Show leval y OF TRADE correspondence of tho EQui aEu evidence accumulates of shrinkage in business during tho past month and it is still uncertain whether it is not tho beginning of a reaction about half the western and southern cen tres report some improvement in business for the past week but as many report dalness dul ness with collections somewhat slow eastern trade is not up to expectations of the great transporting companies by water of rail those to now england report I 1 larger traffic than that of last year when the movement was increased by coming enforcement of the interstate act those to the south report traffic not as large as that of last year out excellent with hopeful outlook the great trunk lines from new york shipped west yard 1 tons in march against last ear and east bound shipments from chicago for two weeks have been tons against last year the railroad earnings begin to show more losses than gains on tho whole the net loss for roads reporting thus far being about 9 per cent for march the shrinkage in exchanges in march outside of now york was also about 9 per cent these evidences of past shrinkage are pardy attributable to tho groat storm and partly to west ern strikes which seem no longer likely to cause serious disturbance but a large and more lasting cause is alio prevailing uncertainly as to tho future monetary anxiety is to a great extent relieved april payments caused no pinch money market rather close at but few points are nowhere seriously embarrassed foreign exchange is lower with of demand bior money from abroad though the bond purchase bill as it passed the senate may not be approved it assures the president of ample power and purchases will therefore bocade in case of necessity but the decline m merchandise exports for the past four weeks has been 20 per cent against an increase jf 3 6 per cent in imports of hour and wheat exports for five weeks have been a shade less than half those of last year of corn only 43 per cent and of cotton W per cent pacos after three months of remarkable steadiness were lifted by a variety of speculations rapidly but show weakness again the general level is now loss than three quarters of one per cent above that of january lat with improvements in farm pro iuchs made by last year s brought but general decline m manufactured products tho treas arv increased its balances about 10 jn march without causing pressure for the past week ii has i aken in a million and a half while idding to bank deposits whatever it may be later the monetary supply is not now a cause of dif daulty the present shrinkage in demand for products may not last but it is for the moment tho chief cause of in the bruu usi noss a depression exists greater than has been felt for ears the suspension of work in ten moro establishments is announced noun ced including the great edgac thompson works near pittsburgh and makers at the meeting have decided eliat without lower fuel and freights they cannot meet competition from the south and ast ahe price of coke nominally 1 enables western works to produce more cheaply mill pig iron at pittsburg is a little lower wool has also been weaker with a fair volume of trade but manufacturers buy only for present needs and the trade in woolen goods is restricted in cottons the upward tendency has been arrested and though the best makes are firm and in moderate supply other grades are weaker print claths cloths a little lower and tho jobbing trade below expectations tho speculators in coffee lifted tho price a tittle only to meet a sudden fall sluggish demand at current prices is not surprising summer pork packing is estimated at 13 per cent below last years but prices do not stiffen in the hardware trade a disappointing slackness is reported large transactions were prompted in hides for a week by lower prices but tho market is again dull largo offerings and lawor prices are reported in alio tea market and a free supply of batter with yielding on best rabes tho weakness in sugar is attributed by some to suppose ample supplies already secured by trust re fi ceries sprockets has decided to io cito a new refinery at philadelphia he latest changes in the pending i artt bill do not appear to satisfy the trade icile present slackness in demand for products is in part explained by the unusual activity of last fall and winter and in part by recent storms and strikes uncertainty as to the action of congress is an influence of weight comparative dullness usually prevails in a year of presidential election and it would not be prudent to count upon speedy returns of the great activity of last year the business failures occurring during tho last seven days throughout the country as reported to K G dun co the mercantile agency today to day friday by telegraph number for the united states and for canada 28 or a total of failures as compared with a total of last week and the week previous to the last for the corresponding week last year the total was made up of in tho united states and 25 in canada NEW saturday april |