The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-24
THE STATE OF TRADE.
Business on the Whole Better
Than Usual.
GREAT ACTIVITY IN wooLEN GOODS

Collections are Slow, Particularly in
the South-The Iron Trade Weaker.
Speculative Markets Disturbed by
Gold Exports.
NEW YORK. Dec. PAR. G. Dunn
& Co.'S weekly review of trade says:
The business failures occurring through
out the country during the past seven
days number 2s3, as compared with 304
last week and 297 the week previous to
the last. For the corresponding week
of last year there were 25, failures.
Reports of the condition of trade are
decidedly more satisfactory in most
lines, especially in woolens, though
trade in iron and steel is noticeably
weaker. The holiday trade throughout
tire north seems unusually large, es-
pecially at Chicago, st. Louis and Cleve-
land, and it is lively at some southern
points, such as Knoxville, but only fair
at Memphis and Little Rock
In other products distribution appears
generally larger than usual for the sea-
Son, particularly in dry goods shoes
and furniture of the better grade. On
the other hand, money markets are
SiipNlitS ilplt VI pressure, ana IL
is also worthy of note that collections
are somewhat less satisfactory at the
west, and only fair at the SOUTH
The striking feature of the week is
the great demand for wooden and cotton
goods. All cotton machinery is en-
nlJyed TO full capacity, but is behind the
demand, and prices are exceedingly firm,
with tendency to advance. Sales of
overcoatinss have been phenomenal and
nearly every mill is said to be oyersold.
which leaves less machinery available
for other goods. But orders for suitings
are larger and earlier than usual,
clothiers realizing their losses in past
years by waiting too long. Orders for
cheviots are numerous, especially about
$l.25 per yard, and for cassimeres large
The result has been decided increase
III sales OF wool, which recently declined,
but are now larger than year ago.
In boots and shoes there also appears
very unusual demand for the season,
many spring orders being placed with
urgent demand for early delivery. Both
OF shoes and dry goods, stocks through
out the country appear unusually light,
consumption having been unprecedented.
The iron trade has become decidedly
weaker, and holders of pig make conces-
sions of about % cents, the pressure to
sell being mainly northern. For nearly
all finished products the demand is slack
and lower prices are made wherever
much business is done
Retail trade at Baltimore is decidedly
active i'll cotton goods, the heaviest for
years. AT New Orleans there is fair ac-
tivity for the season, though sugar is in
large demand, and rice improving in
price.
Speculative markets were much dis
turbed by large gold exports and the
rise in exchange, and the stringency iii
money on call, which rose from por
cent. two weeks ago, and one week
| ago to 40 per cent. at one time on Mon
day, and is still strong at q per cent.
| Stocks were sharply depressed, nearly
| 81 per share, especially those of the in
| dustrial list. Wheat declined but 5-S of
| cent, the western receipts continuing
/ about 800, COO bushels daily, but corn fell
| 1-2 cent with western receipts nearly
| 2O0,G09 bushels daily, and oats declined
| Ia. Cotton advanced sixteenth, great
| stocks being held for rise, so that set
! Elements of bankers southern loans are
| backward
The treasury has taken in 80, 800, coo of
/ its notes and lost as mpch gold, while its
= silver has increased $500, ,00O during the
| week. Exports OF products fall behind
last years, but the outgo of gold is eYi-
| dantly due in the main to foreign sales
of securities, and whether these will
1 continue no one can say with certainty.