The Portland daily press., 1895-12-21
SPASMODIC
About Describes the State Of the
Weeks Trade.
HAS INTERVIEWED
MEN IN 23 CITIES.

They Do Not Take Any Stock in Coming
War-Bad Weather for Business
War Talk Has Not Had Time to Affect
Trade Much-The Bank CIearings and
Weeks Failures,
New York, December 20.-Bradsreets
tomorrow will say: The general busi-
ness situation has been aft ected by the
precipitation of possible complications
With Great Britain. The first to feel this
are the stock markets, and the prices of
cotton and wheat, the influences of which
ramlfy among the business houses in
many different lines. The serious nature
OF the case has had the effect here and
in London, of causing the free selling of
securities, even in sight of the fact that
the expectation of war is slight. The
most unfavorable feature is, and is likely
to be, the continued negotiations and the
uncertainty which must exist until the
incident is concluded
Representatives of Bradstreets at
twenty three cities interviewed many
leading manufacturers and merchants
Thursday, as to the effect on trade of the
present or prospective international situ-
alton precipitated by the Presidents mes
sage, and the message itself and as to the
pIo5abilitysofsactua hostilities. The inter-
views fairly represent the sentiment of
many of the most important financial,
industrial and commercial houses of the
country. In no instance, as far as the
interviews extend, is war considered q
probable outcome. AS far as the effect
on business is concerned, Eastern and
Western manufacturing centres and many
larger Western and Northwestern distrib-
uting points report that none is felt
whatever. In all the cities except four,
the consensus of opinion is distinctly fav-
ors the sentiment expressed in the Presi-
dents message. The exceptions where
the opinion on this point was divided
are New York, Boston, Detroit and Mil
waukee. In the grain market, at the
Cotton Exchange and throughout the
cottonn porducing regions as well as in
New York city. Philadelphia, Boston and
other New England points, complaints
international question which has been
raised.
Leading Southern cities report Christ
mas retail trade fairly active but 5usi-
ness in the wholesale lines quiet or un-
changed. nullness is conspicuous in
Texas. Cotton continues nelgected at
the leading markets, Charleston alone
reporting a moderate general improve
ment. In the West and Northwest, the
unseasonably wild weather, and the ten
dency of jobbers to reduce stock prior to
the close OF the year, when inventory
ing will be begun, with the special at
tention usually given to holiday trade,
have served to render general trade quiet
and at best, only fair for the season. The
situation at San Francisco is weaker.
The feature is the export of rs, 400 bushels
OF wheat to Sydney. In addition to the
large quantity of wheat remaining in
California, Portland repotrs so per cent
OF the grain crop remaining III Oregon.
Seattle is shipping Christmas goods to
laska. Reports are that the shingle in
dustry is fiat. owing to the check to the
building industry at the East.
The industrial situation reflects pre-
vous tendencies. Jobbers in cottons and
wool ems report the demand quiet at first
hands The woolen mills are taking only
fair orders for spring goods. Hides are
firmer. Manufacturers of shoes have not
begun to anticipate their wants by in
creasing their purchases Of leather, al
though instances show that the factories
have begun to increase their outputs.
Favorable reports come from western
glass factories, the prospects being for a
largely increased demand and a corre-
spending advance in quotations.
Iron and steel centres report another
reduction in prices of nearly 81 ton
each. Bar iron has gone off 20 per cent
in price, which is also true of structural
material. The output of pigiron is near
ly at the rate Of one million tons a
month. and unless consumers place their
orders soon, there will be restriction
OF p reduction.
Prices generally show no more encour-
aging tendency than heretofore. Higher
quotations are recorded for wheat flour,
oats and coffee. Practically unchanged
quotations are made for pork, lard.
sugar, lumber and coal, although the
usual check to building operations at this
season tends to keep the prices Of lumber.
In addition to the reductions in prices
of crude iron and steel, and the various
forms of the same, there are reactions in
the prices Of petroleum, cotton, print
cloths, wheat and Indian corn.
The total exports of wheat, wheat -four
included as wheat, from both coasts of
the United States this week, were 2, O56. :
GOO bushels, as compared with 1854, 900
in the corresponding week year ago.
Exports of wheat from the Pacific coast
show sharp decline as compared with
the preceding week. The bank olearinas
this week were 81, 1876, 600, 600, or five Der
cent more than last week; nearly IA per
cent more than In the third week of De-
ce mber, 1894, 20 per cent more than in
the corresponding week inss1893, and 81. 6
per cent smaller than in the correspond
ures throughout the United States this
week aggregate 1856 as compare d with 300
in the like week year ago.
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