The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-25
TRADE CONDITIONS.
Contrary Currents Give Appearances off
Irregu1arity.

New York, August "A -Bradstreets
tomorrow will say: Contrary trade
currents still give an appearance of irreg-
ularity to the entire situation, but good
and unfavOrable influences conspire to
bring about a sort of balance which &C
cords well with the weather conditions
and the particular season of the year
il clearance returns are to be regarded,
the tide OF trade was about at its ebb
last week, but it is well known that
clearings rarely, except in times of specu-
latiVe excitement, reflect present cOndi-
lions.
In the. iron trade, the corner has appar-
entity been turned for the better, and
there is a perceptible improvement in the
jobbing demand at leading western
markets. Despite the reports which have
pictured the corn crop as heavily short
ened by hot winds, the reports from Ne
braska, Kansas City and St. Louis are,
as whole, quite encouraging. The low
cred price of cotton is largely due to the
arrival OF needed rains in the South At
lantic states. Chief among the advances
of the week has been wheat, which has
reflected the freest export buying Tor
weeks past.
In the list of unfavorable features.
holiday quiet in many lines is notable at
the leading eastern centers, although
some improvement in dry goods jobbing
is reported at several points. The dull
| HISS III BbutId1 SD6CUldDlOn is marked.
| stocks and food products being very in
active. In the textile trades, quiet in
cotton goods Is still notable, and the
spring season for mems wear WOOlens
dIags perceptibly. Raw wool is quiet
and the manufacturers are buying to till
| orders actually booked, Raw cotton is
at deadlock, crop uncertainties ana
extremely small supplies being balanced
/ by the less favorable outlook for the
manufactured goods. All in all, the
trade situation may be said to lack snap,
but there is little appearance OF weakness
and hOpeIullness as to the fall trade out
look is expressed in spite OF It's presume
I bly, being year OF election excitement.
IS Western trade adv1ces are re latively
more optimistic More is doing there in
shoe leather and hides are firm. St.
! Louis reports that the Missouri corn crop
Will be an average one and that of I'LL
nOis very large. G God business in dry
goods Is reported but cotton goods sell
| very low. Shoes are active though at
very low pr ces. Hot weather has helped
the Louisiana cotton crop but it Is
claimed to have hurt cotton and trade in
the south Atlantic states before it was
succeeded by rains.
Bank clearings for the week aggregate
81, 800, ,S43, 493, a fraction of one per cent
over last week, but a decrease of H.
per cent from this week a year ago.
Business failures in the United States
aggregate 1876 for the week as against
16S last and 154 in this week year ago.
Gross railway earnings OF sixty roads
! Tor The second week OF August aggregate
s., 977, III, a gain OF SO per cent over a
year ago Wheat, Including flour ship
ments for the week. aggregate 2, 500, 16e
bushels against 3,343. 1926 bushels in the
corresponding week of 1899 Corn ex-
ports for the week aggregate 3 493, BE
bushels against 1886, 007 bushels in this
week year ago.
Canadian trade Is seasonably light in
the province of Quebec but weather is
better and crops have been helped there.
by. Toronto looks for a large attendance
Of buyers next week, as result Of the
opening OF the annual industrial exposi.
6ion and the fall millinery openings.
Trade conditions are reported healthy
though quiet IN the maritime provinces,
trade Is improved both at wholesale and
retail and collections are fair. Canadian
clearlngs aggregate $27 $50, O46, a decrease
or "A per cent from last week and from
this week a year ago. Business failures
Tor the week number % as against "A
last week. % In this week a year ago, %
IN 1873, 80 in 1897 and 81 in 1896.