The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-29
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

from Bradstreet's state of Trade.'J
Favorable conditions in the trade situa-
ton continue to far outweigh those OIL an
opposite character. Stormy weather
throughout a large. section of the coun-
try this week has checked the movement
of merchandise into out
a perceptibie increase IN tne aemanu y
seasonable goods is reported as already
resulting. The last week OF the month
closes with increased activity IN many
lines, a-number of price advances, nedF,
ily increased bank clearings, as compared
with one year ago, at nearly all cities, an
other considerable drop in the number OF
failures reported. large exports OF cereais,
particularly wheat, corn and Hour, ana
nerceptible confidence in nearly all
branches of trade as regards the OUTLOOK
for spring business. Another faVoranle
feature of the week is the slight but dis-
tinct Improvement in the cotton goodS sly
uation, in which speculative activity is
awakening. Print cloths are higher, ana
some make of gray and medium Welght
cottons are more hrmly held. zig IRON IS
rejecting the effect OF the present UMPIRE
cedented production, and a further weak
ening in prices is recorded at Eastern
points. At the West. however, consump-
lion of pig and of the finished products
of iron and steel is reported increasing 50
as to hold prices firm. Large safes OF par
steel and of rails are reported at Chleago
and st. Louis, with mills refusing TO take
orders for delivery earlier than late sum
mer. Boots and shoes hold the late adj
vance. and manufacturers OF heavy
weights will not take orders Tor rail- de-
livery at present prices. Wooi IS Strohs
on large sales and firm prices ABROAD.
Prices of most staple PRODUCTS are hiSner
on the week; noticeable instances are
those of wheat, which is past the dollar
mark again at many western markets.,
corn oats and flour. Print cloths, some
other makes of cottonS ana some glasses
of hog products are also higher. Inc &C
five demand for the klondlke trace Is re-
fiected in canned goods, stocks of which
are reported very low, with prices holding
the late advance. Pig iron, sugar, lead and
coffee are slightly lower on the week.
Colder weather at ne soutn, sspe osa ny
some winter goods which they had pre-
yiously expected to carry over. lnterese
is manifested in some trial OF
Teyas. which. if successful, may result IN
i GOOD trade. The tourist trade is report
ed Disappointing in Florida SO Tar TINS
season. The movement of fertilizers at
south Atlantic markets is reported brisk.
Adyices regarding western winter wheat
are favorable this week, IN that the crop
IS generally reported covered with snow.
California. however. has had little ram,
snd more would be beneficial. Coleetlons
are generally reported fair, those lndicat-
ing baclSWardnesS coming Hiose Seiei"n'
Rank clearings, While smaller than last
week. aggregating only $1.2S3, 0.00, against
Are 81 per cent. larger than last year, "A
ner cent. larger than last year, A per cent.
larger than 1896 and 81 per cent. larger
than 1894. A total is Indicated TOR me
n,onth of January of not far from So,9oV,-
600. COO. which is only slightly below DeGeln,
hers immense total, and has only pesn
exceeded three times N the histoTs n os 'i in
weekly c~learings, as compared Win q ysar
ago, is a special feature, only Two cues
out of seventy-nine repo oinsg h eHgre one
and totals at most large cities peihs oHe
fourth larger han last year.
Advances continue in stock ana pon
values at New York. the feature pelns
the strength of the Vanderbilt STOCKS on
expectations of increased dividends ana
renorts of a consolidation of Lake Shore
with New York Central. Bonds are WY
strong and active, marked a5tention p III
maid 10 new and low-priced tissues. me
general market is recovering from q tenn
porary furry caused by the dlspatca OF
the Maine to Havana. Northern TaeElcs
are strong on the expectation y -
dividend. and great strength is SHOWN IN
the southwestern stocks and New 1ork
local securities. The Rock lsiano re-
funding 4 per cent. bond issue mas peeh
brought out under encouraging conditlons.
London has been a buyer of stocks 70
some extent, and Americans there are
better on the Presidents sound.money
speech. which offsets the effects OF SILVER
agitation in the Senate Foreign exchange
is dull and has shown, weakness IN iorelsn
~rchas of stocks here. demand
sterling is 4.S4%. Money in London shows
renewed firmneSs, which cheeks eApecta-
ticns of gold imports.
Cereal exports are again heavy. te+al
shipments Of wheat, including -four, for
the week amounting to 5.110,624 bushels.
against 1926. 900 bushels last week, 2.olo,OW
IN this week 4 year ago, 2,550,O60 bushels
in 1896 and 2,0ss. 600 bushels in 1891. Corn
exports have also heavily increased from
last week. amounting to 4,962,0 bushels.
against 3.4S6. 900 bushels last week, 3,011, 900
bushels last year. 3.1S7. 900 bushels in 1896
n 942, 600 bushels in-lS95.
fFrom r. G.. Dun & Co.'s Weekly Re
view."1
The first month of the new year has
brought rather more Increase in business
but less Improvement in prices than was
expected. With payments through clear