The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-03
Despite Stoppage of Business on Ac-
count of Floods.
The Vote i'm the House on the New
Tariff Bill Makes No Impression in
Business, 1t Having Been Expected
for Months Back That Some
Measure of the Same General
Character Would Become a Law.

NEW YORK, April 2.-Bradstreet's to-
trade shows some improvement not
withstanding an almost complete stop
page of business in the South Missis-
sippi Valley by washouts, overflows
and floods. The condition of the coun-
try roadways through the Central
Western States and the Northwest is
such as to still further delay collec-
tons and check demand in the interior
merchants.
Another drop is reported in prices OF
Bessemer pig iron and steel billets, and
in wheat flour, coal, coffee and lard
which is partly offset by increased
activity and higher prices for wool
and for woolens, for corn, oats, sugar
and petroleum. Interest in lumber and
shingles has increased on the North
west Pacific Coast. Most favorable
trade reports are received from North
western spring wheat States.
There are 4,042 business failures in
the United States reported by Brad
streets during the past quarter, com
pared with 4, 512 in the first quarter OF
1896, a falling off of about Is per cent
The decrease is reported from all Sec
tons except New England the Terri
tories. The large number Of Eastern
State failures are small ones. The total
liabilities of those failing in the New
England States are % per cent. smaller
during the past quarter than a year
ago. Liabilities of all individuals
firms and corporations which failed
amount to $50, 513, 900, a falling off
of 16 per cent. from the corresponding
total last year.
Special reports to Bradstreet's from
fifty cities with reference to revival in
activity in industrial lines indicate
that there are working at those centers
probably not to exceed 100000 in eX-
cess of the number employed in No
vember last. The increase is largely
among employees of manufacturers OF
wooden goods, shoes, clothing, machin-
cry, engines, agricultural implements,
bicycles, carriages, furniture, iron,
steel glass and ship-building. De-
preston still exists among some
branches of the wooden goods industry,
in coal mining and cotton goods man
ufactures. Bank clearings for March
at eighty-two cities throughout the
United States show an increase of Is
per cent. compared with March one
year ago, the first monthly increase
over a corresponding total one year ago
since April l, 1896. The March gain
over February this year is IA per cent.
but the decrease in the January total
is 6.3 per cent Compared with March,
1895, March this year shows a gain OF
more than 4 per cent, and with March
1894, it is nearly y per cent, but com
pared with March clearings of 1898
two months prior to the outbreak OF
the panic last months total shows q
falling off Of % per cent.
NEW YORK, April 2.-R. C. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade" to-
morrow viii say:
The markets are still waiting, some
sagging downward and others recover
ing The vote of the House in favor
of a new tariff bill has made no i'm
preston in business, since it has beer
expected since November that some
measure of the same general character
would become a law. If the bill stands
with its provisions making new dutie
applicable April LIST the chances are thai
foreign imports and treasury receipt: