Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-07
BRADsTREET'S REPORT
Shows Slightly Better Feeling in
General Trade Circles.
Bank CIearings Show an Increase "heat
Exports Also Gains.

New York, March 6.-Bradstreet' TO-
morrow will say: The general trade be-
gan, this week. relatively less iaSoranly
but with change from high winds ana
the extreme cold which checked trading
to milder weather. There are increased
purchases. end brighter prospects for
business have appeared. The unfavorable
conditions previously reported have con-
tinued and are less numerous than those
pointing to improvement. Conspicuous
among them is the continued depression
In the wooden and cotton goods
manufacturing industries. The trade
with manufacturers in those lines is very
dull, some cotton mills running Oh half
time. The makers of wooden goods re-
port the spring over, fall trade not yet
begun and much men's WOODEN wear ma
chinery idle. Iron and steel had an IN
satisfactory demand and the prices of bill
lets and southern pig shaded. There are
reductions In quotations for cotton, prints
cloths, petroleum. hides and for wheat,
Indian corn and oats
Mercantile collections arc generally
unsatisfactory, notably at Chicago, where
they are more complained of than for Is
year past The distribution of general
merchandise is fairly satisfactory at the
South and the East and favorably regarded
East and North. Relatively the most
active demand is prevalent in the terri
tory of which Chicago, st, Lonis. Kansas
City, Omaha, ST Paul and Minneapolis
are leading supply centers. The rains in
Oklahoma and the snow in Kansas have
stimulated trade, as has the free move
ment of Indian corn from the first hands
in Nebraska. The interior merchants
of the South have met nearby needs.
Baltimore travellers reports sales through
out the South Atlantic coast and the
Gulf states satisfactory.
Relatively the most favorablee Southern
trade reports come from Jacksonville,
Galveston says the general business is
quiet and collections unsatisfactory. The
extreme cold on the Pacific coast had the
usual unfavorable influence, particularly
In Washington aud Oregon. The fruit
having been hurt in the former state.
Tacoma's February exports are declared
the heaviest in the history of
that port. The trade on the Pacific coast
while relatively good on the whole, is |
smaller than a week ago. The price
movement is not wholly favorable to the |
producer. There are noteworthy ad
vances in nails and iron beams and even
steel billets at Chicago, and zinc teas and
coffee. The prices of wheat, flour, pork
and sugar remained unchanged.
The weeks clearings are significant |
The total for the country for the six bust
ness days ending March 5, is 81, O62, 000,-
900, an increase of Is per cent over last
week, per cent over the corresponding
week, one year ago, l 3 per cent. more than
for the first week in March, 1894, Is per
cent. less than in the like week of 1898,
16 per cent. less than the corresponding
total in 1892, and one-half of per cent
larger than the total in the first week of
March, 1891.
The February bank clearings reflect &C
tivity at banks as Il result of the bond
issue and the inclusion of one more bust
ness day in February except in five states
The increases over last year are more
numerous than for months past. The
percentage of gain in aggregate for
February is larger than January.
The total February clearings in zoe
aggregate 81, 0S3, 1856 955, a decrease from
the January total, this year, Of 1913 per
cent, an increase over the February total
in 1889 of 20.3 per cent. Compared with |
February, 1S93 just before the panic, the
decrease, last month, was - per cent The
February gain OF New York over last year
gain is less than l2 per cent Among tn.
large cities showing gains are Minneapolis |
So per cent. New Orleans, I2; Cleveland |
"a: Baltimore, 80; Pittsburg, 26; and
Omaha, 23 per cent. The he. viest Febru |
AIRY decrease, this year, among the large |
cities, is reported by Cincinnati, 8 3 per |
cent.
The exports of wheat -four included as
wheat) from both coasts of the United |
States, this week, were 2, 407, COO bushels |
against G,272, 900, the first week of March |
1895. The exports of Indian corn were
275, 600 bushels, this week, against 1873,
600 in the corresponding week, a year ago |
The falling off in the worlds supply of
available wheat during February was |
about &, 000, 900 bushels. II appears dis |
appointing, as the February decrease for
1895 was 1000, 200 bushels, will be re-
called in the corresponding month of 1894 |
American. Canadian, European and
ailoat stocks have increased 1SU, 0O0 |
bushels. In the United States and
Canada both coasts. the February decrease
of available wheat supplies was 4, 467, 900
bushels against Il decrease Of 9.Si9. 900 in
February, last year, and 1897, 900 In
February, 1891.
Failures throughout the country mum
Der $40, this week, against 252 in the
corresponding week, a year ago.