New-York tribune., 1896-01-13

actual value Of imports particularly OF wooIiehs'
is so far understated that most Of the gold eA-
ported Is in reality required 10 meet that oii-
ference alone. But securities are not returning
from abroad as rapidly as they did Immediately
after the Venezuela message and the more
pacific tone of foreign advices mas 'a'oi
able influence financial prospects mere
Stocks behave in crotchety and contradictory
fashion like other things. and the average o'
sixty active railroad stocks dropped 81 20 per
share from Saturday to the close on Tuesday
but then recovered little every day, ana closeu
IA cents per share higher than week ago
Produce markets have not absorbed great IN
,e,est for the same uncertainties which affect
money and stock markets also hinder large co"-
mitments ahead in trade and manufactures. Cot
ton staggered back and forth sixteenth, with
receipts fuzzy up to the recent proportion OF pre-
vious crops and some persons Of experience are
beginning to speak more hopefully OF yleld
Of 1000 900 bales Mr. Shepperson even express
ing doubt whether the acreage should be cur
tailed further next year But with a favoraDle
season the crop Of 1895 would have been TOO
large Wheat still comes forward in large guam
utv nearly double last years receipts, and, as
before. Atlantic exports show scarcely any gam
over those of the same weeks last year. y" ar
in Europe reports gave wheat temporary
strength but it remains the fact thnt me specu-
lation here has for while practically drled up
its own sources by fostering false official ana
other information Meats and flour were started
inward by the possibility Of war abroad, ana
did not readily react
The expectation of great Improvement IN the
principal industries after the 1st OF January was
partly based on traders information and parity
on sensible reasoning. Dealers were nearing tho
END Of their stocks. It was stated but apparently
at n slower rate than had been supposed. Joo-
hers who Rad bought but little since September.
II was reasoned. would be forced to buy soon
and would naturally begin with the new year
But war runors and financial uncertainties have
not merely caused some delay; they seem 70
have caused for the present an increased depres-
sion and cotton goods woollens. boots and shoes
and some products of iron all exhibit weak
snots In cotton goods there was a somewhat
general revision with lower prices. In woollen
goods the opening Of Wanskuck 1s-ource clays
at 81 i7ia and Riversdes at 81 20 is expected 70
cause a revision In other leading makes. sales
OF wool, though large were smaller than Tor the
previous week. and no longer reflect as much pe-
lief that a new tariff will quickly make this
product dcarer. The prices of boots and shoes
changed but little, though slightly lower for calf,
but leather Is a shade lower though hides ad-
vanced little
The iron business recoris a better price for
Bessemer at Pittsburg. because II is believed
that coke and ore Will be stronger but lower
price for Alabama iron at Eastern markets, so
that the Alabama furnaces can compete again on
equal terms. Nothing seems TO be decided about
the ore question. and finished products went a
little lower on the whole. even structural angles,
Notwithstanding rather larger orders The rail
hold yyif
the same resul, as before. but rather better
demand Is noticed in sheets and plates. 1t is
obvious enough that the quantity OF pig iron
turned out by the furnaces toward the end Of
1895 Is not being consumed in the manufacture.
nor anything like It. and unless the conditions
change materially some Of the furnaces Will for
a time discontinue production.