The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-06
BETTER FEELING.
Hrads,reei's Says Induction Of New Admins
tration Has Created II.

trauon has created u
| New York, March 6.-Bradstreet's
says:
The new administration, the certainty
| OF an extra session OF congress, within
a fortnight, and the promise of a new
| tariff at an early date, which shall pro-
vide adequate revenue and protection.
have done much to stimulate better
| feeling in trade circles and increase
| confidence IN the near approach of an
| Improvement in business.
February this year was a short month,
| - business days, against 70 in January,
and 2S in February year ago. Clear
| ings were consequently smaller than in
either Of previous months mentioned, but
| compare well with those for February
| in 1895 and 1894. Gains are few the only
groups reporting increases over yea
aeo being these OF the New England
and Southern cities Total clearing
at "a cities for Febs<Sry aggregat q"
s.. COS TIC. .266, a decrease of lIS per cen
from the January total, and 1872 per cent
from that for February a year ago, bu;
a gain of 8 per cent over February clear
ings, 1895. and 14.S per cent over 1884
Compared. with 1898 the February fail
ing of is 81 per cent. Groups reportln
gains over 1896 are those in New Eng
| land. per cent and the SNo, ,hwest, G..
per cent. Northwestern cities show Il
heaviest loss, 151s per cent. Only ]
of Il American cities show gains, anG
only 8 OF the 20 leading cities repor.
/ February increases over a year ago.
! Total clearings for "a cities for two
months-SS. .1i6. 42S, 592-show a decrease
of 6 per cent from year ago, but gain
over 1895 OF As per cent, and over 1854
I of 1876 per cent.
Other favorable features are found in
I higher prices for wheat, Indian corn,
| pork. lard and spirits Of turpentine, as
| well as for steel biIlets. Steel mills are
| fairly filled with orders and in some
| lines are inclined to advance prices.
| Recent low quotations for various forms
| of iron and steel have been withdrawn,
| notably for wire and structural material.
| Confidence is expressed in an early ad-
| vance of prices for tin, and for shoes and
| leather. based on the activity in hides.
| Quotations are firm and unchanged
| during the week for lumber, wool, print
cloths, resin, petroleum, coffee, steel
rails and Bessemer pig iron, but there
have been decreases for wheat -four,
oats, sugar and cotton.
General trade has ben interfered with
by rain, high water in the Ohio valley
and snow in the Northwestern spring
wheat states. South Atlantic and gulf
state cities have had some better wealth
er, with the merchandise movement
equal to expectations. At Chicago and
st. Louis there has been a marked in
crease in the volume Of purchases from
jobbers both by interior merchants in
person, and 10y mail orders, yet il is prob
able that the total trade at neither city
equals that at corresponding period
year ago.
Bank clearing this week, amounting
to Sl.012, 100000, show an increase OF 3C
per cent over the total last week, which
included one holiday. Compared with
year ago, this weeks aggregate is
per cent smaller, but il is / per cent
larger than in the like week OF 1895, ant
per cent larger than in the first weel
of March, 1894 The falling off as com
pared with the corresponding week OF
1898, a period of large volume of bust
ness, is 26 per cent, and as compared
with the like period of 1892, it is l6 pei
cent.
There are 262 business failures through
out the United States this week, com
, pared with 25S last week, go in the weel
year ago, 252 in the week two year.
ago, and smaller totals in like week
in two preceding years. This mark
return OF the ratic%'o of business fail
ures to the total number in busines
more nearly to the normal.
Exports of wheat (hour included a
I wheaD from both coasts OF the Unite
States this week. amount to 2,075H3
bushels. compared with 1,S12, 900 bushel
last week, 2,i07 900 bushels in the wee
! a year ago, 3,272, 900 bushels i'm the wee
two years ago. 2,S5l 900 bushels thre
. | years ago, and as compared with 1884
600 bushels in the like week of 1893 Eek
+ | ports OF Indian corn continue heav,
amounting TO 5,255.7S5 bushels this weel
compared with 4,744.000 bushels las
week. 2.T75.00 bushels in the week yea
ago, 49S.OOO bushels I'm the like week q
! 1895. 1.9i1.000 bushels in 1894. and as con
> trasted with $4,000 bushels i'm the col
/ responding week of 1899