The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-29
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
From r. g. Dun q Co.'S Weekly Re
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In some quarters business gains. at the
West rather than at the East, but there
is no general change for the better, al
though h~opefulness still predominates. Pay
ments without disturbance of more than
SO per cent. of the gold required for
bonds recently sold. refusal of the Sen
ate to increase revenue. growing expecta-
ton that Congress viii do practically
nothing. crafty or displease many without
changing controlling conditions. Foreign
affairs grow more pacific, public opinion
but the want of sufficient demand for
the products of great industries still re-
tards actual improvement. Strikes of
some Importance in garment making and
Baltimore. but there are fewer labor
difficulties than usual. as existing condi-
lions warn wage earners that controversies
at this time are unwise. Speculative
markets. show little life. A year of
Presidential election is usually a year of
uncertainty. and to many Of apprehension,
business so nearly this year tnat hesita-
ton may be of more than ordinary inn
portance.
The volume of business does not i'm
prove. Exchanges through the principal
clearing houses show 1911 per cent. gain
over last year. but the months compare
and shows a decrease Of DOT for February.
Railroad earnings for the third week of
February exceed last years 81 per cent.
against 1863 n the second, and 1915 in the
have been lilo per cent. greater than last
year, but SIS per cent. less than in 1908.
and Cuban war talk on Friday caused q
break in railroad stocks averaging 6S
points. Disappointing Industrial state
ments. together with the general break.
money for speculative uses, but little dis
position to take ventures for the future.
Wheat has taken a flight upward, ad-
vancing 81 cents for cash and 2as for May.
with rumers of foreign supplies as the only
basis. Estimates of wheat in farmers
hands are lower h last year, but still
much beyond probable needs. Western re-
ceipts a been 2.451, 37S bushels against
1.699,759 last year. and for four weeks Of
year. In the presence Of such receipts,
Atlantic exports Of LOS ST. bushels, -four
included, against 6.O6.21e for the same
azlarger movement hereafter is expected.
The market for textile goods is disap-
pointing. Material reductions In cottohs
It is-net to be forgotten that the mills
are getting an average of about 6 per
cent, more for goods than a year ago.
Wooden mills are receiving considerable
orders for spring goods, but business for
the future does not mend. The range for
thar a year ago. although wool is more
than I per cent. higher. and a good many
mills are closing or reducing time. Sales
February have Been Il 500, 800 lbs. q
which 9,481, 900 were foreign, against TO-
sos $50 last ear = Of which ,oS ss715,loo were
8, 100, $50 were foreign. Prices are still UNI
changed, as the demands. of foreign
manufacturers for the American market
keep prices up abroad.
The feature in iron has been the large
demand for wrought n cast pipe; 300
miles Of wrought nave been taken for
other companies, with $50 miles wanted
for $500 tons cast pipe have been placed
at the lowest prices ever known, $17.50
to $17.65 per ton. Large orders for struc-
tural work are received at Chicago, and
are unusually large, but sheets sell slow
ly and rails very little, though bar is
fairly active with many orders coming for
cars.
Exports of domestic products from New
York for three weeks show a gain of is
per cent over last year, while imports
in the same time scarcely increase. But
this season, while larger imports natur-
ally come in succeeding months. It is
therefore believed by man. that gold ex-
ports are not far of, Commercial paper
at all freely taken, ever though they
have large amounts unemployed. Fail
ures in three weeks of February show
i naes year and s 81. az, rs is IN ns issS. M 1sinafiues
turing were $4,480,577 against s2,557 $50 last
year and g e45. s47 in 1884, ara trading
were s. i 47s 5o5 against IS, 26e, sso last year
nave been 278 in the United States
Aagainst $50 last year, and IS in Canada
Against IS last year.
CErom Bradstreet's Stat Of Trade.vJ
Ghangeable, and at times unseasonable
weather has continued to unfavorably In
fuehce the distribution of general mer-