The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-16
THE CONDITION OF TRADE
GENERAL TRADE IN TEE COUNTRY
CONTINUES CoNsERTAqIYE.

Concessions Have Been Made in the Prices
of Wool-Tobacco is Depressed-Most
Favorable Reports Come From the Vest
ern States.
New York, May 15.-Bradstreets
says: General trade throughout the
country continues conservative. South
and southwest business remains dull
and featureless-unohanged from last
week. AT larger eastern centers trav-
ellers are preparing to start out, but
unfavorable features in recent weeks
with respect to cotton and woolen and
steel and iron Industries show no
change. Collections in most directions
continue unsatisfactory.
Concessions have been made in prices
of wool and manufactures of cotton
goods complain that prices are below
parity with the cost Of raw material.
Tobacco is depressed by trade embar-
easements and quotations are weaker,
except for Havana Demand for iron
and steel is disappointing and quota
tions for bessemer pig have been shad-
ed further. Unreasonable weather has
had an unfavorable influence on sales Of
clothing and other staples, while labor
disturbances at some western cities
have checked demand. Request for
lumber is smaller than anticipated and
dry weather at the south has empha-
sized the dullness Of last week.
Relatively the most favorable reports
as to trade this week come from Illinois.
Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.
Jobbers supplying that region report
demand for hardware, shoes, dry goods
and notions more active and that mer-
camille collections have improved. Re
cent rains have had a very favorable
influence on crops in Kansas and Mis-
souri,. This has tended to make mer-
chants regard the outlook more favor
ably. Agricultural and live stock in
terests in the Dakotas are reported in
an excellent condition, although unfa-
vorable weather in Oregon has checked
demand. In addition to better feeling
and stronger feelings for leather and
hides steel rail mills have sold two tons
of product this year to one ton last
year. The fact that q few pig iron
furnaces are turning out as much, il
not more, iron this year than last in
dicates a large volume Of contracts had
been placed prior to the late nominal
advance in quotations
More important changes in quotations
for staples include advances for nails,
cotton and oats and decreases for pig
iron wool, petroleum, flour, wheat and
pork with steel nominally unchanged
or shade, according to the character Of
! the sale. Exports of wheat Cfour. in
cluded) from both coasts this week
amount to 1,827,00o bushels against o.
$4,000 last year. Bank clearings
| throughout the United States this week
aggregated $1,09O,000,O00, a decrease Of
IA per cent, as compared with last week
and of more than u per cent. as COM
pared with the corresponding week last
year.
Total earnings of 1876 railroads with
| $4,000 miles Of track aggregated $685.
| S51 900 in April, a gain of S.5 per cent.
over April, 1895, which month, in turn,
showed an increase Of As per cent. over
April, 1894. The granger roads still
make the best showing, with the Pacific
roads next. For four months this year
gross earnings show an increase Of 5
| per cent. over 1895, following an in
crease in 1895 over 1894 of nearly l per
cent.
| There were 265 business failures
throughout the United States this week
against 21o in the week year ago.