The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-05-11
CONDITION OF BUsINEss.
Bradstreets Sends Reports From All Sec
 tions of the Country.

| pf0Vement in business, notWlthStanu-
 ing thetncreaseo of the wave of industrial
 discomfort and strikes for higher wages,
 always the accompaniment of an up-
 ward of tendency in prices.
 Total of bank clearings clearings in preceding weeks had suggested further | improvement, and as now seen, were | true indices. This weeks total is $1,- 127000,000, about per cent. more than last weeks exceptionally large total
 and fully 25 per cent. more than in the
 second week of May, 1894, although 16
 per cent, smaller than in the like week
 of 1893. The current weeks clearings total has not been exceeded since the week ending June 10, 1S93
 The movement of prices of staples are found to be based on broadened de- mand and more buoyant feeellng. Sole leather Is up another 9 C., and
 prices of shoes are following. Galvan- ized iron and wire nails are higher, as is bessemer pig, about 10 e., sugar B
 C., print cloths 1-16 C., and wheat flour
 15 o. In addition prices have remained firm for lumber, tin and cotton, and while no actual advances are announced
 for steel billets, live cattle and rice,
 this week, the tendency in each in-
 stance is upward. The heavy drop in
 wheat prices early in the week prevents
 wheat quotations from showing a net
 advance, notwithstanding the sharp
 turn in the past few days. The receipts
 of hogs have put prices down C., and
 lard and pork have followed. Oats are
 also lower than a week ago.
 Railroad gross earnings for April
 show decided improvements over pre-
 ceding months. Advices from 112 roads
 for April point to an increase of Az
 per cent. over teh same month in 1894
 which, however, showed a decrease of .14 per cent. below 1893. For four months
 ending with April the gain is only one
 half of 1 per cent. The best showing
 is made by the coal roads, the grangers
 still having a decrease. though at
 smaller rate. The significant feature of
 the April report lies in the gain of Az
 per cent. over 1894, as entrusted with
 decreases for January and February.
 Exports of wheat and wheat flour
 from the United States, both coasts,
 and from Montreal (lour as wheat)
 amount to 2805, ,000 bushels this week, against 2,S15,OOO bushels in the week a year ago and 2,712,000 bushels two years ago.
 The south send more encouraging re- ports than for long time. Some little gain in demand for either dry goods, plantation supplies, or in collections (which Is most significan) is announced by two-thirds of all cities reporting Savannah expects next weeks carnival to stimulate demand and Augusta states factories are asking for less money than a year ago. Merchants at Memphis, Charleston, Chatta anooga and Atlanta have experienced a better demand, but at Birmingham, New Orleans and Gal weston business remains quiet or un- changed. At the west previous gains are maintained, and confidence in an enlarged volume of business increases. At such centers as Cleveland, Cincin- nati, Louisville, Detroit and Milwaukee there are no marked changes. But at Chicago and St. Louis wholesale deal CTS report a volume of business larger than last week and than in the week a year ago. The iron and steel industries at the former city are checked by induse trial troubles, but at the latter the re- starting of manufacturing concerns has greatly stimulated business. Both the cities named, together with Kansas City, Des Moines and Omaha, report that excellent crop prospects have had a welcome influence on the wheat, and St. Paul, Minneapolis and Sioux Falls merchants tell similar story,
 Among larger eastern centers New York, Boston, and Providence report relatively the most strength in mer- chandfse and manufacturing lines, with 1 the outlook for a continuation of the 1 same. Buffalo, Pittsburg and Philadel- 1 phia announce no material changes, the | business community waiting the antici- | pated larger volume of trade. At Bal l timore the volume of trade is smaller, owing to spring trade having ended. | Travellers will now be sent out for fall | orders. Slow collections are most con spicuous. Larger Pacific coast cities | continue to report heavy wheat exports, | m outlook for large crops of wheat and | 'ruit, and higher ocean grain freights. | Better mercantile collections are also | 
 Cotton goods are not moving very &C., lively at the advances. Buyers have supplied themselves at lower figures lines of prints are relatively &C., i've. First orders for dress woolens for all delivery have been taken, but the Iemand is moderate. Woolen machin- ry is fairly employed. Wool is quiet, ,rices at the interior being above views f manufacturers, and stocks at eastern markets being in light supply. The lip is late.
 Business failures in the United States his week number 195, against .193 in he week a year ago.
 General trade reports from the Cana ian dominion are exceptionally fav- rable. Toronto reports that advances 1 q cotton, sugar leather and wheat ave increased demand, helped collec- ions and created a buoyant feeling. 'he opening of navigation at Montreal nd advances in sugar and whiskey, ue to tariff changes, are additional actors. Quebec city shoe manufac- lrers are doing good business. Nova cotta and New Brunswick report air volume of trade, and Newfound- md a successful fishery. Bank clear IFS at Winnipeg, Hamilton and To- onto, Montreal and Halifax equal $22,- l2 000 this week, gain of about 16 l , CT cent. over the like week the last l ear. The total of 27 business failures CNopo do tbia week is contra st ad Jxyi+t, !