Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-02-29
BRADSTREET'S
Says That ChangeabIe Wealth
er Has hampered Trade.
Jobbers at Western Cities Do Not
Anticipate Heavy Spring Trade.
Wheat Exports Show Falling 0H-More Fail
ure Than Week Ago.

New York, Feb S.-Bradstreet's re-
port, tomorrow, will say: The chsngeable
and at times unreasonable weather CON
unued To unfavorably influence the dis
trlDution OF general merchandise. Rela-
lively, the most active movement has
been Of shoes, groceries, dry goods, mil
llnery and light hardware, but on the
whole, the merchandise movement has
not materially improved. Jobbers at the
larger Western centers do not anticipate a
heavy spring trade, as the outlook is fer
retailers. carrying over larger stocks than
was expected
Unsatisfactory conditions prevail in
cotton goods, woolens, iron and steel in
dustries. Jobbers in the products of cot
ton mills report that trade drags not
witbstanding cut rates, and the outlook
is that there will he more idle cotton mill
machinery. The demand for woolen
goods is lower, and the stocks in the
hands of the retailers are heavier than
when last reported,
steel rails, non pipe and nails are the
firincst products of the steel and iron in
dustries, large orders having been placed.
The sales Of steel billets are infreq ucnt,
and the quotations are off 70 cents. Res-
senler pig iron is quoted 20 cents lower,
with the market exceptionally slow.
Throughout the central Western states a
large number of iron stacks are idle.
which may have an effect on the price OF
superior ores
In addition to the renewed activity in
the glass industry. there are large orders
Tor the spring delivery being placed for
boots and shoes, ut the more important
distributing centers. and the manufactur-
ers report trade active and the prospects
encouraging. The leading money mar
kets are easier al the close Mercantile
collections in the South, and particularly
in the WeS., have fallen off and are un
satisfactory.
In the south, general trade is quiet and
slow in nearly all lines there being an
exception as to agricultural indictments
at Memphis, dry goods at Atlanta. and
the movement Of staples at New Orleans
Relatively unsatisfactory reports from
Western merchandise markets are the
1ule Omaha reports an improvement in
business. with Indian corn moving more
rapidly, and Duluth the prospect of good,
though late spring trade Live stock ON
south Dakota ranges are in excellent con
dition. At Sioux Falls trade is heavier
than in February, 1895.
The price movement of the leading
staples is more favorable, with an advance
FOR wheat, Indian corn, oats, copper.
leather and turpentire Firm or steady
prices are noted for wheat flour, coffee,
sugar, steel rails, lumber, coal and hides.
reactions appear in the quotations for
pork, lard, cotton and print cloths, petro- |
leum, bessemer pig iron, steel billets, and
some grades of Southern pig.
Bradstreet's annual estimate of the |
Total quantity of wheat in the United |
States back of the available supply points |
March l, 1896, makes it $1,000. 900 |
bushels. against probably 100. 900, 600. a |
'ear ago, and about 1876, 900, 900 held back |
II the available supply points in the |
Jnited States, March J, 1894 The estj-
nate that so-called farmers stocks OF
wheat at this time are less than 100, OOO
100 bushels, is in CT n arast with trade and
'ther estimates, which place the total
anywhere from l09, OO0 900 bushels to
I5, 900, 900.
The bank clearings throughout the
United States for the five business dsys
'ndng Feb. %, aggregate S914, 600, 600, a
avorable exhibit zone holiday, although
6 per cent smaller than the total. last
week, as it is 90 per cent. larger than the
otal for the fourth week of February.
$50, and 8 per cent. larger than the cor
week in 1894.
The exports of wheat (ilour included as
vheat) from both coasts of the United
states, this week, show marked falling
III, not only from the total, a week age,
tut compared with the totals for the con-
LII
preceding years.
The failures throughout the United
states, this week, We're 271, compared
With 234 in the corresponding week of
S95.