Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-24
REVIEW OF TRADE.
Business Grows Larger in Volume with
out Becoming More Profitable.

our Becoming More Profitable.
NEW YORK, March 23-Messrs Il. g.
Dun q Co.'S weekly review Of trade to-
morrow will say: 1t T. perpleXing TO be
obliged to report that business grows
not more profitable. Uncertainty does not
diminish. but has rather increased. i'm the
judgment Of many commercial bodies,
which have urged the President 10 veto
the scignioragc bill. The prices Of COM
modlties do not rise, but are on the whole
about - per cent. lower than last week.
Though then the lowest eyer known in this
country. and are l2.9 per cent lower than
a year ago. No more gold has gone
abroad, and stocks average only cents
Per 800 higher for railroads than last
week. and exactly the same for trust
stocks. but some foreign purchases and
the Intervention of a holiday explain the
stcadiness.
More mills are at work, though the
proportion Of productive force unemployed
is stll from fifth 70 third in different
branches Of industry. and many mills are
stopping because their orders have run
out, even while a larger number are start
ing with orders enough for time. The
prospect OF getting constant or remunera-
live employment for works and hands
does not change. The fact that orders
keep only a part OF the force at work.
while both prices and wages tend down
ward. though spring is near at hand. rem
ders present business less profitable ana
the future less promising.
The starting Of four furnaces by the
Illinois Steel Company and one other at
Pittsburg Increases the output Of iron,
and some large sales have been made
rsNl
diCations OF continued demand for struc-
tGral work. especially ~ tn West. o.
the other hand. thu demand for wire in
its various forms. which led the way Ia
Improvement. seems TO slacken, and nails
are said 10 be selling lower than eyer.
y reduction In tr"ights from Pittsburg
To tidawator only adds To western, while
ii takes from eastern business.
In shoes some concerns, which have been
running on large orders for cheap goods.
lind their orders exhausted. but for
medium and Iow-priced good, the demand
is improving. and shipments from Boston
for the month thus far have been l6l
per cent. less than last year.
The textile Industries are answering the
growing demand for replenishment Of
stocks with hand-to-mouth production,
some mills getting orders enough TO start.
and others, which have filed orders TN
sight. stop without trusting 70 future
trade The demand :or cotton goods il
fairly large, but with the reduction In
tho prices OF some grades ana the ac-
emulation Of print-cloths continues.
large auction sale OF silks brought fairly
satisfactory prices.
The sales of wool for three weeks have
exceeded last years 239 per cent. though
the transactions this month last year
were about 20 per cent. below the average
The volume Of domestic trade, measured
by the clearings for the week, has been
81 lilo per cent. smaller than last year.
and outside Of New York l1.9 per cent.
smaller, the decrease being Their Jess,
but at New York greater than for the
previous week. There is an encouraging
Increase, the first for many months IN
east-bound tonnage from Chicago. ana at
INDIANAPOLIS the movement Is almost as
large as last years. while west-bound tom
mage of higb-class merchandise Is also
large.
Hut the accumulation of lille money
continues as Il could not do n business
were materially charging, and the demand
for commercial loans Is no better than
a was March LIST. While interior rates OF
exchange harden the banks here a r. again
discussing the need OF reducing the inter-
est paid on deposits.
The Treasury has been losing 4 little OF
its balances lately. the customs receipts
for the month so far being only S9,OS6,2j9.
against N5Gi5.S7s last year. while the in
ternal revenue Is also shade smaller.
With the long delay in fixing the basis
OF taxation. the Treasury EMBELLISHMENTS