The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-10-17
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

4. -9pBIL 10 9lTlS,, s.477I1SpgId Uod4)
While the volume of general trade has
not increased materially, new conditions
are favorable to ar early Improvement.
Notwithstanding many interior merchants
prefer to wait until after election before
placing orders, and others are willing 10
movement for free coinage of silver be
successful, sentiment at larger business
centers regards the success of the cam
paign for sound money as assured. In
some instances merchants are ~discountinS
that view of the situation by placing
orders. Features of the business week
are the continued advance in price and
strength OF wheat exports. notably 10
India and Australia. While wool is no
higher, holders have sold enough to render
them Indifferent to immediate business,
and are holding stocks for full figures.
While new orders for iron and steel pro-
ducts are not being placed freely. they
would be If makers would accept current
quotations for 1897 delivery. Southern pig
is 25c. higher. and. Notwithstanding the
growing export trade In iron and steel
has been checked by higher ocean freight
rates and cut prices by German steel
makers, 1t is anticipated that within three
weeks the domestic demand viii meet
expectations.
Unfavorable weather early in the week
was more effective than usual in depres-
sing general trade, owing to light interior
stocks and merchants being in the habit
of ordering for immediate wants only.
A hardening tendency in money empha-
sized the situation. Mercantile collections
continue difficult TO make, except in the
larger spring wheat States and adjacent
Tertiary, where collections have been
easier on the advance in and free ship
| ments of wheat.
Cotton goods continue in unsatisfactory
demand Mills are running on full time,
but stocks tend to increase again, as job
bers and other wholesalers are slow te
pay the advance asked while having
iow~yer-priced stocks on hand. Depression
In wooden goods continues marked, the
| mills running being on part time or on
samples.
Prices continue the upward tendency Of
"Erafstreet'sy that the stronger position
| Of prices late In the current year is shown
by a relatively small number of decreases
| compared with three months ago, an al
most equal number of increases in price,
as well as of prices practically unchanged
on October ], compared with July l last
| Cat of the 81 articles, produats, etc. for
| which prices were higher on October
thar on July /, 16 are food staples, IN adj
dition to which are cotton, wool, hemp
| fax, sheetings, pig iron, tinplates, coal
| petroleum, rubber and tobacco. The in
| ference is drawn from the indicated ten
mark has been reached, and that whether
the tide of trade is to continue to rise
depends very largely upon ourselves.
Speculative interests in the New Yorf
stock market show a general disposition
to curtaii engagements pending the elec-
ton. This has resulted In both covering
of shorts" and scattered liquidation o.
Tong holdings, the latter predominating
Bears have taken advantage of the latte.
fact to depress prices, and the markel
is narrow and utterly professional. Tht
most unsettling factor is the hardening q
the money market due to the disposition
/ of hnaLciai interests and the general pub.
lie to strengthen their position. Large
gold engagements are announced, nearly