The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-31
The Rusiness Situation,

The Business Situation,
The business situation as shown by
current reports is certainly encourag-
ing AS an exchange remarks, though
circumstances were against any decid-
ed improvements in general business
last week. stil there was Il noticeable
continuation of the slow and steady
growth that has been characteristic OF
business ever since the November elec-
tion. The decision of the Supreme
court affirming the operations OF the
Sherman antitrust law as regards
railroad agreements for the mainten-
ance of freight rates had q tendency to
demorali2e the markets, but despite
this they bore up remarkably we'll
Then, the snow in the west and the
continuation of the heavy floods in the
Mississippi valley and along the rivers
tributary to that great stream, to-
gether with further rainfall, were
naturally obstacles to heavy business.
while the dissolution of the iron pool
was not of any present benefit 1T IS
cheering to observe that nutwthstand
ing all these untoward circumstances,
the business OF the country was able
to maintain 50 strong a position and
to even make n little advance. 1t is
resting on the certain basis of COntin
ued confidence and of strong reason
for expectations of u continued growth
and widening of business and indus
trial activity. We are progressing, not
rapidly to be sure, but most certainly
toward that goal of full business and
industrial hustle, which means so much
for the country.
The decision of the Supreme court de-
moralized the stock market, but it
broke far less than would have been
expected and in fact it's general firm
ness was matter of surprise. The to-
tai sales of stocks during the week
reached 1,2S5l43 aggregating $I374,-
500, as against 1,277, ,553 for the week be-
fore, reaching $7,S6l 800, and S12297 for
the same week of 1896, amounting to
"a, 553, 600. Government bonds We're a
fraction higher ranging from one and
one-eighth to one and one-fourth
advance. The total sales aggregat-
ed $2O5 goo Money was a little
easier during the week. The re-
port of the New York associat-
ed banks showed an increase of the
surplus reserve of $726,755, a decrease
of loans of $l,S9l 800, of deposits OF
81, 605, 500, an increase of specie of $iG2,
zoo. and Il decrease of legal tenders OF
$&S7,3OO. There was really nothing sig.
nfcant in the report.
Bradstreet reports a downward ten.
dency in prices in wheat, corn, oats
coffee, cotton and for pig iron and stee
bllets, because of the expectations o
lower priced ore. But wool, raw sugar
wheat flour, petroleum, lnseed oil ant
turpentine We're higher, while prices fo
print cloths, refined sugar, lard anC
pork are practically unchanged. There
was. however, a somewhat added aC
tivity in Fall River prints, sales reach
ing a half-milion pieces. Dry good
We're rather active also. The sale o
wool showed tirmness, sales reachin!
over eleven million pounds, Will
woolen goods showed larger sales.
The heavy expectation Of corn con
tnues. Last week 5,SG2 ,GS7 bushels wer
exported as against 5,939,3lS bushels f.
the week before and only 1,727,9C
bushels for the same week 1896. IL
total expectations of corn since III
first of July last reach now the cnn
nous total of 100 ,595 SAP bushels, com
pared to hut 71,94l $50 bushels for tn
same period 1896, Thus, for the frs
tirie. the expectations of corn eXcee
those for wheat, the latter since Jul
l being 1868, 1GS bushels the amour
shipped last week reaching 1,749, Al
bushels, as compared to 629, ,434 bushe
for the same week last year.
1t is to be said, then, that while theI
was not as marked an advance in bus
ness and industry as desired, there wa
a notable improvement considering VI
favorable climatic and other condition
with more men employed and an il
creased demand for commodities. Ait,
gethtr, the week was as satisfactory
could have been expected.