Show WEEKLY REVIEW OF v i business of lasic year m volume th railroad sa s f v ris krikes and the possibility of their extension the uncertainty as to the tariff and the mode of preventing accumulation of money in the treasury the death of the german emperor and the doubt as to its financial effects conspire to check new ventures and to limit purchases to immediate needs thus the exchanges outside of new york fall below those of last year and the decline at nearly all the principal bentres centres of dionis considerable though numerous smaller cities still report gains the tendency of the markets is generally toward lower prices though tho average for all commodities is as yet hardly 1 per cent below tho highest point touched soon after new years in the stock market the downward movement has been more definite though without any excitement the causes above named and especially the considerable foreign sales since the decease of the german emperor was anticipated fully account tor the average decline of about 1 per share indeed the remarkable steadiness of the market under the circumstances is constantly mentioned but this implies a measure of unreality in current prices markets which do not respond to natural influences are with reason distrusted the appeal to the courts by the burlington and quincy opens the way to legal decision whether any combination of men can lawfully arrest traffic on one railroad because it performs its duty as common carrier in taking freight from another it is felt that the decision may prove of great importance in the end but it can hardly be reached soon enough to have influence this season earnings continue large but the increase in expenses also continues the wheat market has been lifted 2 cents by the foreign news but with the result of completely arresting the export demand As the reported exports last month from atlantic ports were less than half those of the same weeks last year while exports as large as last years would still leave a considerable sid erable unsold surplus next july the expediency of an advance is doubted corn and oats have also risen about 1 cent and oil a little more while the foreign news has checked a decline in pork products but cotton and sugar are lower with some grades of iron and wool the decline in sugar has been small belief that the trust may be effectually resisted seems to increase A drop of half a cent in cotton has caused some failures here and at the south but does not surprise any who have observed that receipts from plantations are still about bales above those of last year to date the belief that the crop will reach bales appears to gain strength in the dry goods market the demand even for cotton goods has become moderate fhe uncertainty as to prompt transportation checks operations and also the uncertainty as to the tariff tho inquiry for print claths cloths is light at 3 cents not long ago it was strong at 4 cents the wool market is steady for better grades which are in small supply but other lots are slow of sale except at concessions and manufacturers generally are buying only for immediate wants the boot and shoe trade is steady and manufacturers busy the feeling that leather can hardly go lower helps purchases with kip no 1 at 14 cents and brogan no 1 at 16 the market is still dull and hides are easier bubber is firmer because of para prices fine is quoted at 75 iron does not grow stronger if the supply for good grades is limited so is the demand while grades less known are offered at concessions bar iron is weak again and sales below 19 are reported sales of tons domestic steel rails result in a slight lowering of quotations to at eastern mills tons foreign are taken for pacific delivery the treasury has paid out money more freely the past week and has added to its deposits in banks and yet has taken more than it has paid out the expectation pec tation of early exports of gold is strengthened by trade accounts indicating a probable excess of imports over exports in february and by recent sales of securities on foreign account but the supply of money at all interior points reporting is ample and collections are nowhere a matter of special complaint the business failures occurring throughout the country during the past seven days as reported to it G dun co the mercantile agency today to day friday by telegraph number for the united states and for canada 58 or a total of as compared with a total of last week and the week previous to the last for tho corresponding week of the figures were in tho united states and 27 in canada total march 10 |