Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-19
BRaDsIREET'S REPORT.
Continued Commercial Dizziness and Lower
Pfices-lndustriai Situation Improves.

New York May 18.-Bradstreets, to-
morrow, will say: Continued dullness
in many branches and further shad-
ing in several staple lines constitute
the leading futures in the business sit
uation. this week. The weakness OF
prices is displayed in lower quotations
for corn. pork, butter, cheese. wool
and cotton among the great agricul-
tural products, and petroleum and lead
among mineral products.
Wheat is slightly higher, partly ow
ing to less favorable crop reports here
and abroad. Corn has been weaker.
notwithstanding very heavy exports,
and pork is sympat hetically lower.
Butter and cheese has naturally felt
the effect Of warm weather and in
creased supplies. Wool has been shad-
ed again, Notwithstanding the fact
that rather more strength is noted in
London sale prices. The distribution
of dry goods has within narrow
limits at wholesale and recorder bust
ness is reported particularly slack.
The jobbng demand for boots and
shoes are quiet. but manufacturers are
firm in their demand.
Bank clearings are slightly larger
than last week ana almost entirely due
to the increased volume of New York
City clcarings. Railroad earnings con-
tinue quite satisfactory. The iron and
steel situation is no stronger and shad-
ed prices fail to develop much new
unchanged at Pittsburg. but the same
grade of iron made outside of that
city is being offered there below cur
NJ t1t -
continues the strongest feature of the
trade. From Birmingham comes re-
ports Of continued large export bust
ness: but quotations ac nrominal and
the outlook is rather more uncertain.
a number of large Pennsylvania mills
have shut. down for repairs much
earlier than usual. and some relief
from this source is looked for.
The industrial situation is on the
whole rather better than for some
time pase. Particularly good trade ac-
counts come from the Pacific coast. A
seasonable business is doing through
out the South. The cotton crop as n
whole appears to be satisfactorily
progressing. Wool is weaker at Phila-
deiphia and Boston and reports from
the shoe jobbing trade are not as fav-
orable as earlier indications pointed to.
The raw sugar market is steady. but
there is no Improvement in refined.
Reports from 142 railroads show gross
earnings for the first quarter Of the
present calendar year of S26S. 200. O47.
with net returns of $11.215.97O, an in
crease of 15.4 per cent. as to gross and
of nearly % per cent as to net.
Bank clearings for the week aggre-
gate T,4S4,3 72. 2S4. a gain Of 2 per cent.
over last week. but a decrease of 116
per cent. from this week a year ago
Business failures for the week num-
Der 155, compared with 16S in this week.
a year ago.
What, including flour, shipments for
the week aggregate 5.17S.422 bushels,
against 2,221 ,206 bushels in the CORES
ponding week of 1899.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
3.431 1874 bushels. against 2.753, Ala bush
els in this week. year ago.
A fairly seasonable trade is reported
in Canada. Montreal reports that
prices are high and buyers are eau
tious while cold weather has affected
retail business. A fair business is do
ing in the maritime provinces. To-
rontO reports some gain from warmer
weather. late in the week, and crop
prospects are promising. Canadian
banks have made money this year In
British Columbia the opening of north
ern navigation has increased jobbing
activity, but collections are still slow
Bank clearings aggregate s32 .304 .032, 6
per cent larger than this week. year
ago. Failures number "a for the week
against Is in this week a year ago.