The Portland daily press., 1895-06-29
BRADSTREET'S REPORT.
Many Signs Of Continued Improve
ment This Week.
INDICATIONS OF A HIGHER RANGE
OF PRICES FOR WHEAT.

| Bank C1earings Are Somewhat Below
Last Week-Improvement in Staple
Lines in New England-Approachin
Midsummer Somewhat of Check in
Larger Centres
New York, June 28.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: The dominating busi-
ness conditions of the week are the con-
tinued large demand for and further in
creases in prices for iron and steel, the
jump in rail prices and the scarcity of
and higher quotations for plates and nails
that tended to produce temporary
scarcity. Improving wheat conditions
have finally convinced many in trade that
there are likely to be fully 25, 900, 00C
bushels harvested in the United States
this year, which, with the crop probably
available" surplus of 30, 600, 900 bushels
being carried over at this time, points to
only 100, ,0oo,0 600, or possibly 11O, 900, OOC
bushels more, available for export during
the next twelve months, which is less
than any year since 1890 With short
crops abroad, in some instances this can
hardly fail to bring a higher range OF
prices
EXPORTS OF WHEAT
(flour as wheat) from both coasts of the
United States and from Montreal,
amounted only to 1946, 4O2 bushels this
week, against 2, 857, 600 bushels last week.
The decrease is largely of flour shipments
from Newport News, Boston, New York
and San Francisco. The exports in the
week year ago were 1, III, OOO and 3, 971,
600 two years ago.
The total bank .clearings are 81, oil, 900,
600, which while smaller for all cities
than week ago by 6. 8 per cent, are 81
per cent larger than the last week of
June in 1894, and six per cent larger than
that week of 1893, a month after the panic
had gotten fully under way.
With further advances in the prices of
iron and steel should be coupled gain
of cent per pound for wool, which ap-
parently began its journey to higher level
about fortnight ago. Better quotations
are made for cheaper grade of woolen
goods, prints, bessemer. pig. blllets,
wheat, pork, lard, hogs shoes and "copper"
Declines are recorded for flour, corn, oats,
coffee, cotton, naval stores and cattle
FAILURES IN THE UNITED STATES
for six months show a marked falling off
in the second quarter this year. AS was
to be expected there was not so great a
decline relatively in the second quarter of
1884, which results in a total for six
months of 6597, or one per cent more than
last year; six per cent more than 1895,
and nine per cent more than the first half
of 1884, after the Barring crash. The total
liabilities (Which amount to $40, 707, S61, }
with 55 per cent assets have shrunk more
than $3 600, 600, from last year, more than
one-half within two years. Pointing to
an excess in the number of failures being
due rather to the-continued effects tof re-
cent business disturbances on smaller
enterprises than to new and unfayorable
conditions. The failures in New England
the past six months numbered 955 against
1909 in like period last year. The
liabilities are $12, $50, 600 against SO, 764, :
against $4, 3S1 $40 last year. The improve
ment in business in New England has
shown more particularly by the failure of
the Olneyville worsted mill strike and
the return to work of 1000 operatives, q
greater firmness for leather and continued
activity at the shoe factories, and rather
better demand for hard ware, iron and
steel. At New York there is nearly the
usual volume of midsummer trade in
staple goods. At Philadelphia, improve
ment in the demand for staples and iron
and steel, as we'll as at Pittsburg, is
again conspicuous, and there is relatively
less gain at Buffalo, but at Baltimore the
outlook for fall business is regarded as
excellent.
There are few evidences of revival of.
general trade at the South. Merchants at
almost all the leading cities in that
region report the demand continues very
moderate and collections are slow. The
cotton and fruit crops in the South
Atlantic States promise well and the
business outlook is reported as encourag-
ing
The incessant rains in Texas have hurt
the crops. Increased shipments by
Galveston jobbers are reported as due
rather more to railway fruit war than
the increased demand. General business
on the Pacific coast continues in contrast
to that of elsewhere, increases being re-
ported in several lines from Seattle,
where a glass factory is to be built and
importations of British tin plate have
been received. Relatively less activity is
reported by Tacoma with the exception
that Alaska travel is the heaviest for
years. Trade at that city with Japan and
Chinese ports is assuming large proper
tions Portland announces that the
Oregon fruit crop will be large but there
has been no change in the general bust
ness situation there. Wheat is being ex-
ported from San Francisco as fast as it
can be loaded into ships. New tea is in
good supply, and produce and fruits are
active
Wheat flour shipments to Europe are to
be resumed from the mills at Vallejo
after a suspension of over year. The
only change West and Northwest are the
continued improvements in the general
crop indications, and stimulus to bust
ness by the continued firmness of and the
demand for iron and steel Business in
dry goods, clothing and shoes at the
larger centres exceeds the record for the
six months of 1894. In some instances it
is declared equal to the volume in the
first half of 1898 The influence of the
approaching midsummer is making itself
felt. Stock taking in some lines, prepara-
tions to send out travellers in others, the
IL J. IL