The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-07
Most Pronounced Gains in
General Trade at Chicago,
St. Louis and Galveston
Dry Goods, Clothing, Shoes and
Other Staples Have increased
Early Fall Busiaess Noted.
BRADSTREETS WEEKLY REPORT.
Movement In General Merchandise Throughout
the Country Is UnquestionabIy Larger Than
Last Week and Improves.

New York, Aug. .7.-Bradstreets says:
General trade shows the most pro-
nounced gains this week at Chicago, 81.
Louis and Galveston. The feeling OF
confidence that general business liz to
Improve in the early autumn is marked
at these cities, and purchases OF dry
goods, clothing, shoes and other staples
have increased heavily, and are followed
by a disposition to crowd prices up
Purchases were restricted at Kansas
City, Omaha and some other northwest
ern points early in the week, owing to
extreme heat and fears Of damage to
the Indian corn crop, but rains and
cooler weather have stimulated demand
again.
On the Pacific coast business Is brisk,
the feature in California being heavy
wheat shipments TO San Francisco, al
Portland large exports Of lumber. and at
Seattle and Tacoma active demand for
supplies for Alaska and Northwest terri
tory, and for wheat, fruit and hops.
The movement of general merchandise
throughout the country Is unquestion.
ably larger than last week; cotton goods
and woolen industries are better off,
and the stagnation in iron and steel have
given way TO growing inquiry and in
creasing output. But more significant
still Is the extraordinary expansion in
.bank cleRgipGs this week and last month
'The increased vAiue o. our export trade
in the year ending June 30. 1897. to which
reference has been frequently made,
indicated by the statement that IL
amounts to 81, ,032, ,001 900, the largest like
total on record, 1.5 per cent larger thar
in the previous record year, 1892. Com
pared with the year ended June 30, 1896
the gain is 20 per cent.
Bank clearings have steadily increased
since July l. The gain was only / per
cent. In the first week Of July, compared
with year ago, while in the last week OF
July the advance was % per- cent The
gain for the first week in August com
pared with the like week in 1896, is 25 pei
cent. The largest gain in any one sec.
tion is reported by New England cities.
and next by the middle states and then
by far Western cities. The only de-
crease is that at northwestern cities.
The weeks banks clearings Throughout,
the United States amount to 81 ,142, 900, ,OOC
an increase Of 10 per cent over last week
The upward tendency Of prices during
the past three weeks Is again a feature.
wool being firmer and higher for some
varieties. Cotton yarns are stronger
also, as are some grades Of cottons al
the West Shoes are no higher, but
leather and hides cost more than a week
ago. as do wheat Notwithstanding the
reaction In September option}, wheat
flour, pork, lard, Pacific coast hops.
sugar, soft coal and tea There is q 2s
cent advance In Bessemer pig iron at
Pittsburg, where makers decline orders
for future delivery at current quotations
and for iron bars and iron and steel
sheets at Western centers. In fact, oui
predicted rivival in iron and steel has
appeared. Many iron and steel mills
are at work on full time, and msnufac-
turers are encouraged at the increase
of inquiries. Higher Bhuminous coal
due to the continuation Of the miners
strike, has had less effect on manufac.
turing industries at the central West
than was anticipated. Quotations fol-
cotton and print cloths remain practi.
'caily unchanged, while those for Indian
corn and for oats are lower on improved
crop prospects. Other products quota.
sions for which have declined are coffee
petroleum. turpentine and resin.
Notwithstanding reaction in specu-
aative prices for wheat, u.e 10 liauida.
tion by large holders (anticipated by
foreign buyers who kept out OF our mar.
kets), wheat remains In a stronger posi-.
ton fhan for years. Worlds wheat SUD.
plies fell Off more during July than eve,
before. the fetal Aug. 1, 66, ,34O, 900 bushels
being the smallest ever reported at o
like period, except I'm 1889.
Recent records Of improving net rail.
way earnings are continued I'm returns of
more than 30 OF the more important raIl
road companies for June.
There are 2l4 business failures re.
ported throughout the United state,
this week. compared with 200 last week
Card Of Thanks.
The undersigned wish Ca return thanks to
their friends and relatives, also to the Sisters
of Mercy pf Mary's Pm teb for thpir t,any