The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-30
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

There has been a falling off in general
trade owing to the heavy fall of snow and
cold weather. Low temperature has
stimulated demand in a few retail lines.
but jobberS report sales of dry goods,
clothing and farmers supplies checked.
There is a moderate increase in diStr1pu-
ton of heavy winter goods, but CONNER
cial travellers very generally report buy
ers are even more conservative than
earlier in the month, and that wholesale
trading in january, except in lines Specl-
fed, is smaller than for years. Mercan-
tile collections are interrupted, and the
improvement looked for in iron and steel
is not in sight.
The most favorable feature of the bust
ness week is the sudden and sharp falling
off in the total number of business fail
ures in the United States, the aggregate
being 1926 as compared with 49 last week,
a decrease of 103. When compared with
the corresponding week of 1896, this
weeks falling off is 81, but there is an in
crease of IA as compared with the Ike
week in 1895. Contrasted with the like
period in 1894, there have been IA fewer
failures this week than three years ago.
There have been increased sales of
hides and leather, in some instances of
shoes. of coal, fertilizers and southern
pig iron for export. At Boston, Charles
ton, Galveston and San Francisco there
are moderate gains in trade compared
with last week. The feature of the Pacific
coast business situation continues to be
the relatively large proportion Of foreign
steel industries are in an unsatisfactory
| condition, but Southern furnaces an
nounce nearly II, 200 tons of iron sold for
export, with Russia in the market as a
| would-be buyer.
The heavy business in raw wool within
a fortnight continues, and there is still
an active demand. Boston sales for three
weeks aggregate nearly 30, 900. 0e0 pounds,
of which more than two-thirds is do
nestle. The London wool sale develops
| sharp competition between American buy
| ers, and woods suitable for use here are
as high as at any time during the De-
| cember sale. Men's-wear Woolens, heavy
weights for next fall are attracting at
booked. Cotton goods continue depressed,
Notwithstanding efforts to relieve the
situation by reducing heavy stocks of
Bank clearings at cities throughout the
United States show a sharp falling off
from last week, about 8 per cent. but an
increase of per cent. compared with the
corresponding total one year ago, 2 per
cent. compared with the cl~earings in the
fourth week Of January; 1895. and rs per
total in 1894. This weeks clearings are 30
per cent. smaller than the like total in
1893, and 20 per cent. smaller than the
corresponding aggregate in 1892.
The downward movement of prices for
some of the more important staples con-
tinues conspicuous, notably for flour,
wheat, oats, lard, coffee, petroleum, tur-
pentine and tinplate. Quotations for India
corn, pork, sugar cotton and print cloths
are practically unchanged. Concessions
have been made In prices for iron and
steel, yet quotations are nominaily I'M
changed.
Prices for stocks at New York have ad-
vanced on light transactions. The specu-
lative sentiment is bulIish on the settle
ment of the Ohio coal road rate war, and
the coming appointment of an experienced
business mar and inancier like Mr.. Gage,
Of Chicago, as Secretary Of the Treasury
mand and good issues scarce, while gov
eminent as have touched 1884, the highest
manip yfa Faae at !. ss hsS 81 q EFT is tf firm on n
decline on the weakness of money in Lon
don.
Exports of wheat (hour included as
Wheat) from both coasts of the United
States this week amount to 2, 515. 403 BUSH
els, as compared with 2,916, 600 bushels last
week. 2,550,00O in the week a year ago.
2.483, 600 bushels in the week two years
ago., 2,083, 600 bushels three years ago. and
as contrasted with 3,123, 600 bushels in the
corresponding week Of 1893. Exports of
Indian corn amount to 3.011, 602 bushels
this week, compared with 3.520,O00 bushels
last week. 3.197.O00 bushels in the week 4
year age $4,000 bushels in the week two
years ago, 2,147. 900 bushels three years
ago, and as contrasted with zoo, 900 in the
like week of 1898.
(From R. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly Re
view.D
January has been a month of dfsap-
pointment, but Of real gain. Nearly ev-
erybody had promised himself a land of
mill and honey after New Years. and
the slow progress looks like standing still
to men in such a state of mind. More
over, there are multitudes throughout the
country VIC have been taking large ven
lures in advance of or apart from their
regular business, because they expected
a rise in prices. But prices fail as vet
to bring them profit. Wheat has declined
severely, cotton has scarcely risen enough
to pay brokerage, wool holds steady in
spite of enormous buying, woollen goods
hardly chang in price. iron and IFS pro-