The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-10
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
(From Bradstreet's Estate Of Trade

(From Bradstreet's state of Trade"
The usine ituation, as awhole, shows
no gain. Staple lines are only fairly ac-
tive Overfiows ana a Ia i0 Wsas
sissippi and Missouri River vaiteys,
throughout a greater portion Of winch
standstill. Rainy weather extending
from the central western to the norlh,
western spring wheat states has renoerest
country roads almost impassabie, with
the natural effect upon business. Every
exertion is making to prevent the break
ing of Mississippi River leyees, but with
the river at the top of the levees and an
immense volume Of unusually high
water still to find its wal to the gulf;
the outlook is for further overlows and
disaster. AS the region threatened IS
the prospect for delay in planting a sec
ond time indicates the possibility Of a
heavy reduction in acreage this year,
whence the advance in cotton TINS week.
Pig iron, steel billets and cast iron
pipe are lower in price, and the demand
for steel and iron is not as heavy as II
ore has been fixed at a low figure and
An ore pool formed. Wheat has COM
tinued as Disappointing as iron as to
price, dropping nearly &c; a bushel ON On
the worlds visible supply last week, in
stead of a decrease, as expected due TO
2 anr Larger q Toaa \ domestic oE W seeaks Of z w a1eat
April / were 81 per eest. smaller than one
wear ago, and more than 40 per cent.
smaller than two years ago.
Chicago has only about held its own.
little. If any, Improvement being reported
in trade there. St. Louis, more dependent
on traffic with the flooded region, reports
a decrease in volume Of business Com
tinued rains In Kansas and Missouri en-
phasize trade depression in that region
There is a moderate gain in bank clear
ings. which reflects business for a time
prior to the floods west and south: The
increase this week compared with last is
p per cent, 20 per cent compared with
trasted with the like period in 1895, IA per
cent. larger than in the corresponding
week of 1894. but the,t total is 10 per cent.
Jobbers at Omaha, St. Paul, Milwaukee
and Portland, Ore, report a better de-
man nd s nofab and II le dFg goof Pros o5ts; pala aa.
tvances in the wool tariff are behind an
other rise in prices of wool and woolens,
but cotton goods thus far fail to advance,
because restricted production is meeting
current demand. Nearly all staples, ex-
ceptsthose mentioned as having advanced,
have declined.
level recently reported, 232 this week, COM
pared with 212 last week, 2Sl in the week
a year ago, 225 two years ago., and I'll
Net railway earnings for February
point to economies In operating, more
than offsetting a small decrease in gross
receipts. Total gross earnings of 81 roads
aggregate S34, 575. ASS, a decrease of 1.3 per
cent. from last February year, while net
| earnings, on the other hand, aggregate
$40, sss,2s5 a gain over last year of e.5 per
ce IN march. for the first time since July,
1896, there was a gain in gross railway
Total earnings Of 122 railroads for March
aggregate $36,023, 9S1, an increase of II
per cent. a year ago. which follows
ls5 EAU the eA latter IN turn marking an IN
crease of six-tenths of l per cent. over
March, 1894. The best showings among
southwestern coal and trunk lines. in the
order named. The grangers, central west
ern and Pacific roads report decreases.
large. For the first quarter of the year
earnings of 100 roads aggregate $102. 551. 278,
a decrease Of 1.s per cent from q year
ago, when e gain OF 80 per cent, was
Absence Of further a news Of rail-
road rate cutting or of liquidation of
( bear Interest, has caused a sharp rally In
stock values at New York. The buying
has been mainly short covering. Sugar
| Shorts have also rallied Jersey Contra
| In spite Of q reduction of the dividend
| and other unfavorable Developments.
d daseou rnfu rate' & = Der re- een TITO 70 ~ y ana tie
| fall OF interest At London and Berlin,
| points to decreased fears of war IN Euro
/ Shows no speculative interest In our
| stocks. Foreign exchange weakened on
easier money In London, but Is now
Exports 81 wheat Aour included as
gafes asn ad'' ST John, i. 3. this wssS
s4esoOO bushels last week. ], 10000 bushels
ii the week two years & $751; oo bushes
| S.94Sso00 bushels IN the like Eeelx Of 1899.
Exports ofSIndiap corn arHo4nt to 4 635. 5S5