The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-12
CONDITION OF BUSINESS.
SEDERIL JLEi TIyORdBBE FEA-
TUNES REPOHTED ron THE WELk.
A Number Of Important Metal and other
Industrial Embellishments start Up.
Hallway Earnings for January.

NEW YORK, Feb. 1l.-Bradstreet's Sat
urday will say:
The more favorable features of the
business week include sales of 5000 tons
Of steel rails on the collapse Of The pool
which promises work FOR the mills FOR
months TO come; the advance in the Price
Of print cloths. following the sale OF
10000 pieces from accumulated stocks.
and the starting up OF a number Of i'm
portant metal ana other Industrial es-
adjustments throughout the eastern and
middle States
The recent reduction i'm the price Of
steel biilets Of g. a ton. while rails were
reduced Only 50, foreshad0wed ant Their
cut I'm rail prices or the breaking up Of
the pool. The latter finds prices from
s. 10 50 lower than last week. one effect
will be 10 stimulate exports OF rails de-
mand for domestic Bessemer pig iron and
for ore. and consumption of iron and steel
generally.
There IS a moderate Increase in demand
for pig iron at Pittsburg and purch ises
have been made by 81. Louis stove max
ors Considerable activity is reported In
hemlock leather for which the price IS
higher. and american purchases of wool
al the late London sale amount 10 $500
bales. the heaviest total AT any one such
sale since the speculative buying there
by Americans prior 20 the going into effect
Of the Mckinley tariff.
MUCH IMPROVEMENT.
Memphis reports revived interest in
shoes and clothing and Birmingham and
Jacksonville n moderate Increase in thu
volume of trade as spring approaches.
Louisville collections have improved and
orders for spring goods al ST. Louis nave
increased. Chicago dry goods lobhers
report only "a moderate gain. but at st.
Paul sales OF dry goods. shoes groceries.
hardware. drugs and millinery are the
most encouraging for any week thus far
this year.
At most other. among more important.
Western and Central Western cities trade
remains quiet and unchanged. with lit
tie prospect for an early Improvement
Omaha reports business duh and at
Galveston. where distribution of mer-
chandise has been fairly active the re-
verse is now true. Trade is dun and UNI
satisfactory al Cleveland and Charleston
advises that collections are falling be
hind.
The movement of prices is. on the whole
favorable.
RAILWAY EARNINGS.
January gross railway earnings reflect
a queter trade in that month than In
January. 1896. while showing the effect
of reduced grain tonnage and severe
storms in the Northwest. Every group
Of American roads shows % falling off
from January % year ago. Increases IN
January are few nd small. the largest
being only slightly I'm excess of 10000.
while seventeen systems show decreases
i'm excess Of that amount Total earnings
OF ia railroad companies for January .-g-
gregato S34 $50 80. a failing off OF G.S per
cent from year ago. Mexican roads
gained 1S.3 per cent. In January over a
year ago.
Gross and net returns Of leading rail-
roads for the calendar year 1895 show a
striking similarity as 10 volume 10 those
Of 1898. Total gross receipts Of seventy
companies give a total Of S12690o-io6 Tor
1896 falling off Of only about 20o0oO. or
two-tenths Of one per cent. from 1873.
while net earnings aggregate S2-0.026' ~.
decrease Of nine-tenths OF one per
cent. from the total i'm the preceding year.