The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-15
The BUSINESS OUT LOOK.

IFrom Bradstreet State of Trade."l
The unexpected falling off in the re-
quest for staple goods within a month
results in a period of comparative calm
AT a time when a general revival in
demand had been looked for.
Wool Is in less demand and is weaker,
although it is between seasons with some
textile manufacturers. The movement of
and the outlook is Tor further ~restric-
ton of production, as 1t requires conces-
sion to sell goods; Print cloths are
changes in prices are those for pig iron
and steel billets, which are now the lowest
on record. Among leading articles for
coffee, petroleum, anthracite coal and
lumber. The advance for tea is based
upon tariff proposals, and that for cotton
on the lookout for reduced acreage, but
higher prices for nearly all cereals are not
the outcome of discoveries or new con-
ditions. Wholesalers report that the
orders. even Chicago not claiming more
than to have held its own in volume of
goods distributed. Interior merchants
continue to buy for nearby wants only,
and In may directions farmers are too
busy with field work to supply their wants
at the country stores.
The continued subsistence of the floods
in the lower Mississippi River Valley has
encouraged wholesale merchants in that
region; grocers report an unusually large
distribution of canned goods west and
IN az Q6DlGSSlO0 III
pig iron prices is followed by large west
ern purchases. Wholesale dealers an
nounce an increased demand for groceries
neapolis. Kansas City and Memphis.
Bank ~clearings aggregate 81, 004, 900, 900
this week, 10 PEI, cent. less than last
week, IL per cent. less than in the second
week of May. 1886, 10 per cent. smaller
than In the corresponding week in 1895,
and only u per cent. larger than in the
like period of 1894, when business was
extremely depressed. Compared with h
the collapse in prices of industrial shares
which ushered in the panic of that year,
the decrease in c%learings this week
amounts to 26 per cent.
Stock value are depressed and the New
York market is dull and professional on
the renewed Cuban agitation at Wash
ington. American sugar has weakened
ington, and Chicago gas on fears that the
consolidation bill will not pass the Illinois
Legislature. The London prices for
Americans are better on the prospect of
peace in the East IN sympathy with other
values there, but no foreign interest is
shown in our market except some con-
tinental buy of low priced shares. Fa-
vorable crop reports from the west are
considered bullish on the grangers h
market, however, has been affected bear
ishly by the continuance of gold exports,
81, 750, 900 specie having been shipped from
New York to France and erman De-
ruand sterling is, however, rather quiet
at 4.S7h.
Aggregate April railroad earnings show
about the same gain as in March, al
though the former month was one day
shorter and furnished several holidays.
Practically. the entire gain was on Mexi-
companies, operating nearly $4,000 miles of
road, aggregate $37, 1922, ga, a gain of Is
per cent. over April a year ago., when
4 ca rnings increased 3.5 per cent. over
April, 1895. when they increased As per
cent. over April, 1894.