Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-05-04
SOME IMPROVEMENT
Found in General Business through
out States, Say Bradstrsets.


New York, Msy 3-Bradstreets, tomor-
row, will say: Tho manifest improve
ment in many lines Of general trade has
resulted in an increase in volume OF bust
ness, notwithstanding the impending idle
ness of 5000 Rhode Island worsted mill
operatives and many in other industrial
lines
The industrial unrest takes the form of
striking for higher wages. This week
about so. 600 industrial employees. princi-
pally coal miners, cotton and wooden mill
employees, struck, and the tendency does
not seem to be checked About 5000 PEG
pie are reported To have obtained higher
wages without striking
The April bank clearlngs reflect al i'm
proved demand for staples and an en-
larged speculation in stocks and bonds,
wheat, petroleum and cotton in the
monthly aggregate, which is, with to
exceptions, the largest reported since june
1893.
The total April clearings at 81 cities
were a, 232, 322. 800, a gain over 1874 of II
per cent, over March Of this year Of 3
per cent and an increase over February
OF 25 per cent.
Three. fourths of all the cities reporting
show increases over April, 1894, especial
improvement being noted in the Eastern
and Middle states, and in the South and
Southwest. The far Western group alone
shows decrease.
For four months the total clearings
were SIS, 1888, 594, 1857, a gain Of 81 PER
cent over 1894, and decrease Of 26 per
cent from 1893. Bank clearings at 80
cities, this week, record an increase in the
volume Of trade, the aggregating ST.
095, 900, 600, or 10 per cent. more than
last week, Is per cent more than the like
week Of 1894, 20 per cent. smaller than
the first week Of May. 1893, and II per
cent smaller than the total clearings for
the like week OF 1892.
Throughout the West all preceding
gains are retained, with further improve
ment due to needed rains in Nebraska,
Iowa, Minnesota. South and North Dakota.
where crops were greatly benefited. The
season 10 10 days ahead in South Dakota
Collections ut Sioux Falls, the exception
to the rule, show some improvements.
At Chicago and st. Louis the volume Of
trade Is as large as. or larger, than in the
like period Of 1899. year Of heavy traffic.
iron, steel, dry goods, hardware and
building materials leading in the activity.
Similar advices are received from Gin
cinnati, Kansas City, Minneapolis, st.
Paul and other points. Nashville and
Galveston report some little improvement
In volume Of business, and they prove the
exceptions among the Southern cities
Agricultural conditions in Tennessee
are said to be favorable. In Texas the
coast country still needs rain. At Chat
tanooga and Augusta, the weeks bust
ness has been Of somewhat smaller
volume. although at the former some
manufacturing industries are better en-
ployed than year ago.
Trade improvement on the Pacific coast
has evidently set In. At Seattle heavy
wheat exports are reported, as we'll AS
higher prices for lumber and larger
volume OF business for April than for
March.
At Tacoma, the local flour market is
stimulated by the fact that the Northern
Pacific Steamship Co. will add three
steamers to It's Japan and China line. At
Portland there Is an increased volume of
business, and more improvement is looked
for. At San Francisco trade is more ac-
tive and the outlook is brighter.
Rains throughout the California grain
regions promise the largest wheat and
barley crops for years, and bags and ocean
y.
About $1,000 barrels of -four went to
Aslatic Russia from San Francisco by
sail. this week.
The prices movement retains the
characteristics of preceding weeks with a
long list of gains: Wheat, . Sc; corn
Lie; sugar Use; sole leather, PC, upper
leather and hides. (notninally), shoes,
prints, SASH doors 1T Western points,
"a al. q oil ~ 7
25c per ton
1.-Two cattle. at the Western centers are
practically unchanged, as are finished
iron. coal, pig iron, and steel at the East
ern markets. and all except the inferior
grades of wool Wool prices are a little
easier, with lower prices paid for inferior
grades at the London sales, domestic coun-
try prices being above the parity with
those current in leading markets.
The wooden mills are fairly supplied
with orders, but are incline to buy freely
yet. Flannels are more active, and the
stocks are only one half as large as year
ago. There is only a fair business in cot
ton goods and the prices remain firm
No gain is looked for until the demand
for the fall supplies becomes general.
The decreases in quotations within the
oats, lac; pork, a5c; lard, Zoe; coffee
l-8o; hogs, &c; petroleum, sec barrel
Exports of wheat, flour included as
wheAt), from both coasts of the United
States, this week, amounted to :, 800, $50
bushels, against 2, 773, 600 in tho same
week year ago. 2,776, 600 two years ago,
and 3,951,000 three years ago. This
weeks outgo Is about the average for
months past. The available wheat stock
in the United States, May l, were 90, 60i,
900 bushels smaller than for the like date
one and two years ago
For many months the totals have been
largely in excess of the like figures Of
either one or two years before. The de-
crease of domestic stocks for four months
is twice what 10 was year ago, and ESQ
per cent Of what 1t was In 1898.
The April decrease In European Amcri
can Canadian efloat stocks OF available
wheat was only 7,bs4.0 bushels. but
Europe has been taking from Russia and
Argentine Of late with more freedom than
any country since last summer. In 1894,
v,~yl J.cuoo 60 i'm Io rror1f1'S N his,