The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-18
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
(From Bradstreet's estate Of Trade.')


(From Bradstreet's Estate Of Trade.HD
A sensible quieting of demand in whole
sale lines is reported as the holiday sea-
son and the annual stock-taking period
approach. Chief among the favorable
features of the week has been the EN-
in various forms, accompanied py ad-
vances in the prices of sorts most al
fected 4 e~orrespondingiy neavy n pus,-
show but a slight shading IN lace OIL tne
current immense production. The wheat
market has been less feverlsn ana prless
| are practically unchanged from a week
ago, while corn, oats and sugar are aa-
ditfons to the list of products showing ad-
vances. The UNSATISFACTORY outtook LOT
COTTON goods is reflected in reductions IN
bleaehed goods to the lowest point ever
reached, while some cotton yarns snow
weakness. Anthracite coal is weak, al
though production has been curtailed and
talk of further restriction is heard. Win
these exceptions, the price situation is one
of quite OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
AT the east trade in wholesale mes IS
quiet. but retail trade has been Stifaulat-
ed sufficiently to allow of a fatr recorder
business. in seasonable lines. The ansat-
rade may result in a general movement
to educe wages in New England mills.
Against this the employees. Will propose a
partial or general shut down TO reduce
some portion of the weight OF overprodue-
ton now resting on the market. Manu-
f~acturers of wooden cloths are running on
small margins and look to a change to
heavyweight goodsNto improve the situa-
ton. The trade situation west ana
northwest is one of uninpaired strength,
although rnilder weather checks distribu-
ton OF winter wear goods. Notable
among favorable features is the improved
inquiry at higher prices for several KINDS
of steel, especially biliets and wire and
mails. Particular activity is noted at
Chicago, St.Louis and Pittsburgh in these
lines, while holiday trade remains active
and collections are almost uniformly
good.
The approach of the holiday season has
induced treer realizing on cotton by plant,
ers and others at the SOUTH, and increased
activity is noticeable in retail lines ana
among jobbers in ~seasonable goods. COZ
iections are slightly better IN consequence
although the low price Of the staple IS a
discouraging feature. Aside from price
depression in it's chief products, the
southern business presents many eneour-
aging features, notably among these be-
ing the active demand and firm or higher
prices for Louisiana sugar and rice and
leaf tobaceo. Export trade on the racine
is very heavy, and shipments OF Wheat,
cotton and Lumber are of large volume.
Preparations for an immense Alaskan out
fitting demand are being actively pushed,
while SeaSonable trade holds its own.
Bank elearings totals are again very
large, aggregating $780, 10000 atsS1 cities,
Of the United States, exceeding last weeks
large total by over l per cent. and the to-
tai for this week last year by rs per cent.
Compared with this week in 1895 there isa
gain shown of 15.5 per cent, with 1894 OF
"a, Der cent, FdHQ- WIlu 1900 VI to.O pei Gil
The. excess over the 1892 large total is full
" equal to that over last weeks total,
and the gains as compared with 1881 and
1890 are, respectively, 10 and q per cent.
Heavy gains at leading cities are a fea-
ture of the week. The increase at New
York, as compared with.1S96, is oyer3S per
cent. and the gain outside OF that city is
in excess of 10 per cent.
October gross and net railway earnings
make the least favorable showing OF any
month since last summer. The total earn
~ s Of rs SvStay1g for fhp month aoPrp-
gate $40, 939, $40 and the net earnings va
SOB, 5S2, gains of, respectively, 81 and ~
per cent. over October a year ago.
EFrom R. 6. Dun & Cos weekly Re-
yiew."1
Close to its annual holiday and halt,
the business of the year is surprisingly
large. Payments through banks are
again rs per cent. larger than in 1892,
heretofore the year OF prosperity; the
production of iron and woolens and boots
and shoes in larger than ever before,
exports eclipse all past records, and fall
ures for two weeks have been the small
est for corresponding weeks in i've years.
Treasury receipts show a steady increase
for the first half of December over pre-
vious months, both in customs n IN
ternal revenue and heavy payments to
Government and Union Pacific account
caused but slight stringency in money
markets, with preparation Tor large can
collation. of bonds. The most Weighty
news of the week is the rise of mer-
chandise exports in November to S116, CO.
800. the excess of exports in four months
being 1929, 212, 401, while in half of Deem
Der exports are nearly as large and inn
ports $780, 600 smaller than last year
when the excess of exports was SIS, 205, 1866.
Probably all records are surpassed by ex-
ports for this year, which have. been SeT4,-
500, 600 in eleven months, and excess over
imports in five months has probably ex-
ceeded $3.50, 100000
The stock market has been steadily, ris-
ing "a small fraction for railways, with
especial strength in coal and Granger
stocks, London has bought 10000 shares
on balance to satisfy the needs of short
SPECTATORS, and railway earnings for
November now show an increase of 1916
per cent over last pear, and 81 per cent.
over 1892. though the scanty reports for
the first week of December are less favor
able. Railway tonnage is larger than for
many weeks. and the westbound move
ment of sugar, coke and coal, machinery
and railway supplies is heavy.
Failures for two weeks ending Deeem-
Der g. have been Sc, 13S,2 92 against 1885,
093 for the same weeks last year, $6,510, 451
in 1895. $6,840,401 in 1894, and 81, SIS, 1886 in
1893. manufacturing were $l,S49, 219 against
81. rae. 73G last year. Failures for the week
have been 329 in the United States against
387 last year, and Is in Canada against Al
last year.