Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-21
Bradstreet's Review.


 New York, Dec. 20.-Bradstreet's will say tomorrow:
 The business situation has been affect ed by the political complications, as well as the prices of cotton and wheat, the influence of which ramify among busi- ness houses in many different lines. Tha serious nature of the presidents state ment has had the effect of rather induc- ing the free selling of securities. A vio- lent depression in stock and security values has followed the presidents Ven- ezuelan message and its reception in Eu- rope. The London market has been no less disturbed than our own, and the foreign selling of our securities was on an enormous scale. Gold shipments for the week are 6,580000, of which $3,500, 900 go to London today. Foreign exchange Is up to 4.S2h for demand sterling and bankers show great disinclination to draw, in view of the possible curtailment of foreign credits here. Representatives of Bradstreets at twenty-three cities interviewed many leading manufacturers and merchants Thursday as to the ef- feet, present or prospective, on trade or an international character So far as the effect on business is concerned, eastern and western manufacturing centers ana many of the larger western and north western distributing points report that none is felt whatever. Perhaps as sig nificant as any other feature of the inter- views is that in all the cities except four the consensus of opinion distinctly favors the sentiments expressed in the presidents message. The exceptions on this point are New York, Boston, De- troit and Milwaukee. In the grain mar ket at the cotton exchanges and through out the country in the producing regions, as well as at New York city, Philadel- phia, Boston and other New England points, complaints are heard of the eff fleets on business caused by the interna-- tional question which has been raised.
 cOnfbarn cities rqD0rt Christi mas retail trade fairly active, but that business in wholesale lines Is quiet and unchanged. Dullness is conspicuous In the east and cotton was neglected at the' leading markets, Charleston along re- porting a moderate general improve ment.
 In the west and northwest unreason- ably mild weather and the tendency of jobbers to reduce stocks prior to the close of the year have served to render gen. eral trade quiet, and at best only fair for the season.
 The industrial situation reflects pre- vious tendencies. Jobbers in cottons and woolens reported dull in first hands. Woolen mills are taking only fair orders for spring goods. Hides are firmer but manufacturers in shoes have not yet be- gun to anticipate wants by increasing purchases of leather. although in fn-- stances shoe factories have begun to iri-' crease their outputs. Favorable reports come from western glass factories, the. prospect being for a largely increased demand and a corresponding advance in quotations Iron and steel report another reduction of nearly S1 a ton each. and bar iron has gone off 10 per cent in price. which is also true of structural material. The output of pig iron is nearly at the rate of 100000 tons per month, and unless consumers place or ders soon there will be restriction of production.
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