The Portland daily press., 1896-02-15

New York, February IA -Bradstreets
tomorrow will say:
The general business situation through
out the country does not meet the antici-
pations, except at a few oities-Baltinore
and Pittsburg in the East, Chicago, St.
Louis and Omaha at the West and Gal
weston, Chattanooga and Atlanta at the
South. 1t remains dull for the season in
most instances disappointingly so. I'm
provement in the demand and prices, is
confined to hides, leather and boots and
shoes, which are conspicuous in the short
list of staples for which prices are higher.
The feaures of the situation, are those
resulting from the unfavorable weather
east and in the central west
REACTION OF THE PRICES
of iron and steel. There are further COM
plants by woolen manufacturers, the
outlook for more idle woolen machinery,
smaller total of bank olearings, continued
stiffness and maintenance of high rates
for loans Notwithstanding the favorable
Inferences drawn from the heavy over
subscription to the government bond
issue) and the restricted production
Of pig iron.
The January gross railway earnings are
VERY ENCOURAGING,
however, showing a larger percentage of
gain than In any previous month, but
one for three years. The total Jaunary
earnings OF l26 companies, with 92 ,919
miles Of road. aggregate s37, ,926.1lo; a
gain OF ILL., per cent over January year
ago, which in turn, showed a decrease Of
flve-thenths of one per cent from Janu-
ary, 1894.
Among the favorable features, are
gains In the Southwest; whore the i'm
provement has previously been impeded.
large decreases by graDgers and Pacific
roads, more numerous large increases and
fewer decreases reported than for some
months past.
The makers Of cotton goods insist that
prices must advance or the cost of raw
material decline, in the face of which,
| jobbers are
CUTTING PRICES
on cotton goods.
Wholesale dealers In paints and glass,
anticipate heavy building operations in
the spring, and report large orders placed
In anticipation thereof. Lower prices are
recorded for pork, lard, corn, wheat,
wheat flour, live stock. in addition to
cotton, steel billets and bessemer pig
iron indicating partial reversal of the
general tendeoy of prices Of the leading
staples to advance, exhibited in late
weeks. There is no change In the quota
| tions for coal, lumber, petroleum or print
cloths.
In additions to the
ADVANCES FOR LEATHER
and hides, the prices of oats. coffee and
sugar are higher.
Exports of wheat (four included as
wheat) from both coasts of the United
States this week. are 2,718,0o0 bushels
against 2,572, 900 in the week year ago.
Receipts of wheat at Tacoma, Washing
ton, have fallen off, millers there have
large supplies. Portland. Oregon, reports
orders placed with the wholesale seed
merchants indicate the anticipation of a
prosperous year. The weather in Cali
fornia has been very favorable, a condi-
tion from which the grain and fruit crops
are expected to benefit.
The volume of
BANK CLEARINGS
has dropped off ten per cent this week,
the total being 9o6. 100000 as compared
with the second week OF February, 1895,
shows an increase of ten per cent.
The number Of failures reported
throughout the United States this week
is 381, or 85 more than the second week
of February, 1895.