Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-20
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
It Seems to Be Put Little Better
Than Last Week.
Brsds!reets and Dun Find Eus Lille 10 Feel
Satisfied Over.


even, of the eek is the offsr of $50 000.-
600 of United States per cent, 10 year
boads. Tho decision of the secretary gives
much satisfaction to all who care fer sound
currency, because the necessities of the
treasury are dangerously Strengthening
those v h, urged an issue Of s5o, ,000,C 90
more silver certificates agsinst the silver
seigniorsge to be coined. Gold not repre-
sented by certificates has fallen below SI0,-
600, and revenue continues to fall behind
the past year about 81 900 900 month.
Action in Congress on the various fnan-
cial measures is liable at any time to excite
doutts hether golI payments can be msin-
tanned. Hence the replenishment of the
gold reserve is necessary t, a restoration OF
confidence and revival of business. The
immediate effects are not great, though
London, after selling American securities
largely for several days, bought TO some
extent If the subscriptions for the loan
should be free and large il is hoped an i'm
provement in trade anI industry may be
fastened.
While the industrial improve ment con-
,inues, the gain is slow, and the increase in
the purchasing power of the people iy the
enlargement of the force at work, is, in a
measure, counterhalanc d by the loss 10 the
purchasing power of the people til o gh
reduction in wages paid.
Fai ures for the week were 407 for the
United States against 900 lsst year. For
the first IL days of January the reported liza
bilities of firms falling were s. OIL .225, of
which So ,069 ,053 were manufacturing and
s. SAG ,372 trading concerns. The number Of
failures about the frs. of the year does not
nece ssarily indicate bad state of business.
Bradstreets will say tomorrow: Special
kilograms from many of the more impor-
tant cities, based on interviews in leading
lines of trade. make plain that the improve
ment reported week ago characterized as
turn in the tide, has been retained and
added to. Exceptions are noted in some
larger Eastern manufacturing cen,ers. Pitts
burg is more hopeful, though while retailers
have increased their purchases there has
been little gain in iron or steel.
Philadelphia emphns sizes further conces-
sions in pi ices for wool, but there are con-
tradictcry reports as to manufactured pro-
ducts. Attention is directed to the taking
of iron and steel contracts BY competing
Western concerns at ''ruinous prices" a.
though it is admitted that trade in drugs,
paints and glass is much Improved.
Manufacturers Of cheap jewelry, rovel-
ties and cardboard at Providence report In
creasing orders. Jobbers in Shoes at
Baltimore ray trade is fairly satisfac-
tory. Travellers from that city ssy
the condition of business throughout
the South is such that a revival there must
appear in short time. General business
continues slow in the portions of South
Carolina affected fy cyclones, but 10
Georgia it is improved, while in North
Carolina the spring demand has not fully
started.
Boston reports decreased sales IN seversl
lines, due to buyers who held off 50 long
that they were obliged to repleRi.h their
stocks. There are slight increases in East
ern shoe trade and the exports of leather i,
fair. Common goods have better tone
Prints and wash frabics in faic sale
as are shirtipgs, which were reduced to
3.4 cents. The better feeling at Buffalo
is based merely on the approach to better
trade, although the orders for dry goods
and groceries is more liberal.
Receipts of cotton has continued sufi-
ciently free to render it improbable that the
lowest cotton crop estimates will prove cor
rect and prices have weakened accordingly.
General trade at Charleston is expected to
become more active as soon ss
the planters and merchants have perfected
arrangements for the new year.
Notv outstanding that cotton is lower, general
trade at Savannah is more active and at
Augusta all lines report an advance over
last week, druggists being behind their or
ders and dealers in groceri, 8 and dry goods
more encouraged.
Spring trade at Atlanta opens with some
activity and the manufacturing output has
increased. Chattanooga jobbers say COL
lections have improved and hardware is
more active. Trade conditions at Cincin-
natl have improved with the manufacturers
and jobbers in merchandise. There are
gains in iron and other manufacturing lines
at Detroit, and at Chcsgo sales Of dry
goods, clothing and shoes have increased,
and travellers are receiving fair volumes
of orders for spring goods.
A better feeling is reported at Louisville
as well as actual gains. At ST. Louis the
demand for groceries, dry goods. shoes and
hats have increased as have orders for fin
i.hed iron and steel, the latter being equal
to those in any pre- ceding January. Spring
trade opened well at Kansas City, though
smaller in volume than q year ago. At
Minneapolis, while the industrial lines show
no improvement, that in the jobbing circles
is emphasized.
Commercial travellers have been sent out
by jobbiug houses at almost all the larger
distribution points. Commercial conditions
are irregular, showiag relatively the great
est improvement in the Southeastern, Cen
trail Western and Northwestern portions of
the country. Totsl volumes Of bank clear
iugs this week were 1924 900. 900. 36 per
cent. fmsller than the third week in Janu-
sry. 1898.
The unexpectedly free receipts of
wheat in the United States and the un-
usually heavy increase in Australia has sur
pri.ed trade with larger gain of available
stocks than was anticipated. aud prices
higher reacted. Exports of wheat from the
United States and Canada, both coasts,
-four included, amount to S5.332 900 bush
els this week, about ore-tenth smaller than
in the week year sgo.
There were 4o4 failures in the United
States in busiaess this week, against 900 q
year ago The increased demand for sugar
has advanced the price Of both raw and re-
fiued Is Gems At Paterson. 90 to 80 per
cent. of the silks ia operation. sgainst 20
per cent. in December. throughout the
couusrv and 40 vy,0pa yQxuunfirus 0f ndun