The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-27
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK

From Bradstreet's State Of Trade,
While the week is not without favor
able features. unfavorable influences have
been more numerous. Leading none,
markets show no Improvement. Mercar.
tile collections continue slow. as hereto.
fore, and the volume of funds offered is
in excess OF demands for discounts. The
tendency of Investments to improve has
temporarily disappeared under the in.
fuence of the Supreme Court ssanti-trust
decision.' which apparently threatens
arrangements for the maintenance Of
railway rates, as we'll as railway trades
union activity, s. far. as it may affect
interstate commerce..
The tendency of prices is downward.
quotations being lower for wheat, Indian
corn. oats, coffee, cotton, and for pig iron
and steel billets on the outlook for lower
priced ore. Open sales of copper at recent
privately cut quotations are due to dis
appointment in the demand. Stormy
weather. high water and floods in the
Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri river vail
leys, and in country drained by tributary
streams, nave interfered with interior
trade, and. In addition to loss Of life,
have damaged country roads, houses,
farms, bridges, telegraph lines and rail-
way tracks.
The gradual increase in the numbe Of
industrial strikes is the outcome of a
movement to secure higher wages, and
in instances moderate advances nave been
obtained Staples for which prices are
higher include wool. raw sugar, wheat
-four, petroleum, linseed oil and turpen-
ftno Drfoa-a opo | f. --:-e
cloths, refined sugar, lard and pork. Re
cent activity in raw wool continues. and
the prospect for an increased tariff on
imported woolens causes merchants to
purchase American goods more freely.
expectations, and in some lines is dis
appointing The most noticeable inn
provement in trade is confined to dry
goods, hardware. leather, agricultural inn
PIGMENTS and shoes.
Bank clearings at seventy-seyen cities
throughout the United States are disap-
pointing. the total being only SSS3. 0o9, 900
for the week., 6.6 per cent. less than last
week and IL per cent. less h in the
lik week one year ago.. There is prac-
tlcaIiy no change compared with the last
week of March, 1885, but as contrasted
with the corresponding week in 1884, when
the volume of business was at low ebb,
this weeks total shows an increase of 20
cent, but as compared with like por-
llODS Oh 1885 ana 1897 the decreases are -
per cent. nd q per cent. respectively.
Beer selling and liquidation of rail-
securities on a large scale, with If
breaks in prices, followed the de-
cision of the Supreme Court in the Trans
Missouri Traffic Association case. Rail-
authorities interpret the decision as
a substantial condemnation of all agree
mentS to maintain transportation rates.
Hopes are expressed that the decision
nay be modified when the governments
appeal in the suit involving the Joint
a. go - - L. -o f+%rr 44-A4- IAl
fore the Supreme Court, and it is argued
the possible general decentralization
of rates will force Congress to adopt
ITsi1la lines are ase Continuing their po3r1 organiz ae
lion, but many Western railroads have
withdrawn from the Western Traffic AS
and virtually suspended it's
workings. Liquidation in the stock mar
xet now seems exhausted, and the New
York stock market is very irregular and
and covering movements. The Industrial
stocks are relatively steady, but sugar
has yielded under reports of a new OPP
refinery. Coal stocks have been
heavy, and Jersey Central especially
at first, followed by covering of
snorts ana a recovery on reports that the
dividend will be maintained or only slight
" reduced. Foreign exchange is higher /
4.8T4q4.S71A for demand sterling.
Exports of wheat flour included as
wheaD from both coasts of the United
week, amount to 1,749.419 bushels, com
pared with 10000 bushels last week,
,744.000 bushels in the week a year ago.
..562. COO bushels in the week two years
1856, 600 bushels three years ago, and
IS contrasted with 2,SI5.000 bushels in the
Ike week of 1899. Exports of Indian
corn continue heavy, amounting to
1862, 6S7 bushels this week. against $685.
100 ushels last week, 1,727.000 bushels in
he week a year ago, 672, 600 bushels in
he week two years ago, 1861, 600 bushels
5hree years ago. and as compared with
GOO bushels in the corresponding week
If 1898.