Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-06-02
NO IMPRoyemEH MT
Reported BY the Bradstrsets Owing 10 Stvssal
s @ csusss.

New YORK, June 1.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say: The unfavorable condi-
ton of general trade reported last week
continues without the material improve
ment. The continued delay in tariff legis-
lstion prolopgs the sitting effect on the
wholesale business. The great coal strike
continues withoutssign of early improve
ment. More mills, factories and furnaces
have closed their doors for want of fuel.
The pig iron industry of the central western
states is practically at siandstill for want
Of soft coal or coke. At Pittsburg and
vicinity the scarcity of fuel has greatly
stagnated business. Almost all strikes pre-
viously reported are still in existence.
The volume of general trade is still fur
ther reduced by the Intervention of holi-
day and cold and wet weather. Favorable
features come from Duluth, Omaha, Au-
gusta, Ga and Jacksonville. Stimulation
of trade at Lake Superior ports is largely
due to rapid shipments of bituminous coal
accumulated there. The rains throughout
Nebraska improved the crop prospects and
caused more active purchases from Omaha
jobbers. Augusta reports a gain in the
volume of business compared with the last
three weeks, and that the cotton manufac-
turers have orders ahead and are running
full time The rains through throughout
.e Florida vegetable district simulated the
demands, so the Jacksonville trade is brisk.
At most Western cities there is practically
TO change from the depression of last
week.
At Louisville the sales at fair prices are
noted only with reference to leaf tobacco.
At Chicago the volume of business 10 dry
goods, clothing and shoes has fallen of, :,
and the sales of almost all staples to dis
tricts affected by the coal strike are lighter.
Bankers report very little call for loans,
even from the grain trade. and deposits are
increasing. Similar influences checked the
business of St. Louis iobbers. Wholesale
dealers in Kansas City admit that business s
is only fair, prices closer and collections
less prompt. Showers throughout the agri-
cultural districts of California have fur
ther improved the crops and business condi-
tons. Reports from the Columbia river
canneries are not satisfactory as to guam
tity.
At Portland, Oregon, business is almost
entirely suspended owing to floods. Con-
cessions in prices for wool for future de-
livery fail to secure purchases from New
England manufacturers. Shipments of
shoes from Boston are increased about
equal to those cf year ago. Cotton goods
mills were not affected by the strikes and
are running on full time at cut prices.
PDiladelphia textile manufacturers are
operating 80 to 10 per cent. of their plants
on orders only. At Baltimore salesmen re-
port orders fairly frequent, of smaller
volume than heretofore, with outlook for
no improvement and slower collections.
Travelling statesmen from Buffalo report
business better in agricultural than manu-
featuring districts and very little doing in
either. Mill machinery and plantation
supplies are in fair demand at New Orleans
and Atlanta. The furniture manufacturers
expect to start up this month. Total bank
clearirgs of - cities for May are So $780,
600 900, or 2G per cent. less than May
1898. The total for five m Dnths Of the cur
rent calendar year is S1S, ,j04 ,000, 900, or
80 per cent. less than Il like portion of
1893. Mays bank clearings are nearly 3
per cent. larger than in April and March ,as
compared with the total for February.
May increase is 90 per cent, compared with
January. This year Mays total clearngs
are 8 per cent. smaller.
The price movement Of various staples
continues the record of last week and week
before, with concession in quotations for
wool, cotton goods, cattle, wheat, pork,
coffee and moderate advances for oats and
lard. Steel billets, bi,uminous and anthra-
cite coal and bessemer pig iron advanced
ing to scarcity of fuel. No material
change is noted in the prices of cotton or
indian corn. There were lS3 mercantile
failures throughout the United States this
week against 2l4 the same week a year sgo.
Exports of wheat (lour included) from
both coasts of the United States and Can
ada amount to 400 900 bushels this week
against 3 ,253 900 the last week of May,
1898.