The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-08-15
THE CONDITION OF TRADE.
The Volume of Business Practically Un-
 chaneed.


 New York, Aug. 14-Bradstreets to- morrow will say: The volume of busi- ness throughout the country is prac- tically unchanged. New features do not point to improvement in prospects for fall business. Industries generally continue quiet with more men idle than a week ago. The most significant feat ure was higher rates for money early in the week; some difficulty to obtain time money. This disappeared with mani fest reaction against free silver sentt- ment, which followed the silver demon- stration at New York, August 12
 Jobbers Of dry goods report no out look for an active fall demand until after election. Higher priced cotton strengthens views of manufacturers, but does not sell goods.
 There is little or no demand for iron or steel, notwithstanding the capacity of furnaces in blast was restricted dur ing July more than S0, 900 tons Manu- facturers of hardware and jewelry re- port business excessively dull
 Crop reports from some portions of South Carolina are discouraging, while the vegetable crop in Florida has been greatly reduced by the drouth.
 Crop conditions in Alabama have fall- en off within two weeks, and the Ken lucky tobacco out turn has been re- duced by the prolonged drouth
 Wholesale dealers at Chicago and St. Louis report moderate gains in dis tribution of dry goods although the total volume of business is less than last year, and trade generally at those centers and vicinity remains at the dead level of near by wants.
 The brighter side of the picture is found in generally favorable crop con- ditions at the south, which have stimu- lated buying at Baltimore, Savannah, New Orleans and Texas. New Orleans is relieved by sugar bounty payments. Collections are improved at Pittsburg and there is a better demand for dry goods and shoes than last week At Omaha wholesale merchants report a very general improvement On the Pa citic coast the wheat field promises well in California, but general trade ct Washington and Oregon cities Is rather less active.
 Exports of wheat (1our included as wheat) from both coasts of the United States this week amount to 2,634 ,001 bushels, against 1,824 ,000 bushels in the week one year ago Exports of Indian corn have increased very heavily amounting to 2,367000 bushels as com pared with 1,257, 900 bushels last week and less than one million in the week one years ago.
 A striking feature is the general downward movement of prices of staples among them hides, shoes wheat, Indian corn, oats, coffee, raw sugar, cotton, petroleum and iron.
 R. G. Dun & Co.'S S Weekly Review of Trade says: An extraordinary spell of deadly hot weather has affected trade throughout the country, and in the east speculative feeling was somewhat af- fected until Tuesday by apprehension of the possible influence of the Bryan meeting. With cooler weather there came also on Thursday perception that the meeting would not affect business unfavorably. But other conditions were not stimulating. According to government reports the crops have sus- tained serious injuries. Labor difficult ties extend, and the closing of estab- lishments for want of work, and the refusal of commercial loans by banks checked operations in many branches of industry and trade. The week, there fore, closes. as the last week did, with domestic business unusually dull for the season, measured by clearing house exchanges per cent smaller than last year and 10.5 per cent. smaller than in the same week in 1892, the last year of full business at this season.