The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-26
GENERAL NEWS
Of INDUSTRIES

But the wants unsstistied during the
past year, belated and much lessened.
and yet greater than those OF any other
nation. have caused q volume of trade
quite large for the season. The strikes
do not appear near an end, and while
violence and bloodshed have occurred
at a few points, many of the operators
are making no effort to work their
mines. The lack Of coal has crippled
many establishments Of great
variety between the Hudson and
tbs Mississippi, and even the
water works Of q few west
ern cities. Railroad traffic ia as yet
affected little. Gold EXPORTS do not
abate but have been 81, 800. 900 this
week. Prices Of great staples show
how limited is the foreign demand, aud
imports Of goods much restricted at
present. would naturally increase after
the pending change Of duties. The
$28, OOO, 900 gold shipped abroad this
month has been largely drawn from
the treasury and the reserve remaining
for that purpose has cen reduced TO
about $50, 900, 900. Hence there are
a~nticipations of some change in the
money market. and although currency
still comes higher from the interior
and banks hold enormous supply Of
idle money, long loans are more diff
cult to negotiate.
Prices of products still tend down
ward without much speculation,
Wheat recovered a little at the end Of
last week, but went down again with
decidedly favorable prospects for the
coming yield. Corn has been stronger.
Cotton has recovered o shade though
receipts for the week were nearly as
large rs last year and exports much
smaller. Pork products all destined
with heavy receipts. and coffee is also
lower. The astonishing ~cheapness OF
wheat and cotton will effect the rapid
ity Of movement in the fall. and also
will directly lessen the amount Of
money required in moving the crops.
While the iron industry especially,
and many others to some extent, have
been restricted by scarcity of coal and
coke, the number of works resuming
has been greater than the nun Der stop
ping from other causes. But it is II
symptom not to bs overlooked that the
demand for manufactured products,
instead OF increasing, appears for tbs
moment rather smaller than before,
and indifference of buyers is Shown in
cancellation Of orders hitherto given.
II is q waiting season, but the DISPOSE
tion to wait is this year much intensi.
fed. Works in operation are fairly
busy In closing up orders for
q belated spring demand, bat
there is even more shrinkage In orders
for the future than was noticed last
year az the precursor OF coming dull.
ness. The demand for iron aud steel
products. in view Of the stOpplg e Of II
large proportion OF the works. might DO
expected to improve materially, and
prices are In fact held at the advance
recently noted, but there ia now observ-
ed much indiff renee among large con-
sum"rs, and the whence Of an enlsrg
ing demand seem to be less satisfactory
than before the strike.
A speculative movement lifted stocks
early in the week, but there has since
been constant sagging, so that the aver.
nge for the week is only 90 cents per
800 higher for railway shares and 81 35
or the trusts. Failures diminish in
importance, the number for the week is
1888 in the United States against 250
Inst year, and in Canada % against IA
last year, and again there are noted
scarcely any of Importance.
There has, according to the Stock
holder, been u slight improvement in
the anthracite trade during the pas:
week, though only a small part Of it
can be attributed to the bitumipous
coal strike. There has been u some
what better demand for certain siz-p
from former soft coal users. Broken
and the small steam sizes have been
selling fairly we'll vt points along the
line between the mines and tide. water
and this city. There is no particular
activity in domestic sizJs. however, If
we may except n somewhat freer move.
ment TO New England points, where
dealers seem to have about made up
their minds that prices rs vol rs
rates are now resting on rock-bottom,
and any change that may be made will
be toward a higher level. In
consequence Of this conviction they
are now sending in their usual
spring orders, but the demand has not
been sufficiently urgent as yet 10 effect
the general situation to any material
extent, except that it has induced the
producing companies to agrAe to O
larger output, and collieries hnvs bean
III the past week to 60 per sent OF
their theoretical capacity. There is
still talk Of an advance on interior AMI
Underwater tonnage for juno, bat this
will not be decided upon until the ooh
instant, when the coal sales agents will
meet in New York. Their action will
depend largely upon the condition of
trade at the time, and the situation as
regards the soft coal miners strike will
also have weight in the consideration
Of an advance.
The Philadelphia Stakeholder chrou-
icles Il report that the Scranton Trgc-
ton company coutemplates listing the
6 per cent first mortgage bonds of the
company in the Philadelphia Stock
Exchange at an early date. They are
not, however. likely to develop any
sp 'cial activity, owing to the fact that
they are held by investors who regard
them with exceptional favor. The per-
centage Of surplus earnings of the
company over interest charges ia very
large, aud they are said to be %increas-
ing right along.
Tho Raadinu Noa1 on5 T.on