Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-05-15
COMMERCIAL And FINANCIAL


The Cincinnati Price Current of May 9th,
says:
1.-The situation in regard to crops has been
moderately changed for the better, by rains
which have fallen in regions west of the
Mississippi river, and to some extent east
ward. But in a large portion of Ohio, Michi-
gan, Indiana Illinois and Kentucky the re-
lief has not been sufficient to FULLY arrest the
damaging influence of lack of moisture, es-
pecially with reference to the wheat and oats
crops. Immediate rains in these regions
would prove beneficial to these crops. At
best the situation of the winter wheat crop
may be regarded as positively poorer than a
year ago.
The dry weather favored the preparation of
land for corn and the planting of this grain.
and the crop is having an earlier start than
usual and in satisfactory manner.
In Kansas and Missouri the situation of
crops has been decidedly improved by recent
rains, but the wheat crop in Kansas has been
greatly cut short, and will be comparatively
small at best.
The spring grain States of the Northwest
furnish very cheerful adviees. Copious rains
have quite generally fallen, and wheat and
other crops are having an encouraging start.
Pasture and meadow lands are also brought
into forward and satisfactory condition.
In the wheat markets much of the recent
strength has been dissipated, and prices have
receded. Rains in the West and Northwest
have contributed to this result. Realizing
co loo hv tradarS have bolpod to como ayfapt
Just what may come next is not easy to deter
mine. Stocks in the interior, in nearly all
sections. are low, and warehouse supplies are
being rapidly reduced. But the regular visi
BILE stocks may be further drawn upon to the
extent of 40, 0000 600 bushels or more, without
inconvenience-aud this means an average
reduction of such stocks of more than 1000,
900 bushels per week for the period prevlou;
| to new grain being available.
Our advices suggest considerable supplies Of
corn and oats held back in various western
regions.
| The following are extracts from the tinan
cial review of Henry Clews of May 11th:-
During the past week, s1O,000,00O of oul
| This, added to $50, 900 900 of previous negotia
tons, makes s76,OOO,0OO of securities placed
abroad since the date of the Syndicate loar
| negotiation; and yet the Syndicate still hold:
s11 100000 of bonds, any portion of which
stands available for shipment. If any evi
dence were needed of sharp turn of Euro
pean confidence towards American invest
| p,aptS Surolv tbic sbou1d o,1ffioo
x X
We have now reached an advanced stage Of
the Spring business, and in some branches Of
| trade the seasons demand is abating; but vel
there is nothing to show any impairment Of
the spirit of confidence and the improvement
| in business that set in at the earlier stage
Some check to certain branches of manufac
| turing has arisen from a premature and in
discreet demand for higher wages. That
however, may be regarded as only temper
airy it suggests however the encour
aging inference that the demand for labor i:
increasing. The returns of all the clearing
houses of the United States, for the last weel
of April. show an increase in bank clearing
of 207 per cent over the same week of 1S9
and are almost identical with those of 1892
showing that business has regained its ante
panic normal volume. The crop reports ar
generally encouraging and, in wheat, indicate
a probable increase over the crop 1894. Th
iron trade. almost alone among the industries
remains dull; which seems to be the effect o
makers having demanded an advance il
prices which buyers are not yet willing to pay
The gross earnings of the railroads, in spite o
the lightness of grain freight are showing
very general increase.
These symptoms indicate that the recover
in business is genuine and destined to pei
manency. The effect upon the market 70