The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-30

Conditions which have obtained al- most since the European War began are rapidly changing and it will be advisable to swatch the fundamental lines of trade and finance closely for the next few weeks. The present tre- mendous activity in most lines, mo- tably the metals, is almost surely indi- cative of the final spurt of buying be- fore natural lapsing ipto more nor nal situation,
 So many things of great moment confront the business man to-day that the usual hesitancy and doubt caused by a Presidential Campaign are likely t0<be oyershadowed- A. slight 1et-up in general activities wo1fdt be inevi- table regardless of the Presidential Campaign or prospects of war with Mexico, although both of these factors will, of course, affect business condi- tions to a degree.
 Exports of merchandise during April amounted to 4O4 million dollars compared with 294 million dollars in April, 1915, and imports were 21S million dollars compared with 160 million dollars in April of last year. Our favorable balance of trade in April totaled 186 million dollars com pared with 134 million dollars in April 1915, and compared with fa- vorabIe balance of 196. million dollars in March of this year
 Bank clearings during May at 162 cities aggregated 21 billion dollars compared with 15 billions in May, 1915, gain of 41 per cent. and com pared with clearings of 19 billion doIr lars in April of this year. Only four of the 162 cities included in the re- turns failed to show increases over a year ago. The May total is only a very little below that of March of this year, the record high month.
 foi1 in May compared with 1.571 in May. 1915, and the liabilities of the failed concerns aggregated 19 million dol- lars compared with not quite 19 mil lion dollars forsthe failures a year ago. Assets of the concerns failing in May aggregated nine million dollars com pared with ten million dollars a year ago, leaving net liabilities of nine mil lion dollars this year or Just the same as year ago.
 Financing by corporations during May aggregated 192 million dollars compared with 98 million dollars In May. 1915. Something over 25 per cent. of the May total was used to pay off maturing obligations Securities maturing in June will total S5 million dollars compared with 72 million dol Jars in May and 107 million dollars in June. 1915. Although below last years total. June rnaturities are the largest of any month of 1916.
 The total capitalization of new and large corporations formed during May wass312 million dollars compared with 124 million dollars in May, 1915.
 Dividend and interest disbursements during June will total 1S7 million dol lars, the same as the previous month, and compared with 115 million dol lars in June of last year Dividends paid in June total 64 million dollars compared with AT million dollars last year and interest payments will aggre- gate73 million dollars compared with 6s millions in June. 1915.
 May sales of stocks on the New York Exchange of over 6 million shares were the largest of any month this year. comparing with 8 million shares in April and 13 million shares in May, 1915. Bond sales tota1ed 99 millions dollars in May compared with TT million dollars in April and 64 mill lion dollars in May 1915. The aver age price of a selected list of 62 stocks at the close of May was s101.4 compa- red with 99.81 a naonth previous and SS.71 a year previous. r sTf1e average price of 30 selected bonds was 95.9O compared with 95.52 a month before and 91.S2 at the close of May 1915.
 TotaI money in circulation on June 1st was 3,924 million dollars com pared with 3,910 million dollars on May 1st and 3,527 million dollars on June 1, 1915. The per capita circu- Iation on June 1st was s3s.36 compa- red with $38.28 a month previous and $3507 a year previous. The popu1a- ton of the United States is estin1ated to be 102,289 thousand persons com pared with 10Os5S3 thousand a year ago.
 Gross earnings of 475 railroads in April totaled 28 million dollars com pared with 23S million dollars in April, 1915, a gain of 21 per cent. and net earnings for the same roads were 9S million dollars compared with 67 million dollars last year. a gain of 3S per cent These increases are a little less in both percentage and amount than for the months inne- diate1y preceding, but they are highly satisfact ctory. especially since the gain in net earnings in April follows con- siderable gain in net in April of last year. Preliminary reports show gross earnings of 40 railroads in May of 7e million dollars compared with 58 mil lion dollars in May, 1915. a gain of 31 per cent The western grain move rleT1t shows some expansion even over last years gains and the southern cot ion movement in May was little bet ter than for the two preceding years
 May orders for railroad cars totaleo s.362 compared with 9,454 cars order ed in April and 20,21O in May 1915 I Locomotives ordered in May number cd BPS compared with 162 in Apri and 166 in May of last year. May rail orders aggregated BPS thousand tons compared with 955 thousand tons in April and 14 thousand tons in May year ago.
 On June 1st, there was a net sur plus of 55 thousand idle cars in the United States. compared with 31 thou sand month previous and an in crease in idle cars for the third suc- ceastve month, On June 1, 1915 there vDgs 300 khonsana cars Idle.