The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-21
FUTURE LESS HOPEFUL.
EVIL EFFECTS OF MANI STRIKES
MxSIFEsTING JTSELE
Very Little improvement Noted In Busf'
ness Throughout the Country-Con.
ditions In the South.

NEW YORK, April 2O.-R. c. Dun *
Co.'s Weekly Review OF Trade tomorrow
will say:
Extensive storms checked improvement
only for time, and numerous strikes
have not yet arrested II. Distribution OF
products to consumers seems larger. for
more people are earning. and therefore
more are able 10 buy. But 1t is less clear
that the increase Of working force con-
tinuos or that orders for product Will
further expand. The Improvement thus
far realized Is based on actual increase
in orders for consumption. but part OF
this was TO cover belatcd demands for
the spring season. 4 considerable portion
Of the Industrial force is still unemoioy-
ed. and with wages much lower than a
year ago. consumption is not as large.
Payments through all clearing houses
for the week are Z7.2 per cent. less than
last year. 1916 at New York. and 22.9 else
where. New orders for future distribu-
ton are still materially restricted by I'M
certainty about action at Washington.
and about the extent and outcome Of
labor difficulties
sTRIKEs AID sHUT-DOwNs.
The strike Of coke workers though
virtually over. still affects output and
deliveries. Strikes in building trades at
many cities restrict employment of labor
and demand for materials. and during
the past week there have been numerous
strikes in textile and other manufacture
ing works. most OF them because restora-
ton of wages to former rates is not yet
conceded. Most Of the recovery realized
i'm business has been made possible by
consent Of workers TO accept lower wages
for time. and If they insist on restora-
ton of wages before consumption has
restored prices many works must stop.
The great strike threatened by bitumi-
nous coal miners and strikes Of asso-
ciated employees on some railroads make
the future less hopeful.
Evil IF ct OF strikes
NEW YORK. April 2O.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
With the exception Of the prospect for
a still further extension OF strikes and
other labor disturbances no plainly retard-
ing influence Is manifesting itself.
SO far as learned there are about TWEEN
ty-three additional strikes, involving y 900
people This brings the total numbers OF
those now on strike or idle because OF
strikes, up to $1,000. The week also fur
nishes shut-downs of important indus
trial establishments more than Offset by
assumptions at thirty-two others, which
furnish employment TO 5000 operatives,
although seven important establishments
announce reductions Of wages. The wide
~ heralded announcement that 10000 coal
miners viii strike to-day has oCcasoned
uneasiness among manufacturers at many
20 md
prospective scarcity Of fuel.
The tendency OF prices Of staDles has
been upward in NEST Instances. notably
in bfeadstuffs and produce. leather. iron
and steel. rice. corn, oats, pork. and lard,
while the reverse is true as to prices of
hogs, wheat and sugar; cotton quotations
remaining practically unchanged.
Among southern cities no Improvement
or change within the week is reported |
from Charleston, Nashville, Atlanta, |
birmingham and Little Rock, at all OF I
which points general business Is quiet !
Mobile claims trade is fair in most lines /
Memphis specifying groceries and planta- |
ton supplies and Chattanooga groceries |
At Savannah naval stores are frmer. and /
recorded the largest days sales /
Of turpentine ever reported Jacksonville
reports q heavy strawberry crop and
prospects for good summer trade in
that State. There Is an improved demand
for groceries and produce at New Or
leans. The jobbng trade at Nashville is
good, while dividends have been declared
by two cotton factories.
out Of twenty-nine textile and metal
working concerns which stopped during
the past week, about a third closed be-
cause Of trouble about wages. Otherwise
The number resuming work or increas-
ng force, which was twenty-five, would
nave been the larger. Enough orders have
been taken i'm iron and steel to keep en-
)loyed for "A time works now in operation
)ut this week no definite increase is
seen. New structural work at the West
s limited. and new business at the East
hardly makes up for orders filed
RAILS MOVE SLOWLY.
Rails move slowly, and completion of
'rders Tor wire. nails. rods. and barbel
wire is followed by weakness in prices.
The great sales Of Bessemer iron at
'ittsburg have been at such low prices.
bout 10000 tons going at little over
10, with part below SO. as TO suggest
hat the expected demand for this material
las not been realized
In Few grades Of wooden goods lower
rices are quoted, and in none an ad-
ance although strikes for higher wages
AN Ho' mn t4NcHl- me attempt To adj
ance print cloths has been followed by
slight decline. and while the cotton
BUSINESS has not materially changed di-
nension, the tone is rather less conf
ent
Cotton has changed scarcely a frac-
ion. though receipts from plantations
ave been larger and exports smaller this
'eek than a year ago, and men consider
tories Of decreased acreage entitled TO
tile confidence Spinners are not taking
irgely. and the supply of cotton is Z
nough for the worlds maximum pro- {
uction. {
GOLD FOR SHIPMENT ,
1t is expected that $4,000 in gold will I
} abroad Saturday, lowing to British
ves.ments in the Paris loan" which is a
lothcr way Of saving that there is a \
iihdrawal Of foreign capital from this
'urtfy Exports In March showed a i
cderate increase, with a great decrease p
imports. and in April thus far exports a
ON New York have been about 40 Der
mt. larger than last year. and imports /
'out 40 per cent. smaller. Commercial \
ans do not increase. and the rate Tor l.
c best paper drops to 2 3-lc. the lowest h
record. The failures of the past week q
We been somewhat more important than i
uaL There were 2l9 in the United
ates. against 1855 last year. and 10 in o
lnada. against % last year. For the
st half OF April liabilities reported have g
en- Si,i6s as. OF which S2.092.55O were of q
and Sl9OiSs7 Of trading
ncerns.
-