Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-23
A BETTER FEELING
In Business Circles Since the Strikes
Are Being Settled.


New York, June 22.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: There are indications of
q moderate improvement. in the various
lines, and enough instances to render the
fact of some significance. A notably favor
able feature ID the practical ending of the
coke and coal strikes, with those in the re-
lated industries, which will put to work at
once, or soon, more than $50, 900 men.
The number of employees in industrial lines
still on strike is estimated at about $4,000.
Sales by jobbers in staple lines for future
delivery are reported where nothing save
hand-to-mouth business has been reported
for weeks.
St. Louis, grain harvesting is under full
headway. The condition of wheat is excel
lent, there is demand for money to move
the crop market, and the supply is abund-
ant. The Western Steel Works recently
started report of disposition by cap
italists and others to push new enterprises.
The reverse of the picture contains moth
ing worse than previously reported, the
more familiar features being the delayed
and Indifferent tariff legislation, resulting
in stagnating business; continued hand-to-
mouth dealings by jobbers in all portions of
the country, the spproach of the semi-an-
nual stock taking period and uneasiDess in
Florida and portions of Louisiana, due to
drouth. o
Notwithstanding the decline in prices OF
wool, cattle, hogs and copper. the tendency
of quotations has been upward, wheat gain
ing 2 IA cents, corn l2 cents, oats 1-2
cents Con corner rendered possible by the
very short supply supply of spoD, pork
25 cents, lard cents, coffee 3,S cent, raw
sugar 1-l6 cent, the quotations for cotton
remaining practically unchanged.
Nothing indicating an increased demand
for staple goods or tendency to anticipate
wants is reported from any New England
city. Comparatively large shipments of
shoes from Boston is due to heavy consign-
ments South based on the cut in freight
rates. The shoe factories at Philadelphia
are largely idle. Cotton and woolen mills
are running as previously reported, the
former accumulating stocks, the latter on
orders. The settlement of the coal strike
produces more hopeful feeling at Pits
burg. Baltimore merchants report the
South withholding orders more than pre-
viously.
Eight Western cities agree that better
feeling prevails in business circles, and the
outlook for improved fall trade is increased.
This is true at Cincinnati and Detroit, where
good weather has stimulated sales in dry
goods and other lines, and Louisville, which
reports q corresponding Improvement and
sales by jobbers for future delivery. St.
Louis advises reasonable goods in better de-
mand and the end of the strike resulted in
better feeling. Kansas City jobbers in
dry goods report better demand. Similar
advices are received from Milwaukee and
St. Paul. where the late rains have i'm
proved the outlook and sales for later de-
livery have increased in number.
The volume of trade is larger at Duluth
and the demand improved. At Cleveland
business is only fair in leading lines, with
receipts of coal increasing. The volume of
business in dry goods and kindred lines at
Chicago is smaller than the preceding week
Jobbers are preparing to take stock. Dis
tribution of merchandise from Omaha is
fairly steady. There is an improved feel
ing in business circles in San Francisco
and good fall trade is anticipated.
At the South there is rather more en-
couragement in trade circles at Nashville
as to prospects for fall trade, the rains hav-
ing helped the crops. Business is quiet at
Savannah though the demand for naval
stores remains active. Some improve
ment in distribution merchandise is an
nounced from New Orleans, particularly
hardware, and Galveston reports business
as fairly active and prospects are encourag-
ing. At Charleston, Memphis, Atlanta.
Chattanooga, Augusta, Birmingham and
Mobile trade is only fair or dull.
Rouk CLEARING thrOuOho tho ITp;faI
States for the week ending June 81, aggre-
gate $s49,973 or 101 I-S per cent more
than week before and IS per cent. less
than the corresponding week of year ago.
Exports of wheat, flour included, on both
coasts, amounts to only 100000 bushels
this week, against 3,553,0O0 in the third
week of June, 1898. e
There were 1876 failures throughout the
United States this week. against $50 in the
third week of June, 1898.