. 9Os in the same
weeks last year. Pork has advanced
80 cents and lard 81 cents per 100
pounds, with justification in the
injury to corn. Wheat is about
! cent lower, western receipts be-
ing very heavy for two weeks, 1O,6sO,-
AS bushels. against $40 Sl last year;
anu IL Is CldllIitu ludL WILLIAMSBURG anu
the two Dakotas will yield 125, OOO, 900
bushels. the second largest yield in
their history.
Unless exports increase speedily and
largely, the financial situation MAJ
grow difficult. In July imports ex-
ceeded exports Sl2.537.914. mainly be-
aus of the heavy sugar movement.
With lower duties the arrival of mer-
chandise to meet the long-delayed de-
mand will be large. while even pho
nomenally low prices do not take ont
products freely at present. In July
Sl2, sol 900 gold went abroad to balance
importation of goods, but the outgo
las ceased. not because exports mate
rally enlarge.
The treasury has been taking in large,
sums-Ss,642 ISIS frocn internal revenue
already this month. mainly from the
tax on whisky. so that with only &c.
1G6, 953 from Customs, the total receipts
exceed last years; but receipts of gold
are insignificant, and the reserve in the
treasury is but slightly over S53. OoO, 900.
Liabilities ot the firms falling in the
week ending August 0 are a little
larger than of late, 81. 294. ESQ. of which
S1,O41, 491 were of manufacturing. and
SG05. 19S of trading concerns. Full re-