The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-12-17
IMPROVEMENT LOOKED FOR.
New Year Likely to start with Boom in
Trade.

n. O. Dun 4 Co.'S weekly review Of trade
saysi
Tho approach OF the holidays and doubt
about the action OF congress put of further
improvement until the new year. While In
dustries have gained in working force. they
are waiting for commensurate gain In de-
mand, and meanw hile are trying to clear
away embarrasments which restrict them.
The wheat market has weakened, with less
gloomy news from other countries and larger
western receipts. Pacific dispatches show
that exports continue heavy, and about 3O0-
900 tons more are available from California.
Cotton declined 3-l6c.
The iron industry IL for the time demoral-
izcd by uncertainty regarding the great COM
binatiOns. The formal withdrawal OF the
Bellalre. 20. company broke the billet pool.
The beam makers meet this week to revive,if
they can, their compact, aud the steel rail
works will meet shortly. with the prospect
that one important concern will 20 out, and
that II the others Keep together prices will
have to be materially reduced.
The bar association scarcely pretcnds TO
control prices; which are slightly lower this
week for steel, and the rupture OF the nail
association for the time left the bar price 10
wire nails cost about 81 80 at Pittsbnrg,
with extra charges ON ordinary assortm- nts
averaging re. against 81 80 paid last month
with extras averaging 70c. Until the fur
thcr influence ot these combinations ia bet
tor defined narrow trading must be expected.
Bessemer pig and gray forge are slightly
lower.
Minor metals are generally weaker. tin at
~ 30, copper at He. for lake and lead at
- %. Aluminium has been reduced from
5Oc to 31c for insots. ton lots, and Csc to j3c
for rods, production having increased four
fold
~ raw cotton is lower. some yielding in
price. Of staples Is expected. Print cloths
are weas n tone. with enormous stocks
Wooden goods arp not in better demand, and
there is general indisposition to max" COM
mitmenta ahead. Sales Of wool In two weeks
were li,3'S,9OO pounds, against 1899, 2O3
last Year
Failures for the week have been $50 in the
United states, against 1888 last year, and 43
IN Canada, against 81 last year.
B "BfHdstfeets' review OF the stock market
says: Congress having actually assembled.
tn" speculative market has apparently lost
much OF it, fear regarding the action OF that
body and It's influence upon the financial
situation. The presidents message produced
little or no liquidation Of long stock, and the
Introduction. as soon - con Sress got to work.
II u variety OF resolutions In reference To
Cuba had practically no effect In fact tn"
street seemed TO be uHder the influence Of
reports from Naslns stOa Indicating that the
present congress was unlikely 10 take posi-
tive action Of any kind IN the short time
that remains of IL existence
The utter absence Of outside participation
In the market Is severely fel;. aud the trans
actions from day 10 day have been on a very
limited scale. anu were due In the main TO
the smaller operators OF the board room it.
sc!f. The strength 81 the bc;tcr class OF
bonds aud Investments generally L. q feature.
but the demand IN question Is sharply drawn
so far rs securities " % speculative character
are concerned.
4 feeling asserts itself m speculative circles
thai after January there Will be "a broaden
tn; out OF the market. with moro or less OF q
revival Ia it, activity. This naturally tends
10 restrict bearish operations to attack ON
particular stocks. Europe nas taken no part
N the speculation here. aud the weaker tone
OF the foreign exchange market has been
without any influence on stocks.