The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-04

Commercial transactions are main taining a substantial volume throusf q summer period which usually wit' nesses a larger falling off. ShghtS abated activity is to be noted Tn some quarters, and there are definite eVl' dences of readjustment and a closer approach to normal.
 Bank clearings at 162 cities durlns June aggregated nearly 2l billion ool' lars compared with IA billions in June of last year, gain of 46 per cent This is a new high record in clear inss for the month of June. Clearings outside of New York city were elgh' million dollars compared with six pli- lion dollars a year ago, gain or 3- per cent. ;N
 Exports of merchandise during May totaled 472 million dollars compared with ETA million dollars in May Of las' year. while imports were 229 million dollars compared with AZ millions a year ago, making favorable balance of trade for May of 243 million dollars compared with 132 million dollars fo1 May, 1915 The Department o1 Commerce has estimated our foreign trade totals for the twelve months ending June 30, 1916, the amounts fol June being based upon final returns for May given above. Exports fol the twelve months are estimated at A. 345 million dollars compared with g. 76S million dollars for the previous twelve months, the gain being 1,57l million dollars or 57 per cent. I'm ports for the period are estimated al 2,18O million dollars compared with 1,674 million dollars for the previous fiscal year, an increase of 506 million dollars or 30 per cent. From these figures it is seen that our favorable balance of trade for the fiscal year 1916 aggregated 2,165 million dollars nearly twice the favorable balance of the previous year, 1,094 million dollars, which at the time set new high record. It is gratifying to sec that manufactured goods of variou: classes have shared substantially ir our increased exports. When com pared with the previous fiscal year our exports of iron and steel show ar increase of IT per cent; explosives an increase of 1,054 per cent; meats 32 per cent; manufactures of copper 56 per cent; minerals, 23 per cent. brass and brass manufactures, 500 pel cent; automobiles and parts, 81 pei cent; chemicals, 167 per cent; man. ufactures of cotton, 55 per cent; re. fined sugar, POS per cent; leather, g per cent. Exports of raw cotton de. creased 1.6 per cent. during the fisca year and wheat and flour exports fel off 27 per cent.
 Building operations during June a, 142 cities totaled 93 million dollar. compared with 68 million dollars ir June of last year, a gain of 35 Del cent. Building operations have beer larger in each month of 1916 thar in any corresponding month last year and for the first half year, the az. gregate increase is about 25 per cent.
 Lumber cut in May was again lar. ger than lumber shipments, the cu being 1,2o4 million feet compared with 9S5 million feet in May of las year, and shipments 1,17O million feet compared with 995 million feet ir May year ago. This excess of cu has prevailed for many months. Int lumber cut in May (549 mills report lng) was composed of LOST million feet of soft woods and 117 million feet of hard woods compared witt 8S3 million feet of soft woods and 10: million feet of hard woods cut in Ma, last year. May shipments consisted of 1,07S million feet of soft woods ant 92 million feet of hard woods, com pared with shipments of 92O million Feet of soft woods and 75 million fee Of hard woods in May, 1915.
 Railroad earnings are not yet full, reported for May, but May gross earn fngs of 173 roads totaled 300 millio, dollars compared with 237 dollars il May year ago, gain of 26 per cent Net earnings of these roads aggregat ed 1O3 million dollars compared witt 70 millions in May a year ago, a gail of 47 per cent. Gross earnings of railroads in June were 78 million dol lars compared with 62 millions in Jun last year, gain of 26 per cent Tn railroads are not only benefiting b the general business activity but tn movements of grains and cotton hay been larger during recent weeks thai in the same period year ago.
 There was a net surplus of 52 thou sand idle cars in this country on Jul 1st, compared with 55 thousand
 month previous. This decrease, whic] was principally in flat cars, follow successive increases for the previou three months.
 The railroads ordered 513 thousan, tons of rails in June compared witt 228 thousand tons in May and 22 thousand in June 1915 June locomo tive orders numbered 326 compare, with BPS in May and 130 in June O last year. There were 6,S57 railroa, cars ordered during June compare, with 8,362 cars ordered in May am 29,864 cars in June, 1915. Electri railways in the United States purchas ed 2,224 cars in the first half of 191 compared with 1,273 cars in the sam period of last year.
 During the fiscal year ended Jun 30, 1916, there were 1,O3O vessel built in the United States with a sros tonnage of BAT thousand tons comma red with 216 thousand gross tons fo the 1,26G vessels constructed in tn previous fiscal year.
 Lake Superior iron ore shipment during Juno again set a new hig] record totaIing 9,50S thousand ton compared with S,450 thousand tons il May and COOS thousand tons in Jun 1915
 Production of pig iron in June to taled 3,212 thousand tons compare, with 3,351 thousand tons in May an, 1,3S1 thousand tons in June of las year. There were J23 furnaces il