The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-14
BUSINESS BREvIrIEs.

.
MOVEMENT OF DRY GOODS.-Im-
ports of dry goods at the port of New
York last week We're valued at Sa.3S,,.
2S3 against s.. sS22 09i the week prey ious.
and S3,l3i.lSI for the same week last
year. the amount marketed was s., $685.
665. against $2.l99 80 the week previ-
GUS and 81 964, 1S0 the same week last
year.
THE. COAL. TRADE.-Hard and soft
coal share with sugar the distinction
uf being the only markets in better
shape today than IA year ago. BY this
it is not meant says the Philadelphia
Stakeholder. that prices alone are high
Ell, but that the basis is more intrinsic
ally sound. There is almost complete
dearth of news regarding anthracite.
The New York Bureau of Statistics is
quietly working. but its achievements
are closely guarded. and even the com
paDies themselves know only in gen
-ral way what is going on. AS long AS
they continue to receive good profits
they will be content with the present
order of things. Lake navigation will
open the latter part of the month. and
il will find the trade In better shape as
far as prices and supplies are concerned
than before for many years. This may
be also said of other western distribut-
ing Doints. Steam sizes OF anthracite
coal have had a little setback, owing to
radical changes I'm the soft coal market,
incident to the adoption of the agree
ment April |. Among other things
there was a very heavy soft coal stock
ing movement Just before coal was ad-
vanced
MINING IN ls95-AccOrding to the
statistics gathered by The Engineer
ing and Mining Journal in its annual
supplement, Mineral Industry the
total product of the mines of the United
States in 1895 amounted In value to
$62S, $50, 505-an increase of sS4,226, 503
over the output of 1894. The gold mines
of the country yielded 2,265.612 fine
ounces. valued at $46.S3O, 3O,20O-represent-
ing an increase in value over the pro-
duct of the previous year of $I,O6S, 99J,
and placing the United States once
more in the lead of gold-producing
countries. There was decrease In the
quantity of silver mined as compared
with 1894 to the amount of 3,515.64O
Ounces-the product of 1895 having been
1851 ,235 ounces, valued at $3O254. 296.
The coal production reached a total of
1896. 6.3i3.00 short tons-putting this
country very near Great Britain. and
showing a gain of &c. 46S,000 tons over
1894. The most gratifying exhibit. how
ever. is that made by the iron industry.
The pig iron production was the high
est on record. amounting to 9,446,3OS
long tons. Here again the United States
takes first position as a producer hav
ing made about 100000 tons more than
Great Britain. it's nearest competitor.
and about 3,600,000 tons more than Ger
many. which stands third. This amount
of pig iron valued at $lOS ,632, ,542.wa the
greatest amount ever made in one year
in any country in the world
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.-A sum-
mary for the month of February of the
commerce of the country has just been
| issued by the Bureau of Statistics of
the Treasury department The state
ment shows quite an increase during
the month and Tor the eight months
ending Feb. Is. According to the bulle-
tin. the imports into this country from
the world for February were valued at
&c. asa, $50, or an increase over that
month Of last year of $i4.16S.369. The
exports We're valued at $77,654. 1856, being
an Increase over last year of $2l ,672. 1852.
For the eight months ending in Febru
airy the imports amounted to $54l .205,-
S66. the increase over the same period
of last year being $l74.972.25O. The ex
ports for that period were $6O2,55S. I29,
being $l44,672,06l in excess of the eX
ports during the same period of last
year. The figures in the importation
and expectation Of coal show decrease
in that traffic. During February of this
year there We're imported into this
country S4,l4S tons Of coal to the value
of $255,O96. This is decrease from
that month Of last year of 1854 tons or
to the value of $45.72S. OF the exports
there We're lSS.545 tons valued at $52l,-
745. being a decrease of 40.149 tons,
valued at $l70,4S9 For the eight
months ending i'm February there were
imported S39.95S tons at $3.50, 7O1. being
u diminution of 5S,73S TONS to the value
of $32l.SS9. The exports for those
months amounted to 81. 500, 12O tons. fig
ured at $7.2SO.5S3. The decrease
amounted to l03.347 tons, to the value
of $55l .3Ol. The trade I'm iron and steel
and their produce shows an increase.
In February there was imported into
this country from various nations ore.
including bar iron. hoop. sheet. plate,
wire. anvils. chains, etc. to the value of
81 ,SS2. 22S, being an increase of $221, $50
over February. 1895. The exports for
that month in this year were $432 1888,
being $ll3.4l0 in excess of the corre-
spending month Of last year. For the
eight months closing in February the
imports of iron and steel amounted to
$lS9S5,574, being $3,473.4S5 over those
months Of last year. The exports for
that period in 1896 We're $3.43G455. or
S51l.S1G over those of the same period of
1895. I'm the mineral. refined or manu-
factured oil export trade there was
decrease in the quantity shipped. but
the price was such that the proceeds In
money We're increased over last year
In February. 1895. 54.916430 gallons
We're shipped from this country, valued
at s2,932. 3OG. In February last 81 $3.50, 1854
gallons We're exported but the pro-
ceeds amounted to $3.6l6,471. making a
decrease in quantity of $3,646, ,06G gal
Ions, but an increase in proceeds of
1854, l65. During the eight months end
ing in February the proportion was
about the same. In 1895 during those
months 5i5, 5,369.742 gallons were shipped
and in 1896. 5l9,245267 a decrease of 26,-
| l24,i75 gallons. The increase In price