The evening times., 1899-09-09
sANGUME VIEWS OF TRADE.
Comment OF DUN sand Bradstreet on
the Closing Weeks Business.


the Closing Weeks Business.
NEW YORK, Sept. 9.-Bradstreet's to-
day gave the following review OF trade:
Despite the remarkable advance in staple
prices during the month of August, there
appears to be no peFceptible lessening of
strength in this direction. The general
level of staple prices was materially lifted
during that month. Every group of staples
but one advanced during August, gains be-
ing most notable in the cases of provisions.
groceries, raw and manufactured textiles
hides and leather, dried fruits, and miscel-
laneous products, but the general level OF
quotations of live stock, oils, building ma
terlais, chemicals, and naval stores was
also advanced. The only decrease shown
that In metals, was due entirely to a spec
uiatlVe weakening in tin, as most classes
Of iron and steel advanced during the
month. and lead and other metals remained
flrm- Less than one-sixth of all the staples
enumerated decreased during the month.
Wheat and oats among the cereals, live
sheep and mutton, coffee, sugar, and rice
among groceries, rosin and tar among naval
stores, and brick alone among building
materials declined. The price of dressed
beef did not advance as much as the price
of building materials except brick; most of
the raw textiles, notably wool, hemp, silk,
flax, and cotton and cotton goods, except
print cloths, also moved upward. Com
pared with September l, year ago. nearly
two-thlrds OF all staples are higher, and
less than one-third are lower
Comparing as they do with low water
wheat stocks held one year ago, this date,
present visible wheat supplies show an i'm
mense increase, the worlds total, on or
ABOUT September 1, being 129, ,061 900 BUSH
els more than double the quantity held one
year ago and nearly double that held at the
same date in 1897. The exceptional char
acter of this years movement of wheat is
illustrated by the fact that American and
European stocks are practically as large
now as they were January l. whereas in
1893 September 1, stocks were 5000, 900
bushels smaller than those on January |.
All signs point to profitable conditions
In railroad affairs. Reports from sixty one
companies for the full month of August
point to aggregate gross earnings of $34,
S0.243, a gain of IA per cent over August
year ago. The gross receipts of sixty
four leading systems for the month of July
show an increase of 10 per cent, while the
net receipts OF the same companies show a
gain of nearly % per cent
bdhh cltdTlHSS reHecl one lOllQay IN q
reduced total as compared with last week,
and the aggregate for the week is s1,371,-
052,000. decrease OF per cent from last
week, but gain of "a per cent over the
same weeks Of 1898, and 1897, and of 81 per
cent over 1894, while as compared with 1892
there is gain shown OF % per cent Busi-
ness failures for the week number only
1873 against 131 last week.
Dun's comment on the trade situation
was as follows:
The sky is still cloudless, and no dis
quieting change has come during the week.
In spite of more warlike news about South
Africa, the Bank of England behaves as
IL the worst possible had been fully pro-
vided for, and this country has no reason
to fear trouble from that source unless
English markets have been SO overloaded
as to need help. The marketing OF domestic
products continues surprisingly large for
the season. New possessions, taken to-
gether, are returning, in revenue already
more than Ii costs TO clean and govern
them. The West and South still behave as
if it would be impertinent for New York
TO offer money for crop moving, and are
still bidding for commercial loans here
Failures are few, strikes scarce and readily
settled. and the passage of September l
without pressure means reasonable safety
for months ahead. Shipments OF boots and
shoes-9S,0 ,053 cases for the week-were the
largest ever known in the first week in
September, except in 1897, and orders are
falling off, although manufacturers do not
regret it, having business to keep their
works occupied far ahead Preparations for
woolen combinations affect the mar
ket for goods somewhat, which is. never
theless. strong although some irregularities
have developed in worsteds. Failures for
the week have been 132 in the United
States, against 164 last year. and so in
Canada against l6 last wear"