Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-10-06
DuNS COMMERCIAL REVIEW.


A Considerable Excess Over Last Years
Business, but on the Whole Less Than
Normal, Disclosed by Careful Laquiry
into the State OF the Different Branches
OF Trade-COntinued Depression In Farm
Products.
NEW York, Sept. ear. G.. Dun d
Co.'S weekly review of trade, issued to-
day, says:
Retail trade, the last step in the
movement from producer to consumer,
is at the same time the first step upon
which depend empty shelves in the
stores and future orders to the mills.
After months Of unnatural economy
buying should be large enough to send
the mills further orders very soon.
Special inquiry has been made this
week at all commercial centers re-
garding the state of retail trade, and
many OF the answers are given on
the following pages. Wide diversity
appears in different trades, and the
details of business at the different
cities merit general attention The
main facts disclosed are. fret a marked
improvement within the past month,
and considerable excess over the
business done year ago, particularly
in the necessaries of life. Bnt, second,
it appears that the volume of trade at
present is on the whole considerably
less than in normal year, at most
points, and in the more important
trades is apparently about 20 per cent.
smaller than in September, 1892
Evidence of continued improvement
in wholesale trade and manufacture
does not appear this week. There is
large distribution on orders given some
time ago, but new business going to
the manufactures is everywhere slack
ening. The completion of orders for
replenishment of stocks leaves a mar
rover demand, and it is yet too early
for consumption to provide further or
ders, The volume of business re-
ported by clearings at the chief cities
is 60 per cent. larger than last year,
but 2ls per cent. less than in 1892, and
for the month of September the daily
average has been Slai, ,0Do, 900, against
$l2S, 0OO,0o0 last year before recovery
from the panic had come, and $177,-
600, 900 in 1899. As these include pay
ments resulting from trade deferred
during months of uncertainty, the
comparison is but moderately oncour-
aging.
The depression in prices of farm
products will have some influence.
Unprecedented records have been made
in cotton and wheat though as to
wheat only in contracts for future de-
livery, in which the prices are the low
est ever made. The available stocks
are about 15.OO0 900 bushels greater
than year ago, and western receipts
for the week were 5.252.7 .7l6 bushels,
against 6,l9l ,05i last year. and since
August /, 51,o00,OoO bushels, against
3S,000,OO) bushels last year. The At
lantic exports for the week and since
August have been about third
smaller than last year, but the fall in
price during the week has been l,75
cents.
Cotton on the spot is lower at GA
cents than at any other time since
1S49, and quotations then did not mean
what they do now, while the lowest
option has been quoted at Goa cents,
which is 40. all previous records.
Even at the close the fall for the week
is one-quartes' An estimate ef 95,-
600, 900 bales minimum this year has
| influenced the market, but would re-
ceive less attention il stocks in sight
were not heavy, while all agree that
this crop is likely to exceed the world S
requirements of American cotton.
1t is encouraging that speculation in
corn has broken. and the price has
fallen cents less gloomy estimates
than those of the department having
gained general acceptance. 1t is now
supposed that the yield is not far from
1,500, ,000, 900 bushels. which will compel
much economy in feeding, out spccula-
tion in pork has also brol en-, and the
price has fallen Is cents. while lard
| mas uecllutu hdll W l CcE
| The iron industry shows 4, shrinllage
of demaad, and the prices quoted to-
day are but little above the lowest this
year. Bessemer pig is weat er at Sll
at Pittsburgh. with an impression that
excess of production must cause fur
ther decline unless lower prices are
made for steel rails. Billets, struc-
tural forms and nails are shade
weaker and in eastern markets
competition of works to get business
tends to destroy profits There is more
business at the west and Chicago re-
ports good demand for sheets. for bar
in small lots, and for coke pig, though
states and boiler tubes are weaker.
The boot and shoe manufacturers con-
tipues to lead Others in comparative ac-
tivity, and shipments from Boston for
the month have been 33s,097 eases,
against 300 ,623 last year and 32s, log in
1892.
Textile manufacturers feel the
shrinkage of the demand due to the re-
| plenishmcnt of stocks, and there is
less doing in cotton and woolen goods
at first hands. The distribution by
jobbers on previous orders is large,
and stocks are still being reduced by
purchases, but the trade now depends
in all branches upon the supplemental
orders expected In cottons recent ad-
vances are maintained, but buying
is noticeably less active. The fall
trade in woolens is prolonged the more
because 1t has been light through the
season, but in spring goods there
is little new business, Sales of wool
for the month have been 1889, $50
pounds, against l3,3a3, l95 last year and
81, ,Oso, 500 in 1892.
The failures during the past week
have been 235 in the United States
against S3i last year, and 81 in Canada
against 3S last year.
On Trial for Offering a Bribe to Council
| man Jacob Horn.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, Sept. 30 --ExCoun-
Gilman Richard Armstrong was placed
on trial Yesterday morning on charge