The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-02

General Trade Quiet, but Satisfactory
for the First Quarter.

NEW YORK, April 1.-Bradstreets report
April will say: A week of rather quieter
general trade and of smaller distribution,
due to easily explainable causes, closes a
quarter which has been eminently satisfac-
tory to nearly all branches of trade and
productive of an unprecedented business in
many favored lines. The heavy soreign de-
mand for our products, particularly agri-
cultural staples, and the active domestic
movement in most lines are evidenced by
the heavily increased bank clearings re-
ported for the quarter and the effect on the
commercial mortality is favorably reflected
in a total for the first three months of 1898
Of failures and of liabilities involved
smaller than in the corresponding period
for four years past. Current demand and
distribution at the East have been inter
fered with by the uncertainties growing out
OF our unsettled foreign relations This has
been particularly manifest in most pro-
nounced indisposition on the part of buyers
TO anticipate future wants, and some can
cellations of orders for wooden goods are
attributed directly to this cause Evidence
is not lacking, however, that the Stmula-
ton To the wooden goods industry growing
out OF tariff changes last year is respon-
slble in some measure for the unreaGiness
OF manufacturers 10 go ahead as confidently
now as they did a year ago. Little or no
Improvement is found in the coarse cotton
goods trade and print cloths have marked
new low record in quotations of 1-l6c for
regular goods. The anthracite coal trade is
suffering from the usual spring complaint,
business is inactive and prices are weak.
There are rather more quiet conditions as
regards new demands for iron and steel at
most markets, and some shading in quota
tons is claimed, but the business doing is on
an immense scale. Good weather at the
South favors an early planting season. but
business based on this has not been of such
q volume as 70 make up for the queting in
demand noted at number of coast cities
ana at river points. where high water is
limiting business to some extent Export
trade at New Orleans is rQp0rfQd checked
by increased freight and insurance rates.
growing out OF the present unsettled foreign
situation. Freight rates are reported weak
er on the Pacific coast, and trade is rather
quieter at most cities. The outlook is for a
heavy crop of what in the State of Wash
ington this year. Boat building and iron
manufacturing are reported sctive in the
Pacific northwest. The price situation is,
on the whole. quite encouraging this week,
oats, flour. print cloths and hides being the
most prominent among the decreases men
toned, while wheat, corn, lard, coffee, cot
ton and sugar are higher, and the list of
staples unchanged in price appears the
most numerous.
The exports Of wheat. nour included, are
smaller than for some weeks past. but are
much larger than in corresponding periods
or previous years. aggregating 3550,664
2,464,645 bushels in this week of last year
1,693,92T bushels in 1896 2 S53 933 bushels in
1895 ard 2 rs. $50 bushels In 1894 Corn ea-
ports are, on the other hand larger than
for some weeks past. aggregatinc a 5O7 700
bushels, against 4496,257 bushels last week
t,'ty'A-t ouSASiS i0St year ana -,lH3UO1 DuSll-
els IN 1896
Failure records, as above minated bear
witness 10 the satisfactory conditions ruling
in commercial lines this year in a total for
the quarter of 35i5 embarrassments. fnvolv-
ing Liabilities of $50, 1876, 0o0 a decrease In
number from year ago of Is per cent and
from two years ago of % per cent, while as
regards Liabilities there is a falling on from
last year of 30 per cent, and as compared
with 1886 Of over ~ per cent. Failures in
the Dominion OF Canada for the first quar-
ter OF 1888 number DIG. with liabilities OF
Der and 70 per cent. IN liabilities from one
year ago.