Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-15
Retailers in All Lines Feel the I'm
pulse of spring Busincss.

pulse OF Spring buSincNN'
NEW YORK, April 1t-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
Real spring weather has improved the tone
Of trade, particularly retail, and correspond
ingly helped iobbing distribution, but at the
same time brought last winters injury 10
the winter crop more in evidence. The reg
ular monthly government crop report proved
rather more favorable than expected, fore
shadowing on the basis of last falls largely
increased acreage.
The unanimity OF later damage reports
would seem to point to full re-
garding the crop not being obtainable at the
date when the government adviccS We're
gathered. The Indifference with which the
government crop report was received has
apparently been shaded into the belief that
damage has been done and wheat prices for
the first time this season may be said to
have actually reflected crop damage reports.
Other cereals are but little changed, while
the movement of our breadstuffs abroad at
present seems to be on a lessening scale.
Among the favorable features coming to
light this week might be mentioned the re-
ceipt of continued good railroad earnings re-
ports, advices of widespread industrial &C
tivity, accompanied by rather less than usual
friction as reflected in strikes for higher
wages and a largely improved distribution
Of wool, which appears to have Weakened at
last from its long sleep. Sales of this staple,
indeed, are the heaviest reported for many
weeks past, DOtn luSlOo anu OulSluc OI lue
combinations having bought freely of terri
tory and other domestic grades. Large
quantities of wool have been bought for re-
export, English buyers bidding freely for
high grade Australian sorts.
Advices from the manufacturing jewelry
trade are in a high degree favorable, some
stimate pointing to 20 per cent more bus
mess being done this spring than a year ago.,
while collections are improved.
Current demand for dry goods at the east
is %quieter, though fall orders are reported
notably easier, and dress woolens are in sat
isfaCtory demand.
Boots and shoes are firm at the advance
made over the seasons opening quotations..
The strength Of prices in March renders
comparisons with earlier periods interesting.
Compared with a year ago, the general level
of values is s per cent higher, while there
is an advance shown of nearly 40 per cent
from the low water period of october, 1896.
Wheat, including flour, shipments for the
week aggregate 1883, 6l9 bushels, against s.
3S4, 500 bushels last week, 4,425, 3O2 in the
corresponding week of 1898, 1~,3i4,Ol2 in 1897.
,, 017,579 in 1896 and 3,165, 296 in 1895. Since
July l, this season, the exports of wheat ag-
gregate 100, 329, 219 bushels, against 1SS, 25l,-
$50 bushels last year.
Corn exports for the week aggregate o.
666 125 bushels, against 1924, 654 bushels last
week. 4 1861, 1874 bushels in this week a year
ago, 2,32S, iS5 in 1897, 1,714,542 in 1896 and
77S,527 bushels in 1895. Since January, this
season, corn exports aggregate 1874, 1855, SO4
bushels, against 143, 759, S42 bushels during
the same period in 1892.
Business failures number PAS, as against
100 last week, 215 in this week a year ago,
1875 in 1897, pa in 1896 and 219 in 1895.
Business failures in the Dominion number
twenty-five, as against twenty-one last week,
twenty-seven in this week a year ago, thirty
nine in 1897, thirty-four in 1896 and twenty
three in 1895.