New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-15
Fuel Gas.
COMMODITY PRICES RISE
Volume of Business IN Many
Lines Show Decline.

Business, according 20 the mercan-
tile agencies, has been irregularly
checked by the war developments, but
progress is being made toward better
ment. Commodity prices are generally
higher. The characteristic feature OF
trade as a whole is that the volume Of
transactions Is decreasing, while prices
are advancing.
"Dun's Review" says to-day:
Reports from trade centres show
that but for the Reorganization caused
by the European war domestic business
would be developing with seasonable
activity. There is much irregularlty
in the reports of the drygoods mar
kets. but there are many buyers seek
ing supplies in spite Of the disturbance
caused by war, and especially the
blockade in foreign trade. The iron
and steel trade is naturally directly al
fected by the uncertainties Of the IN
ternational crisis, but at the same
time there is a keen appreciation OF
the great opportunity which presents
itself to American industry and trade
if we have the wisdom and courage 20
act promptly in the present disturb
ance. Prices Ct number Of commodl-
ties are advancing. The heat has
caused some damage TO corn IN certain
localities. The railroads are beginning
to experience the choking up of traffic
at export points, but their earnings de-
creased only per cent IN the first
week Of August, the decrease in July
having been "a per cent. The number
of idle cars has shown a recent decline,
which is a gratifying exhibit so far
as it goes. though the total is still
Ic not
urally cautious about buying new sup
cleared up, and this reduces the de-
mands upon the iron and steel inter
ests which deal with the transporta-
ton companies. There is practically
no business in foreign hides and
reduced volume in the domestic prod
uct. II is Characteristic of the bdsi-
ness situation as a whole that a con-
siderable advance in prices accompa-
MES a considerable decline in the vol
ume Of transactions. Both Of these
developments are the result Of the I'M
certainties Of an unprecedented crisis
in the worlds history. The measures
now being taken TO reorganize COM
merce on a foreign war basis will 20
far toward restoring confidence and
trade"
"Bradstreets" has the following:
"The widest movement of prices seen,
probably, since the Civil War, has oc-
CURED since August l. and most of it
since August 6. The list of advances
is, as intimated last week, a virtual
roll call Of this and every other cOun-
try's products. Products wholly or
partially imported have, of course,
been notably prominent, with alloys
for the steel trade, sugar. burlaps, raw
woods, some finished textiles, dyestuffs,
chemicals, drugs and a long list of
other products distinguishing them
selves. On the export side, wheat has
rather Jagged, and while there is no
open exchange market for cotton, first
offerings of necessitous sellers are
said TO be at low prices, 9i9 to 10
cents being reported for first pickings
in Texas. Coffee. too, is lower Corn
has reached a new high level, partly
affected the crop reports, and live hogs
and hog products reached the highest
levels for four years, later reacting
sharply, as did beeves and other meat
products. In some lines. indeed, the
advance has been manifestly too great
70 last"