Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-04
TAKING A BRACE.
Business Throughout the United
States Reported a Little Better.
Gain in Wheat Exports and Eank Clearings---
General Staples improved.

New York, Jan. g. Bradstreets, to-
morrow, will say: The week which ended
1895 and ushered In 1896 has been very
dull in mercantile circles as is usual at
this period. The volume of business has
fallen away sharply, owing to the New
Years holiday and to the quiet in trade
circles AT time when stock taking and
the preparing of samples for commercial
travellers are taking the attention of job
bers and commission houses.
The slackcning of the activity In some
of the important manufacturing lines is
likewise noticeable 1t Is significant that
kilograms from SO many centcrs report
collections slow or unsatisfactory, the ex-
ceptions being at few points i'll the
Southern states. Jobbers in leading lines
at many centers are confident as To the
outlook for trade III the near future, al
though in instances fears are expressed of
an untavorable effect, due TO the inability
to secure the necessary legislation on
financial questions.
Advices from st. Louis, are that the to-
tai business, last year, was the largest
since 1892, and the total clearings there in
1895 were the largest on record, The
volume of Chicagos jobbing trade, last
year. was 10 per cent. larger than the year
before, and the manufacturing output 10
to Is per cent. larger Another gratifying
report is from Chattanooga, that country
merchants in the region tributary to that
city are on a firmcr financial basis than
in previous years.
On the Pacific coast the lumber trade
is vieing with that in wheat. The ship
ments OF lumber from Portland Oregon
to Mexico. Central America and South
America have baen heavy, and from
Tacoma in excess of all previous records
The general trade at Seattle, last year,
was to 25 per cent larger than in 1894.
san Francisco telegraphs that flour has
advanced Il cents. The orange crop is
un.avorably affected by frost Farmers
are anxious for rain
The prices movements have taken Il
| start upward for the first time in many
weeks. a large majority of staples are
quoted close higher than week ago.
Flour wheat, corn and oats are all up,
rs are pork, sugar both raw and refined,
petroleum. both Guide and refined, cotton,
wool, tthe latter from one half TO one
cent?, and hides, the latter having
! stiffcned the leather market
ltc NuDltN Nuns .pE iitiEObL anu tOal H.
main firm ut levels Of the preceding week,
as do cotton goods, notably print cloths,
the increased price of which is not enjoyed
relatively IN the advance shown by cotton.
In addition to the decline IN coffee, pig
iron and steel are eff 20 to 80 cents per
ton, with quotations still in the buyers
favor.
! The prospect does not favor relief from
| the existing weakness in the iron market,
as the production is ahead of all records,
with ar output Of about i. Gro 600 tons per
month and stocks Accommodating. Some
! furnaces may soon have to Shut down 10
relieve the pressure
| The exports of wheat flour included as
/ wheat from both coasts of the United
/ States, this week, were 3 500, Isl bushels,
/ compared with 3, ia, Geo in the week. two
1 years ago The foreign shipments Of
wheat. this week, are larger than those
| for any previous week since that ending
| sept. 10, 1898. The exports of Indian corn,
/ this week, which amount to g. 227, eco
/ bushels, are exceptionally heavy, being
| larger than those for any previous week
since that ending Feb. Il, 1892
The worlds available wheat stocks
| Jan. /, were less hullish than antici-
pated, amounting to nearly 10000, 900
/ bushels, about Is, coo, 900 less than year
ago, 20, 600, coo less than two years aga,
/ 25, coo, 900 less than three years ago, and
more than held at CORES spending dates in
the years previous TO 1893.
The stocks of wheat east of the Rocky
mountains, United States and Canada,
| have increased more rapidly in December
| than expected, while on the Pacific coast
/ the usually falling away took place While
the stocks OF wheat alloat for and in
! Europe on the LIST inst, are few million
| bushels smaller than month ago, they
I are more than 1000 600 larger than
year ago, although less than reported.
Jan. ! in the three years next preceding
! 1895
The December bank clclrings are the
largest for any mnosh last year, but one,
| October, 1895, furnishing a satisfactory
closing chapter to year of large gains in
bank clearings The total clearings at
so cities for December aggregate 80. 02G
| 065, 1S7, a gain over December Of last year
| of 7.6 per cent, an increase over Dccem-
bef, two years ago, Of % per cent, while
| compared with December three years ago.
! there is a decrease of 10 per cent.
The heaviest gains occur in the Middle
and the New England states, duo
partially to speculative activity
The total clearings at 80 cities fer 1895
aggregate S52, 1928, $50, 249 an increase of
16.S per cent. ever 1894, decrease of only
per cent from the total in 1898 falling
off of IA per cent from 1899, the record
gear in bank ciearings
/ AS usual at this season there is q con
siderable increase OF the number of fail
uras in the United States, the total re-
ported being i03, this week, against 373 in
the week, year ago, $50, two years ago,
and 313, three years ago.