Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-31
REPORTS FROM VARIOUS CITIES,
An Unprecedented Foreign Trade Is Noted
for the Year, Both in I'm
ports and in Exports.
STATISTICS OF MOVEMENTS OF GRAIN
Clearing House Reports Show Volume Of Transactions
Never Before Esuslsd.


noEceaDly during Ine past week. In lnQu
trial lines, makers of seasonable dress good.
at Philadelphia are running their ma
chinery at full capacity, in some instances
being reported behind on orders. Cincin.
natl wholesale clothlers have distributed
large stocks, and look confidently ahead to a
profitable season. Safe, wagon ana buggy
makers and whisky merchants at that city
are meeting with large demand. Jobbers
in boots and shoes, hats and caps, drygoods
and rubber goods at leading interior cities
Chicago, Omaha, Kansas City and st. Louis
report those staples in fair demand, with
rather less activity in groceries, drugs and
hardware,
Rice is taken readily at advancing prices
at the South. Delays by Louisiana planters
in making contracts with factors has checked
general trade some at New Orle ms.
The Trade in Cottons and woolens.
The demand for general merchandise has
stimulated wholesale houses to extend their
territory, Omaha, particularly. having felt
the need. Colder weather through the West
has stimulated general trade some. Southern
buyers ofdrygoods appear backward. Cotton
goods prices are firm, except as to print
cloths, which are weak.
The winters trade in woolens lacks snap.
Wool is in only fair demand, with steady
prices. Cotton is less active and one-six-
teenth of cent lower on increasing pressure
of supplies. The crop movement continues
20 favor maximum estimates.
Business failures reported to Bradstreet's
number 271 in the United States this week,
against 357 last week and $50 this week last
year. The total from January to date is
1851, against / 62S last year
Bank clearings at 55 cities in the United
States for the week ended January %, are
S991, ,028, ,003, decrease from this week last
year of 12.7 per cent, pointing in part to the
effect on trade of the storm which wrecked
the telegraphic service at Eastern cities.
New York City's clearings, which consti-
tute 5S.3 per cent of the grand total, are 20. s
Der cent less than those for same period last
year, while at 81 other cities tine gain is 2
per cent.
The Stock Market Is Improving
The stock market has been improved in
tone and temper by decreasing prospects of
disturbing financial or other legislation.
The slow progress of the Western Railroad
Association attracts unfavorable comment,
but the general share market is sustained
by the ease of money. Bonds are in good
demand. The money markets generally
throughout the country are exceptionally
easy. In fact, the heavy increase of surplus
reserves at New York points to a not alto
gether satisfactory demand for funds
though at a few points West and South
there are proportionately far less surplus
funds held by the banks.
Wheat opened the week BY inclining to
strength on reported short export surplus after
which it weakened. Renewed strength was
lent on Wednesday by the 1000, 900 bushels
available supply decrease, when reaction
followed; but later, the market having been
oversold and exports increasing, prices
turned sharply. upward and trading became
quite active. The gain on the week is fully
&c per bushel, while corn, on reduced
request, fell away 114c and oats &c per
bushel.
Statistics of the Movements of Grain.
The decrease in available stocks in the
United States and Canada. both coasts, was
l LABS, 900 bushels, against ], ,575, 900 bushels
last week and l, ,025, 900 bushels i'll the like
week of 1890. Exports of wheat and -four
from both coasts including Montreal, re-
ported to BrddStreet'S, equal 2 093, 145 bush
els, against 2, ,2O5, 600 bushels last week and
1918, ,s54 bushels in the like week last year.
Total exports both coasts, from July 1 to
date, equal 5S,7SO,773 bushels, against g.
5Ol, ,726 bushels il 1SS9-90; 81, ,526, 722
bushels in 18SS-S9, and SO, 416, SS5 bushels
in 1SS7-SS. Our own estimates, added to
Beerbohm's totals, furnish total of $780,
O0S, 600 bushels available January l, 1891,
in Australia, Europe and afoat for Europe,
in the United States and in farmers hands
in the United States and the United King
dom, as compared with 419, $50, 900 bushels
from January l, 1890; 40S, $50, 900 bushels
in 1889, and 1895. 256, 600 bushels January 1,
1888.
The value of the foreign trade of the
United States in 1890 was the heaviest on
record, the exports exceeding even those of
1881. Gains over 1889 and 1881, respect
lively. were 81 and per cent
Foreign Trade the Heaviest on Record.
The value of imports was also the heaviest
on record, exceeding 1889, the next heaviest
year, by z per cent. Larger exports of
breadstufs and provisions offset smaller cot
ton and petroleum shipments, the combined
exports of those four great staples exceeding
those of 1889 more than 6 per cent.
In the Dominion of Canada the distribu-
ton of staples appears to be relatively most
active in Ontario, where wholesalers report
large sales of spring goods. In the province
of Quebec, trade is quite dull, though money
is easy and prospects are for improvement
Collections generally are somewhat disap-
and Quebec City are busy on spring orders.
The Dominion of Canada had 80 failures
this week, against Sc last week, and 80 this
week last year. The total number from
January ] to date is 235, against 210 last
year.
R. G. Dun & Co.'s weekly review SAYS
business continues unprecedented in volume
and satisfactory in character.
What the Clearing Houses Show.
Measured by Clearing House returns, trade
exceeds that of a year ago by about 21l per
cent in amount, and that means a volume of
business larger than in any other year at
this season. The tone in commercial circles
throughout the country is hopeful, and the
money markets are now comparatively easy
at nearly all points.
The drygoods trade is, on the whole, very
satisfactory for the season. The increasing
demand for wool, though still confined to
actual needs for consumption, proves that
the current prices, low as they are, do not
arrest production. Trade in boots and shoes
and leather is somewhat retarded by none
tary uncertainties, and there is besides some
reason to suppose that consumption NAV
not be quite up to expectations Sales in
the Northwest, judging from Chicago re-
ports, appear to exceed last years, but it is
doubtful whether Eastern sales are larger,
and from Philadelphia and Baltimore come
some indications that Southern sales NAV
not be as large.
The Iron and Steel Trade.
In the manufacture and sale of machinery.
implements and tools, business seems TO be
larger than ever, and while copper, tin and
lead are all shade lower for the week, the
consumption of each is very heavy.
The embarrassment in iron and steel man.