New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-16
MONEY AND BUSINESS.

The long desired revival OF DuSiIeS' ""' "''
vet come but each week brings more Closing Oh
works and curtaiment OF production because
-, INADEQUATE demand The confident belief
that March would witness renewal OF the puy-
,,g which made last summer interesting
has not entirely vanished. and at same OF TIE
Western cities there is reported really encour-
aging state Of trade but complaints OF duIness
and inactivity are far more frequent the Gus
,onary exTlanation being that the weather MN
ders Not long ago the open and mild winter
was accused of preventing the customary trade
In heavy goods and now storms and bad roadS
are hold responsible But It would save peo-
NJ. many disappointments II they would take
arm erasn OF the fact that the man who earns
9, does not have as much money to spend as
no had when he earned $40. The volume OF
pavments through the principal clearing houses
was last week 81 per cent larger than last
wear but 231 per cent smaller than In 1877" anu
for the month Of March thus far the payments
have bren 60 per cent larger than last year.
but q per cent smaller than IN 1873
The rate Of wages is lower for many than II
was three years ago. and for many more 'n''e
Is work fewer days or hours Inc IRON III
dustry did better than any other last ia"'
Greatly surpassing its weekly output In any
urevlous year but Its returns OF March SNOW
, further decrease OF 5000 tons. and since NO
ver,ber | the decrease has been l2I per cent
unsold stocks having meanwhile risen 10
c5s 100 tons. an addition OF r,Hl tons weekly
in February Part OF the accumulation Is ma
den by the omission OF stocks or the great steer
COMPANIES. so that 1t Is believed that reduc-
ton Of fully 10 per cent In the weekly output
would still leave 1t IN excess OF present ue-
mands for consumption Requirements io'
structural work are not expected 10 DE large "'
,b,s season. nail works stimulated a large arti-
acial demand In February by giving notice
TIA, prIces would be raised March l. and there
fore. have a natural decrease this month"; inc
orders for many steamers on the lakes are IN
oorrse ~ execution but cannot be expected to
J.. renoatod and the orders for rails. though
larger than for three years past. are by no
m.ars IN TO the capacity Of the works Bes-
conner pig-iron Is a shade lower at Pittsburg.
I'm, other prices are practically unchanged.
much more hopeful business appears IN
h,o,s and shoes the continued reduction IN
nrces having at last brought out quite large
orders go that many Of the works are resumihs
operations The shipments from Boston. gwen
nv 1.-THE Shoe and Leather Reporter are the
smallest recorded in May for tve years past
hut this does not reflect the new business which
the works have just been obtaining the de-
o,d for leather IL somewhat better though
,r,ces still average I15 per cent higher than
wear ago but hides are somewhat weaker al
thcueh the supplies at the West are not large
THE decrease In number Of cattle killed at the
four chief Western markets thus far this year
has bccn IS 900 The stocks Of print cloths nave
risen above 100000 pieces. and as some OF the
most important mills are not now reporting
# is believed that the aggregate is as much as
nd eaIpS vel made
dcnce at 2ia cents for regulars which Is close
IN the lowest ever known Quite number or
| cotton mills have been temporarily stopped dur
| ing the past week. and II Is hoped that the cur
tallment OF production may prevent further de-
| cline In prices. which average at present only 10
| per cent higher than year ago. although raw
cotton Is about % per cent higher No improve
| ment is seen as yet In the market for woollen
goods. which Is materially retarded W. several
| great strikes OF clothing hands In different
| cities and by n few failures Of some Importance.
II is reported that large concern manufacture
| ing Clay worsteds Is about to shut down for a
| time owing to insufficient demand Fancy dress
| goods are In steady demand but staples are in
| active.
The stock market practically went out OF bust
ness except for industrials. Almost exactly half
OF the entire sales 10, the week were Of one
stOck TOBACCO anu VI s'A AitS' oto'ns '"e 'o'eo
we're S4054, shares. while sales Of the six most
active railroad stocks we're only 1891 shares.
| As nobody knows what the Industrial stocks are
| really worth they AFFORD fine opportunities for
! those who prefer TO bet on the unknowable. but
| this week q dividend on Sugar and an advance
In the price OF refined were definite facts Of some
| importance. Railroad earnings in February. In
Guiding Mexican and Canadian. show an increase
| of 1882 per cent on 12S roads reported by THE
Financial Chronicle" and in the United States
alone the increase Is 1913 per cent. but In COM
parison with 1893 there Is decline Of per cent.
The tonnage on Western roads Is larger at pres
| ent than In 1893 or any subsequent year.
l Wheat continues Its downward course. fall