The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-11
MERCHANTS BOUGHT fReELY.E7
The Business Situation Continues to I'm.
prove According to Bradstrests.

New York, September 1O.--Bradstreets
| tomorrow will say: The business weel
has been marked by q continuation Of
| comparatively free buying from jobbert
and commission merchants, in anticipa-
tion of wants, at almost all important
distributing points. Speculative interest
in, and the strength of wool remain feat
ures of that market. Cotton fabrics have
improved their position in view of in
creased demand and cheaper raw material
There Is only slight falling off of two
per cent in the volume of bank clearings
throughout the country this week, tie
total amounting to 81, 106, 600, O0U, not
withstanding Monday was observed rs a
holiday.
The August advance in prices for
staple raw and manufactured
articles, products, live stock, etc., as re-
ported by Bradstreets, amounted to 34
per cent, following 81 per cent advance
in July.
August gross railway earnings make
the best showing OF any month for years
past. Total earning of 100 companies for
August aggregate $42, ri, 1913, an increase
over last year OF 1875 per cent.
There are 173 business failures reported
throughout the United States this week,
against 1913 last week, BOB in the week one
year ago, '2l3 two years ago, 223 three
the like week of September, 1893
Exports of wheat flour included as
wheat) from both coasts of the United
States and Montreal, show falling off
from last week, but are still very large,
aggregating 5,461, sos bushels
Corn exports are the largest for any
week since last spring, aggregating 4, 943 .
34S bushels.
A better feeling is reported from in
terror districts Of Ontario and Quebec,
owing to improved prices for farm
products. The supply of money at Mon
treal continues in advance of demand
Toronto jobbers report an increasing dis
tribution of general merchandise. The
Nova Scotia crop of apples will be only
one-quarter as large as that of last year
The provision market at ST. John, N. B. !,
is very firm, but shipments of timber are
small. There are 80 business failures re-
ported from the Dominion of Canada this
week, compared with 30 last week, Al in
the week year ago, % two years ago,
and as contracted with SO in the like week
Of 1898. Bank clearings at Winnipeg,
and St. John, n B., amount to $22, 1874.
900 this week, total slightly in excess of
that week ago, but very much larger
than that one year ago.
Steady Increase in Power of the People
to Purchase.
New York, September 10 r. G. Dunn
& Co.'s weekly review of trade will say
tomorrow:
business grows better in all ways, for
while Its speculative ends breaks con-
spicuous gamblers for decline. a steady
increase in production, in working force
and in the power of the people to pur.
chase, is the feature which overshadows
all others.
A gain of IL per cent in one month in
the output of pig iron from 165 378 tons
August to 1855, 500 to Septem Der l., more
than explains the moderate advance in
prices Of finished products, averaging but
six per cent since the lowest point August
IL. Pig is shade stronger at Chicago.
Wheat has risen five cents the past week
in answer to the daily increasing foreign
demand. While wheat receipts at Chicago
have been breaking records, receipts at all
western ports are for the week little be-
low last years. but Atlantic exports, o.
77S, 1913 bushels, flour included indicate a
foreign demand apparently limited at
present only to ship room.
Since the small corner in August cotton
has relapsed to Z 1-2 cents, no rumors
affecting price much, the final report of
the original chronicle makes the last
years crop S,714,0l1 bales, consumption
by southern mills 1,2d4,282 and by
northern ,S35, 900.
With enormous speculative sales of wool
which appear to constitute most of the
market ut Boston, there is also more buy
ing there and elsewhere by the wooden
mills, which are enjoying an extraordi-
nary demand for good at prices averaging
not ten per cent higher than were paid
early in the year.
Failures for the week have been 215 in
the United States against 3l5 last year,
and thirty five in Canada against forty
seven last year.