The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-09-19
THE INDUsrR1AL srrUAr
Review of the Past Week Shows a Slight
 Improvement.

heVlew or the Fast Week shows a Slight
 Improvement.
 New York, Sept. 1S-Bradstreets to- morrow will say:
 The moderate improvement in trade the past few weeks continues and is emphasized by further speculative pur- Woolen manufacturers, the reduction of surplus stock of cotton goods, increased demand for seasonable fabrics, contin- ued confidence among manufacturers of iron and steel that there will be an early revival in demand and request for staples in the south Atlantic and gulf states.
 The volume of sales of general mer- chandise shows small gain over last week and the feeling among whole sale merchants Is one of more conf dence in Q comparative early improve ment. Unexpectedly large sales of dry goods are reported from Boston, Chi cago and St. Louis with indications that they may continue throughout the month. At the more important north western centers large sales of hats, shoes, hardware and drugs are report ed, although the total is less than in the like portion of last year. Much of the gain at the south is due to the rapi- dity with which the cotton crop is be- ing gathered and marketed. New Or leans reports banks lending money freely.
 Boston wool sales amount to $500 900 pounds this week. threefifths of which was taken in large blocks by specula- tive buyers and by manufacturers, the result being firmer feeling and high CT prices for best grades. More cotton mills are starting up, but there is rel atively less improvement in woolen goods, varieties which sell well being the exception. 4Shoe manufacturers re- port little doing beyond selling samples for spring delivery and few case orders likely until after election.
 Mercantile collections are almost uni them almost impossible to make. The money markets are less stringent, but rates continue high. Funds tend to the interior and northwestern grain eleva- tor owners have secured large amounts to move their crops. Banks continue to care for regular customers, but few time loans are made and rates for loans in some instances have advanced
 At San Francisco general business is more active, particularly exports of barley Trade has been stimulated at state rains have damaged the grain crops. Willamet valley Oregon, wheat raisers are selling wheat freely at cur rent quotations.
 Among favorable features Is the price movement, the upward tendency of last week being continued with increases for hides, owing to scarcity; for wool, on speculative demand from England and from domestic manufacturers; of wheat prices, due to a large and steady export movement; flour, in sympathy with wheat; oats, on the short crop, of prices for Indian corn, lard, coffee and print cloths. Iron and steel prices are frner in the expectation of re- vival after after election and quota tions of leather are sfirm on the ad- vance in hides. Sugar and cotton quo- tations have been lower.
 Exports of wheat (lour included as wheat) from both coasts this week amount of 3,566926 bushels against g. 53S, ,0C0 bushels in the week one year ago.
 The increase in total bank clearings throughout the United States this week is somewhat larger than in recent al- ternate weeks amounting to 909, 900, 900, an increase of 20 per cent compared with less week, but a decrease of 16 per cent when entrusted with the corre- spending period last year.
 The total number of business failures throughout the United States this week is 315, which is 97 more than in the corresponding week last year. The in- creased proportion of the number of failures of concerns with large ,capitali- Zation continues noticeable.
 General trade shows no widespread improvement throughout the Canadian dominion. Increased activity is noted in the province of Quebec since the autumn fairs and in Montreal since the exhibition opened. At Toronto prices continue firm, those for wheat being higher Interior merchants throughout Ontario and Quebec continue to buy for immediate wants only and manufactur- CTS to await demand The failures this week numbered Al throughout the do- minion against Al in the corresponding week a year ago.