The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-10-20
MODERATE IMPROVEMENT.
Bradstreet's Report Shows No Start
liqg Features.
PRICES ON STAPLE LINES GENER.
ALLY LOWER

With the Greatest Drop on Cotton which
Affects the South UnpIeasantIy.-some
Improvement noted in Business in 9th
er Sections.--Bank Clearings Show a
Slight Increase.
New York, October 19.-Brads treeJs
tomorrow will say: With few exceptions.
trading features of the business sit1a-
ton this week have been continued,
with moderate improvement, although
the total volume of business as far as
indicated by bank clearings throughout
the country will require considerable
expansion to compare favorably with
corresponding totals of two years ago.
Tne volume of clearings for six busi-
ness days ending October 18, is s949, ,00O,-
600, or 2.3 per cent more than the pre-
ceding week, and 25. per cent larger than
the third week of October last year, and
nearly 81 per cent smaller than the cor
responding week of 1899.
This relatively favorable bank clear
1ngs report is Offset in part by decline
in the prices Of staples. coffee alone
scoring slight advance. At Louisville,
tobacco is easier, under the promise of
large crop, and hides are lower in price
at some more important markets. Leath-
er Is quoted lower at western cities, and
the competition of northern lumber
manufacturers has forced down prices
at Chicago. All except the best grades
Of live cattle at Omaha and Kansas
City were sold for less than week ago.
Wheat and Indian corn have shown de-
clines. The production of iron and Bess-
emer steel continues heavy as heretofore
and quotations have been further shad-
ed. Lard Is lower in price, and the
prospect of cessation of the textile labor
difficulties at the east weakened the
print cloth market. As serious as any
other decrease is that in cotton. the
feature of the trade at the Esouth this
week being a chack to purchases by in
terror merchants for spring delivery, and
slower mercantile collections, due to
lower prices for cotton.
Exports of wheat (four included as
wheat) from both coasts of the United
States and Canada, this week, amount
to $4,000 bushels, against 2, 709, 900
the third week of October, year ago.
There were 253 failures in the United
States within the week, as compared
with $40 the third week of October a
wear ago. THE textile labor difficulties
in New Bedford are reported practically
settled, and about half of the looms at
Fall River are again at work. The im-
provement recently reported by the
manufacturing jewellers at Providence
is maintained and Buffalo dealers in
lnilding materials report more activity.
Nearly all the more importnt business
centres, west and northwest, report i od,
crate activity, hut few announce new
features. Chicago advices are received
OF increased mail orders, but ever pur-
chases ill person, with relatively the
heaviest demand for underwear, CLOTH
ing, cloaks, and a smaller volume of
money going to the country.
st. Louis merchants report increased
confidence in jobbers dealing there, and
expectation of largely increased stocks
Of spring goods throughout the region
tributary. Kansas City and Des MONIES
both report that warmer and unseasona-
BILE weather has served to restrict the
volume of business within few days at
and near Omaha. Conditions prevailing
at Cleveland, Cincinnati, Louisville,
Detroit, Milwaukee and st. Paul the
preceding weeks, are practically without
change At San Fancisco and Portland.
Oregon, the volume Of business is fairly
satisfactory, and the demand Tor grain
vessels more active, with an advance III
rates to the United Kingdom.