The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-03
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.


From Bradstreet's state of Trade
l. General trade continues on conserva-
tive lines, there being little far-reachmS
Improvement in business circles as conf
pared with a week ago, aside from the
settlement of the strike at FAN River.
one of the effects of which is expected
to be the steadying OF prices OF cotton
fabrics and an inducement TO eloth
printers to order for future delivery.
There is some encouragement drawn
from a firmer market for cheaper
centres. and for hogs at Western mar
kets, due to a decline in receipts, ana
for fruits ON the arrival of cold weather.
from advances on wheat I12c., corn 2ssc.,
oats 1isc., lard 1-10c., and on coffee &c.
Whether the reaction in these quotations
is to be of some permanence remains TO
Another favorable report is that to
Bradstreet's concerning october bank
clearings, which reflect the enlarged fall
trade in a total larger ahan for any
month since June. 1895. The aggregate
reported to Bradstreet's for October this
year is 81, 22S,2 S7, $50, an increase over Sep
October last year of more than 63 per
cent. The cities very generally report in
creases over a year ago, only about
one-seventh showing decreases. New
York City clearings fair TO show as
large d proportionate increase as do
other cities. Only one in the Eastern
| anu MldQlG states SHOWS d uGNltdSS
from October a year ago. For ten
months this year the decrease in clear
ings compared with 1898 is 1876 per cent,
and compared with 1892 the falling off is
u per cent.
Notwithstanding the better demand for
lower grades of shoes at New England
markets. among which seven cities
shipped 100,OO cases this Week, against
6S,0W in the corresponding week a year
ago, quotations for leather have weak
ened. At Chicago excessive competition
from the North results in further cuts
in lumber prices. Sugar is asc. lower.
and Bessemer pig iron and steel biMets
Is and 25c. lower respectively, notwlth-
standing recent frmness of the former
at Pittsburg. Cotton has gone off an
other 1-16c. This results in a reduction
in the number of orders sent from in
terror points to the Southern centres, a
closer scrutiny of credits throughout the
South, and restriction in the volume
of trade there.
whether the reduction IN price of
cattle is due primarily to the German
prohibition of importations from this
country remains to be seen. One of
the largest houses at Chicago and one
| at New York advise Bradstreet's that
so small relatively has been the exporta-
| ton of American cattle to Germany that
| prohibition can have comparatively little
firms, however, regard Germany's action
as a serious blow to the American in
dustry, and think it will result in lower
| prices for cattle.
1 ~ L IOoN OLil - Olbo VI iAG
Northwest complaints are still heard of
unseasonably mild weather. with conse-
ouent unfavorable effect on business.
while there, as elsewhere, interest in the
political situation just prior to election
day checks business activity somewhat.
The condition of the iron and steel in
dustries is less favorably regarded than
a month ago. There is little life in
wool, although mills are using consider
| able raw material. Purchases of Aus
tralian at concessions continue to de-
4 nl-aGC nlIntQfinnG for tnFrfrnTU uraniC
Exports of wheat, and flour as wheat.
| both coasts of the United States, amount
to 2,eS4,0 900 bushels, against 3,35S,000 bush
els last week, and as compared with
| 2,860, 600 bushels in the corresponding
| week a year ago 3,714,00O bushels two
years ago, $500. 900 bushels three years
ago, and with 2,2G9. 900 bushels in the
like week in 1890. Total stocks of avail
able wheat. United States and Canada,
those afioat for Europe from all sources
and held in Europe on November l.,
bushels, or $500, 600 bushels more than
one year before, and much heavier
in previous years. The rapidity of ship
ments of domestic wheat is indicated by
the net gain of 44.379, 600 bushels within.
four months. the heaviest like increase
except in 1892, it being three times larger
than from July l to October 81, 1893.
European stocks and those afoat for
Europe nave been in the habit of in
creasing more than 5000, 900 bushels dur
ing October in preceding years, but
last month they fell off 232, 600 bushels
net, which bullish factor has more than
offset the extraordinarily heavy increase
on this side.
From R. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review.
The last week of October, with an ex-
citing election near, cannot indicate much
of the true condition of business. In
some trades the season is too far adj
vanced for great activity, and in others
the supposed effects of the voting hinder
operations. But is is satisfactory that
the volume of production is well main
tained, and in one or two branches in
/, creased, that no monetary difficulties
disturb, that breadstuffs are a little
higher, and that no material decline APP
pears during the week in manufactured
products. The fact that any decline APP
pears, with slackening in demand for
some products, may perhaps be attribu-
ted to uncertainties, mainly political in
origin, while every increase in the work
ing force helps to make a basis for more
business hereafter. At present the vol
ume of business transacted is OF the
whole smaller h in 1892, though a
Presidential election was close at hand.
Payments through principal clearing
houses for the week have been 1913 per
cent. less than last year, and 34.4 per
cent. less than in 1892, in both compare
sons will decrease outside of New York
as well as here.
The depression of cotton and wheat.
| and the partial loss of the corn crop,
must be reckoned important causes of
hesitancy in retail distribution of pro-
ducts.
This hesitancy affects industries very
differently. The boot and shoe manu-
facturer is retarded only In continued
preference for low priced goods, for the
number of pairs produced and shipped
seems greater than ever, in five weeks
Al, 661 cases, against 2SS, 1854 last year,
and 1885,, GAG in 1892. There is still a large
demand for cheaper goods, crowding
beyond their capacity the producers of
cheap mems and women's shoes, and
while jobbers in wax and kip boots and
shoes report the smallest sales for years
on the whole, their sales of low priced
goods are larger than ever. Orders
have fallen off of late, but most factor
| les are still well employed. and many
have good orders for spring. In the
iron industry the chief activity is in
structural work, bridge and other plates,
lille the demand for sheets is somewhat
diminished, bar and wire show no i'm
provement, and hails are weaker.
Waiting for retail trade depresses tex
tile manufactures, and concessions in
price lave been made to effect large
Contracts. Otherwise, the market is
generally dull, without indications of
Improvement. Print cloths are selling
at 2.75 cts. for 64s. The only announced
reduction is a quarter of a cent in Law
renee L. L. sheetingS to 4 cts. In wool
ems the fall and winter demand is .disap-
pointing, though still fairly large for the
season, but the expected supplemental
orders do not appear and great uncer-
tainty prevails as to spring goods. No
changes of price are noted. Manufae-
tIrers are not disposed to produce in ad