The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-29
BRIGHT OUTLOOK.
Past Month Showed I'm
proved Business.
The Boot and Shoe Business Still
Leads Others Actively.
BIZ The Associated Press.

ttVleW Oh says
Special inquiry has been made this week
ht all commercial centers regarding the
state Of retail trade. Wide diversity APP
pears in different trades, and the details
OF business at the different cities merit
general attention. The main facts dis
closed are: First, a marked improvement
within the past month, and considerable
excess over the business done year ago,
particularly In the necessities of life.
But, second, it appears that the volume
of trade at present il on the whole consid-
erably less than in normal year at IN ost
points, and in the more important trades
is apparently about 20 per cent smaller
than in September 1892.
Evidence of continued improvement in
wholesale trade and manufacture does
not appear this week. The completion of
orders for replenishment of stocks leaves a
narrower demand, and 1t is yet too early
for consumption to provide further orders.
An Important Factor.
The depression in prices of farm prod
ucts will have some influence. Unpre.
cedented records have been made in cotton
and wheat, though as to wheat only in
contracts for future delivery. in which the
prices are the lowest ever made.
bushels greater than n year ago, and west
ern receipts for the week 5,e52, ,7l6 bushels,
against 6,i9l ,034 last year, and since Aug.
! 81 0oo, 900 bushels, against IS, 900, 900 last
year. The Atisntio exports for the week
and since Aug. have been onethird
smaller than last year, but the fall in price
has been 1.75 oents.
Cotton on the spot Is lower at GA cents
than at any other time since 1si9, and
quotations then did not mean what they
do now, while the nearest option had been
quoted at 604 cents, which is below all
previous records. Even at the close the
fall for the week Is u cent. An estimate
of $500, 900 bales minimum this year has
influenced the market, but would receive
less attention X stocks in sight were not
heavy, while all agree that this crop is
likely to exceed the worlds requirements
of American cotton.
Corn Is Lower.
1t is encouraging that the speculation in
corn has broken and the price has fallen
cents, less gloomy estimates than those
of the department having gained general
acceptance. 1t is now supposed that the
yield Is not far from !, 800, 000, 900 bushels,
which compe's much economy in feeding,
but speculation in pork has also broken,
and the price has fallen IS cents, while lard
has declined "A cent.
The iron industry shows shrinkage of
demand, and the prices quoted today are
but little above the lowest this year.
The boot and shoe manufacture con-
tinues to lead Others In comparative
activity, and shipments from Boston for
the month have been 38s, ,097 cases, against
222, ,623 last year, and 328, l06 in 1892
Textiles manufactures feel the shrink
age Of the demand due to replcnishment
of stocks, and there is less doing in cotton
and woolen goods at first hands
Failures are few and small, for three
weeks liabilities amounting to s., 27S, $50,
OF which s., 49,, 3l3 were of manufacturing
and &,515ll2 of trading concerns. The
failures during the week have been 235 in
the United States, against 334 last year,
and DO In Canada against 3S last year.
Bradstrests Report.
Bradstreet's today says:
Trade reports from leading centers in
the Dominion of Canada tell of trade i'm |
proyement Jobbers at Toronto report |
business equal to expectations, particularly |
in drygoods and hardware. At Halifax |
trade is fairly active, and the recent influx |
OF visitors has stimulated tr-de in retail
ems and hardware are firmer and stronger.
Business Is fairly active among shoe and
leather merchants, but collections are un-
satisfactory. On the whole, prospects are
better than two weeks ago Woolen mills
are expecting orders in the near future.
Bank clearings at Hamilton, Toronto.
Montreal and Halifax aggregate S1S672..
900, fractionally larger than last week and
b per cent larger than in the like week last
year
The provinces of Ontario, Quebec and
New Brunswick each report more business
failures during the past year than for nine
months Of 1893, together with increased
liabilities
Total business failures reported from the
Dominion of Canada and from Newfound-
land are l42S, or 10 more than in nine
months Of last year. The total liabilities
are $l3,329,0oo, $4,000 more than last
year.