The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-08
IMPROVEMENT Of TRADE.
BRADSTREETS wE EeKLY REVIEW
ON CONDITION OR BUSINESS.


New York. May S.-Bradstreet's says:
include the continued decline OF water
in flooded districts of the Mississippi
river valley. i'm a portion Of which plant
ing has begun: better demand for staples
az Baltimore st. Louis. Omaha, Mil
waukee, st. Paul and Sioux Falls; larger
sales OF iron ore to Western furnaces
and revival Of activity among country
Merchants In some central Western
states.
Unfavorable trade features include the
further decline OF prices for Bessemer
pig iron and steel billets. with produc-
ton or pig iron in excess OF consumption,
and the prospect favorable for blowing
out number OF stacks Cool weather
West has checked the retail demand, and
complaints are received from wholesale
dealers In shoes. clothing and dry goods.
Low temperature has retarded the
5rowth OF cotton and corn In Texas, and
in Kentucky the leaf tobacco crop will
be short. The lake trade outlook Ia not
satisfactory; the movement OF building
materials Is slow; mercantile collectiC ms
now no improvement, and spring trade
general continues disappointing.
April bank clearings decreased from
asst year. which is partly explained by
holidays and one business day less this
year. Total April clearings of 73 cities
lggregate A,0S5, ,3l3,l17, a decrease from
harch or "a per cent, from April a year
ago or 46 per cent, and a falling off
rom April. 1885, of 3.8 per cent, but the
gain over pril, 1894, Is 10 per cent. The
Inherent cities do not make as favorable
showing In April as In March, although
The New England and Southwestern
groups report gains. The Northwestern
sroup shows the heaviest decrease.
Bank clearings increased sharply this
week, amounting to $1,120.55, or 81 per
cent more than last week. but 1.6 per
cent less than In the first week of May.
1895, and 6-lQths Of / per cent less than
in the like week Of 1895.
stocks OF wheat afioat for and In
europe, added to those in the United
States and Canada, on May /, amounted
TO lo1,l9SOOO bushels, the smallest like
total since 1891, and n decrease of nearly
15.OoO,oO0 bushels within a month, the
great portion OF which was in stocks
afioat for and in Europe.
The total number of business failures
throughout the United States this week
does not vary materially from what may
be regarded as the average In recen.
years for corresponding period,
amounting to 22S, against 244 last week.
z6' In the week one year ago 224 in the
week in 1896. 1873 in 1894 and 219 in 1898.
Stock speculation at New York Is dull
and professional, but shows a strong
underlying tone, i'm spite OF decidedly
weak conditions In Missouri Pacific and
the Gould stocks. London regarded the
rejection of the arbitration treaty with
indifference and has done little I'm Amer
lean either way. The reporting of the
new tariff bill To the senate has a good
effect on prices. though American sugar
is variable on doubts about the accept
ance of the revised sugar schedule by
the house.
Silver has touched the lowest point
since 1895. Foreign exchange is weaker,
declining to 4S7 for demand, sterling
creating rumors that bankers are man
ipulating the msrket to check gold ex-
pQrts,