The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-22
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

tFrom Bradstreet's state of Trade."l
The slight Improvement in trade is in
the tendency of business to increase at a
Pacific coast and in the south Atlantic
and Gulf States. There is increased buy
ing at Baltimore. Atlanta, Birming-
ham and at New Orleans, where trade
northern Louisiana, Mississippi and
Arkansas flooded districts are being placed
under cultivation, and that the damage
done is less than expected. There are
increased sales at Milwaukee, Omaha
Chicago and St. Louis, and exports OF
general merchandise and lumber from
san Francisco have increased. Advices
from California are that lack of season
able rains and -long-continued dry winds
nave injured the wheat and fruit crops.
The yield of wheat there is expected to
be smaller than in 1896. Larger eastern
centres report the movement of mer-
chandise slow and trade dull. The season
Is now so far advanced that no general
gain is looked for till after fall buying
sets in.
The usual industrial disturbances have
marked building and other industries,
Manufacturers of woolens are well stocked
with raw material, but owing to slowness
OF orders prices are easier. Makers of
cotton goods are at a disadvantage owing
TO the relatively high price of cotton and
me increase IN production of products.
mere Is no gain in demand for iron and
steel. prices for wich continue low. The
report that the steel rail, billet. and
wire nail makers are seeking to form a
pool to advance prices is not confirmed.
Prices OF staples have tended downward
her for May l is 74,19S, .contrasted with
I4sl5 on April l, 1897, which re-
fleets the excess volume of de-
ereases in quotations for IS staple ar
The index lumber on April /, 1893, Just
before the panic. was lO1, 100, whence the
to Ss' ApsIl e !. A lss5, i 7a.d 5ss4' Tss to e: $50, po and
reached by the index number during the
PAS seven years was 67.2S1. on July |.
1897, was to 1904. Since that date there
has been a steady decline.
Bank clearings throughout the United
decrease of nearly 8 per cent. from last
week, z per cent. from the third week of
May. 1895, and z per eent from the cor
with the like week in 1894, this weeks
total shows an increase of IA per cent.
but compared with the like aggregate in
1873, the falling off is 20 per cent.
Strenuous efforts toward economies in
raalroad operating expenses are reflected
in the reports of leading American, Mexi-
can and Canadian railroads for the first
quarter of the year. Total gross earnings
of 1877 railroad companies, embracing a
majority of the operated railroad mileage.
cent. from a year ago. Net earnings, on
the other hand, aggregate $5l, l29, OBS. a
gain of 81 per cent. over a year ago.
which year In turn showed a gain of 10
per cent. over the three months period
of 1895. Had not heavy SHOWS and floods
In large portions of the country inter-
have been bettered. In gross earnings
the Mexican southern and southwestern
roads show the only gains. whereas in
southwestern roads show the only de-
creases. Excluding the Mexican roads.
gross receipts fell off rs per cent. from
a Unor aon rIf1@ 49,
that amount.
Exports of wheat flour included as
WheaD from both coasts of the United
amount to 2,655, S62 bushels. mpa with
2.lS3.0V bushels last week, 1,906, 600 bushels
IN the week a year ago, 2,754. 600 bushels
years ago, and as ~contrasted with 3,106,-
600 bushels In the like week of 1893. Ex-
ports of Indian corn amount to 3,19O. O43
last week, 1856, 900 bushels in the week
a year ago, 1,032,0 900 bushels in the week
two years ago, $4,000 bushels three years
ago, and as contrasted with 765, 900 BUSH
els in the like week of 1893.
The New York Stock Market waited all
the week on account of the agitation of
Cuban belligerency by the United States
on the subject by that body has failed.
however, to create any decentralization of
Somewhat stronger tone. Jersey Central
| has broken, the decline giving rise to ru-
mors of liquidation by large holders, and
AFFECTING. the other coal stocks. Chicago
Gas declined on the defeat of the So
| called consolidation bill in the Illinois
Legislature. but received inside support.
favorable crop outlook. The feature of
the general market apart from dullness
is the absence of liquidation. London is
prices are generally higher there on the
| armistice and prospective peace at the
East, Foreign exchange is dull and in
active, with demand sterling at 4.S7@4. S71b.
though 81. zoe, 900 gold is to be shipped to
| Europe today.
From R. G.. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Re-
l view.')
Unmistakable evidence of Improvement
cial loans, mostly for Eastern merchants
or companies, through some well known
houses in the Middle West appear. with
loans been fully half al t have w fSSm"er The
distinct change gives proof that new bust
supposed. Receipts of money from the
interior exceed shipments $500, 900, most
~ from the Middle West. Exports of
gold AYE no influence. and only signify
for the gold needed. The excess Of
for half a year to come involves a great
er excess of exports when the anticipa-
tory movement ends and crops begin to
move, which facts renders large outputs
of gold less likely, and gives the country
a stronger position in international mar
kets. Meanwhile there is a continuing
increase, distinct though gradual. in the
volume of business, in demand for pro-
ducts of manufacture, and, considering
fhe. time of year, in movement of grain
ARD produce.
imports continue extraordinary for
1 two weeks at New York II per cent.
larger than =. last year but are anticipat-
Meanwhile exports from New York for
the week are 10 per cent, and for two
weeks II per cent. larger than last year.
Failures for W weeks of May have been
Se,728 .731 against $6. 719, 1853 last year. Rs
1T8. 756 in 1895, and S.071.1 I6 in 1894. Manu-
featuring were $2,657, 666 against 81, 003. 1877
last year, while trading were So. 1872. 715
against "a ,635, 1857 last year, the excess over
last year, as in April, is wholly due to
manufacturing failures, those in trading
being smaller than for three years.
the United States against 227 last wear.
and 81 in Canada, against Is last year.
LOW PRICES FOR TELEPHONE STOCK
In the advertisements in the daily
papers for the regular auction sale Of
securities by Adrain H. Muller & Son.
for May Is, 1897, the following securities
among others were advertised. Thew
sold at the priced noted
Price at
$1,000 Merriewold Park Hotel
Co, LIST mtge. 6,p. c. bonds,
1905 (hypd.). 500 each........s $4,000 for lot
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