The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-02
THE BUSINESS SITUATION.
Better Condition Prevailing In All
.he Large centres.

NEW YORK. Sept. 1.-The business con-
ditions prevailing in the larger cities of
the country NAV be thus summarized from
the reports received by "Dun's Review"
At Boston the business activity is wholly
with jobbers. and the volume of trade COM
pares well with the best records of recent
years Conditions are unsatisfactory in the
cotton industry. and there is much idle
machinery in wooden districts. Few fac
tories are running. only part time. AT
Portland Me-. heavy mill construction is
creating an active demand for material.
At Providence all branches of wooden in
dustry are quiet. and several mills are
closed temporarily. Manufacturing jew
elry trade does not improve, many shops
running short time.
At Philadelphia there is better feeling
in wholesale lumber and prices are firmer.
The yarn trade is unsatisfactory, with
much idle machinery, and wool is only
taken for immediate needs. Shoe trade Is
dull. both in manufacturing and jobbing.
At Pittsburg iron and steel markets i'm
prove slowly. Mills are better occupied,
but new business is light. Coal market
continues very active. The window glass
company troubles have not been settled,
but operations are expected to start today.
Tableware factories have all resumed and
flint bottle factories are in active opera
ton.
At Baltimore there is a brisk demand
for straw goods. and Chinese troubles have
caused sharp advancement in straw bralds
Furniture is picking up, house buyers cr-
dering freely and Southern demand is
better than for some years. Lumber i'm
proves. At Atlanta business is satisfactory
10, .le k0t H. IL
shows some Improvement, but hardware
and agricultural lines are quiet. At New
Orleans iobbers in all lines report increased
business. Rice is coming in freely; sugar
is quiet. Exports OF grain have increased
At Nashville merchants are purchasing
with more conservatism and retail trade
is quiet At Dallas the cotton movement
is beginning in earnest. Trading in all
lines is brisk.
At Cincinnati business is generally good
At Cleveland building materials are more
active. and some Improvement is noticed
in iron and steel products. At Detroit
trade In manufacturing and jobbing lines
is satisfactory. and sales increase in some
directions. At Grand Rapids trade condi
lions continue unchanged. At Indianapolis
business continues quiet.
At Chicago the grain market is active
with cash wheat in good demand and corn
l cent higher. There Is a heavy rush of
orders in principal wholesale lines. Manu-
facturers of electrical equipment, power
plants, and heavy mill supplies are quite
busy. Al Milwaukee crops are moving at
better prices The tobacco crop was in
jured by a severe hailstorm. At Minneap-
oils trade conditions are generally salts
factory and fall buying in all lines heavy
Shoe factories are In full operation. Lum-
Der mills are active The -four situation
has improved At st. Paul shoe and fur
factories are worked to full capacity. job
bers report Increased activity in hardware
St Louis country buying has been more
liberal this season than ever before, and
the heavy freight movement has been due
largely to increased merchandise ship
ments. At Kansas City more buyers are in
the market. and trade improves in dry
goods and shoes. At St. Joseph fall bust
ness succeeds last years in dry goods and
shoes.