The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-02
BRADSTREET'S REPORT.
Unsettled Fiancial Questions Re-
Elected In General Business.
BROOKLYN MERCHANTS GREATLY
AFFECTED BY THE STRIKE.
Heavy Exports of Wheat Last Week Are
Reported-January Bank Clearings
Show an Increase Over December.

Heavy Exports of Wheat Last Week Are
Reported-January Bank Clearings
Show an Increase Over December.
New York, February 1.-Bradstreets
tomorrow will say: Special kilograms
to Sradstreers from many more import
ant points of distribution throughout
the country makes il plain that the uncer-
tainty as to the outcome of the financial
situation is based on the rapid with
drawals of gold from the treasury had
a depressing effect on the general trade.
At nearly all the larger eastern cities
rates for money advanced, and at Bos-
ton supplies of commercial paper have
increased. Mercantile collections ali
best are characterized as fairly satisfac-
tory, and in most instances slower than
usual at this season. This is empha-
sized by the fact that Baltimore jobbers
are waiting the results of sending out
bills for last falls business before deter
mining as to credits to be granted. The
failure of the vicious features of the
Brooklyn trolley car strike, which cost
about So, 900, 900, permits a revival of
trade at that city, and to an extent at
New York.
Among twenty staple products, four
remained steady in price, being wool.
lum ber, hides and leather. Although
in western centres some grades of the
last named are held at Jan advance, and
at London wool sold up slightly. More
important decreases are on live cattle
and hogs the lat ter 10c. per cwt.,
wheat, corn, oats, pork (about 81 per
bbl. after the bulls had, tired of holding
up quotations), and lard and cotton.
The greatest encouragement as to adj
vances of prices are found among iron
and steel industries. Bessemer pig iron
and steel billets is advanced fully 15o.
per ton each and the demand
for shaped iron by car, wagon and i'm
plement makers calls for attention, that
for nails and barbed wire being pro-
nounced. Advancing prices are noticed
&C. on each. The low temperature out
west put up prices offeggs and potatoes,
and quotations for coffee and sugar are
higher.
TEXTILE LINES.
In textiles, there is little change or
prospect of early improvement. Gener-
al lines of fancy printed fabrics are GO
ing from jobbers' hands fairly well.
Prin cloths are shade better than a
week ago. Foreign woolens and dress
secured the bulk of the orders placed at
eastern centres thus far. The outlook
for American mills engaged on woolen
dress goods is regarded less favorabIy,
and manufacturers OF mems wear wool
ems are busy. Every eastern city report
Ing specifies a moderate volume of busi-
ness, or that general trade is quiet with
a hand to mouth demand.
BANK CLEARlNGS.
The first complete and official report of
the January bank clearings at all cit
les reporting were received by Brad
streets by telegraph. the total being
81, 364, ZOO, 600, or 81 per cent more than
in December. 1894, and S.4 per cent more
than in January, 1894.
Compared with the clearings of Janu-
ary, 1898, in which month. and in De-
Gem ber of 1892, the totals were among
the.largest OH record, the January clear
ings Of 1895 show decrease of 25 per
cent. All the larger cities,
except Baltimore and New Or
leans, show moderate gains in the jan
uary clearings compared with the totals
of year ago. During this week the
total clearings amount to $942, 900, 900.
or 2 per cent more than the preceding
week, and "a per cent more than the
last week of January, 1894.
THE GRAIN TRADE.
The grain trade was surprised this
week by Bradstreets report of relative
ly heavy increase IN stocks of wheat
adoat for and in Europe, as decrease
was anticipated. During January the
exports of wheat, from both coasts of
the United States (fiour included as
wheat) continued to average 5000. 0o0 of
bushels week. During the six business
days ending January 81, the total SO ex-
ported was 2,4s3, 900 bushels, rs COM
pared with 2,s40,OO0 the week before,
and 2,0S3, 90 in sthe week a yearTago.
The number of failures in the United
States was 312 this week, and $40 in the
week a year ago.