Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-23
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
Democratic Good Times Make Their Presence
known BY Their Backwardaess.

New YORK, March 22.-Bradstreets, or
March "a, will say: The increased observ-
ance Of Good Friday in business circles
serves to check the volume of trade. Not
withstanding that there is practically one
less business day in this week than last, the
continued spring-like weather has further
stimulated the sales of staples, and nearly
all the larger cities in the Eastern, Middle,
and some of the Western states, ard COM
paratively fewer Southern distributing cen.
teIs are reporting corresponding gains.
While Eastern wooden mills cannot meet
the orders for fancy dress goods, many
woolen mills are running part of the time,
but large stocks of old wool, with new Cal
iforDia and Texas clip available within &C
days. dtpress prices. Print cloths are SELL
ing better and Eastern cotton mills are
active, although the sales continue smaller
than the output. The feature of the situa-
ton is that Boston agents of the Pittsbure
iron and steel manufacturers, are frmer il
their views.
The increased demand by Northwestern
interior storekeepers for millinery, hard.
ware and clothing reported last week. il
intensified by the continued spring-lik
weather and small stocks, the results being
IehSCtSN AL az uuSApGCtCA improvement a.
Cnicsgo and St. Louis. At the former
several 1000 ton orders for coke pig iron
has been taken, as well as for steel rails al
$25 at Chicago; but prices are hardly salts
factory.
St. Louis reports demand for finished
iron and steel, and while improving, they
are due to cuts in quotations. Among the
more conspicuous staple products the prices
have advanced for only three, rice, cotton
AMI Indian corn, decreased available sup.
plies bling primarily responsible. Coffee
and leaf tobacco remain strong, at practi-
cally unchanged figures. Lower ranges Of
value have been reached by several varieties
Of iron and steel, by live cattle. live hogs
at Western markets, by both raw aud re-
fined sugar, by wheat, oats and by .mese
pork.
Baltimore reports of comparatively few
orders from the South sufficiently charac-
terize the wholesale trade in that section,
though most of the more, important cities
are reporting practically no change from
the las. week or two. At Memphis there lie
larger demand for plantation supplies,
and at Nashville in other lines, resulting in
a better feeling in trade circles Similar re-
ports were received from New Orleans,
where the unfavorable feature is the check
to the bulk grain exports. Dallas advices
are that trade is satisfactory in all lines
equal to that of a year ago.
Buffalo corroborates Cleveland's views
on the unremunerative freight rates and
probably longer season of lake navigation
than usual. Low prices and orders for
Philadelphia textiles are supplemented by
reports of sales of yarns under cost. job
bers in shoes and drugs re- port trade as fair.
Providence cotton mill machinery manu-
facturers find lck of demand, but manu-.
facturers of railway supplies announce an
improvement.
mercantile and industrial circles within a
week are at Cleveland, Cincinnati and Mil
waukee. At Louisville the staple merchsn-
disc and jeans clothing was in good de-
mand, and at Detroit merchandise is NOV
ing more freely and industries better en-
ployed.
Considerable &C ,ivity is reported at Kan
sas City, country buyers making personal
selections. Omaha reports that good
weather and good roads has stimulated
trade in all lines, notably dry goods, gro
ceries and hardware, and Minneapolis. ST.
Paul and Duluth sgree that, while there is
more activity in jobting circles. the volume
of general trade remains materially below
that of year ago.
At San Francisco there is q moderate
business in general lines, continued epecu-
lation in May wheat being the feature. Ex-
ports of wheat, flour Included, from all
ports. both the coasts of the United States
and Canada. this week, one day short,
amount to 2, ,343 900 bushels against 2 ,343.-
900 in the week year ago.
There is continued shrinkage in the to-
tai number of business failures. the total
for the past week, one day short, number
ing 1877, against 23l last week and 202 for
the week year ago.