The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-01-30
DUN g. CO.'S. TRADE REVIEW
An improvement Noted in Trade Though
Prices Are Lower. +
MARKET FOR SECURITIES STRONGER.
Indications Are for Larger Production
and Increase in Consu,nption--Cot-
road Earnings.

RI. u. Dun IL Cos weekly review OF
trade says: There is more business,
though not at better prices. 1t is in
terestins that almost I'll prices which
change at nii are lower than week
ago, and yet business is unquestiona-
bly, larger There is larger prodnc-
ton, but as vet not us much increase
III consumption, and there is larger
buying of materials, but at present
only because better prices are expected
in the future \ few conspicuous fail
lures during the week have had no ma
teriai influence. The market for Sc
curities is slightly stronger, and yet
there lis very little dong. The Nun
Der of hands employed, all industries
considered, is slightly larger than C.
week ago, without adverse change in
rates of wages. All apprehension of
foreign disturbance Of money markets
has passed away, bu. there is still
great caution in making loans It is q
mistake to reckon these As symptoms
Of depression. On tho contrary, in
spite OF the lower range OF prices in
industries, the Indications are for
larger production uul 3 consumption
increasing, not as yet largely, but
steadily.
Wheat, corn and cotton exports arc
the key Of the financial situation, and
during the past week wheat has de-
c]ined Sc and corn &c, while cotton is
unchanged. The Western receipts of
| wheat arc still small, 5Sl, 900 bushels
less than year ago, and for three
weeks Of January 4,5l9,7l bushels,
against 1866, 7O3 list year, but thu
Atlantic exports. flour inclnded, were
1854, is bushels Tor tho week, against
1866, 457 last year, and in three weeks
| weeks OF january have been 5,012, 032
bushels, against G, S49,64s last year.
The price has declined for corn elso,
| although everybody knows that the
heavy exports mean relatiye y more
than the exports Of wheat.
Cotton is unchanged after an eighth
decline. but the continuing large
! movements from plantations and tho
depression OF the market here aud
abroad 90 not encourage higher prices.
There has been q general reduction in
| prices OF cotton goods, which ut pres
ent stimulates larger buying. M
The WOODEN intstry is as low Us over
and no development appears in the
demand FOR goods, although owing to
the latencss Of the season there is it,
tie more doing both in spring and in
winter goods, without qlotable change
in prices The heavy buying of wool
mentioned last week has continued
With smaller concens participating,
and is understood to be in anticipation
| Of expected duties, the sales ut Boston
alone having amounted to II ,568, 900
pounds Quotations have not changed
as yet, although western holders arc
| quite stiff.
Failures for the week have been 400
in the United States, against 37;; last
year, and 65 in Canada, against. 81 last
year.
The aggregate OF gross earnings OF
all railroads in the United States re.
porting for the first half of January is
50, 1877, TIA, decrease Of IA per cent
compared with last year, and Of l0.l
per cent compared with the correspond,
ing period in 1898. Only 10 Granger,
other Western, Southern, Southwest
ern groups are the number of roads
reporting sufficiently large and impor-
taut to give q fair indication of what
the roads in those sections IRE doing.
Tho Granger and other Western roads
continue to report losses compared with
both years with which comparison>is
made. The Southern roads report
gain over both years and the South
western considerable loss compared
with 1898.