The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-31


 lines have declined in the past month, our general prosperity has become better distributed and now includes greater number of important centers than at any previous time. Prospects for a smaller wheat crop and the danger of a strike on the railroads have not seemed to affect commercial activity adversely. the decreases which have occurred being rather continuance of the gradual readjust- ment which has been going on for the past few months.
 Exports. of merchandise during June totaled 465 million dollars com pared with 269 million dollars in June of last year and imports aggregated 246 million dollars compared with 158 million dollars a year ago. making favorable balance of trade for June of this year of 219 million dollars com pared with III millions in June. 1915 and compared with a favorable bal ance of 243 million dollars in May of this year.
 Merchant shipping from this coun- try made a new high record in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1916, Amer ican and foreign ocean traffic clearing from the seaports of the United States during the year totaling 25,475 thou sand net tons compared with 24,872 thousand net tons in the fiscal year 1914, which was the next largest year. Of the 1916 total, American shipping contytbuted 2.448 thousand net tons compared with 745 thousand net tons in 191<.
 Bank caearings during July at 162 cities aggregated 19 billion dollars compared with 15 billion dollars in July of last year. a gain of 30 per cent-, increases being shown by 151 of the Jepoeting centers- Outside of New York City, clear1ngs were nearly eight billion dollars compared with six bil- lion dollars a year ago, a gain of 27 per cent.
 There were 1,185 business failures in July compared with 1,591 in July of last year and the liabilities of the failed concerns aggregated nearly elev- on million dollars compared with IT million dollars for the failures a year ago. These figures compare with 1,- 23s fAilures in June of this year with HabiIitdes of ten million dollars.
 Financing by corporations during July totAled 130 million dollars com pared with 65 million dollars in July of Last year, an increase of 109 per cent. It is estimated that fully 30 per cent of the financing done in July waSA used to pay off maturing obliga- lions. Securities maturing in August will total zz million dollars, and an early compilation of September ma turtles shows a total of only IA mil lion dollars compared with 52 million dollars in September a year ago.
 The total capitalization of new and largo corporations formed during July was 320 million dollars compared with 133 million dollars in July last year.
 Dividend and interest disbursements during August will total 151 million dollars compared with 121 million dol lars in August, 1915. Dividends paid in August will total 83 million dollars compared with over 57 millions in Au- gust last year and interest payments will aggregate 68 million dollars com pared with s4 millions a year ago. The dividend and interest total for August marks a new high record for that month.
 July sales of sotcks on the New York Exchange totaled nearly ten mil- lion shares compared with thirteen million shares in June and fourteen million shares in July. 1915. Bond sales in July tota1ed 67 million dollars compared with s2 million dollars in June and 55 million dollars in July, 1915. The average price of a selected list of 62 stocks at the close of July was 1O0.4 compared with 1923 month previous and sS.13 a year pre- viouA. The average price of 30 se- 1ectsd bonds at the close of July was 91.41 compared with 91.68 a month before and S7.52 at the close of July 1915.
 Total money in circulation on Au- gust 1st was 4.ooo million dollars com- pared with 4.O1s million dollars on July 1st and 3,564 million dollars on August 1. 1915. The per capita cir on August 1st was $39. .00 com- pared with $3o.23 on July 1st and $35.- 23 on August 1st of last year. The population of the United States is es- tinatsd to be 10z,574 thousand per- sons compared with 1OO.S67 thousand one year ago.
 GFoss earnings of 110 railroads in Jpns were 1s1 million dollars compar- ed with 16z million dollars in June a year ago. q gain of 19 per cent and net earnings for those roads aggre- gated @ million dollars compared with 50 million dollars in June, 1915. a gain Df 26 per cent. A more complete gross earnings report for June gives a to- tai of z66 million dollars compared with 222 million dollars in the same month of last year, a gain of 20 per cent.
 July orders for railroad ears totaled 10,40z compared with 6.857 cars or- dered in June and 9.5o0 in July of last year. Our orders would undoubtedly be larger could the manufacturers Ob- |ain the necessary raw materials. LocO- motives ordered in July numbered S1 compared with 326 in June and 120 in July, 1915. July rail orders aggre- rated A thousand tons compared with SIS thousand tons in June and 240 thousand tons in July year ago.
 During July, the number of idle cars in the country again decreased. the net surplus on August 1st standing at less than Il thousand cars compared with a net surplus of 52 thousand cars . month before and 265 thousand idle