The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-11
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THE STATE or TRADE.
Features OF the Business of Last week
as Reported by Bradstreet'

Features OF the Business of Last Week
as Reported by Bradstreet.
Features Of the week in the business
world include moderate reduction In dis
tIibution Of staples, as is customary at
this season, nm unusual activity In hon-
day goods. relatively greater strength OK
MIC iron West than East, news OF the
financial regeneration of Southern mer-
chants this year. unprecedented move
meut West Of Eastern manufactured pro-
ducts, heavy bank clearings. fewer tah-
ur,s and easy money, In spite or the I'M
settled silver problem. possible gold ex-
rorts, and talk Of nervousness in the
stock marfet.
The share market has been irregular.
advancing on the absence ri hearish man
ifestations following Mr.. Gould's de-
cease. then showing a tendency to de-
cline on the prospect Of gold shipments
and the sharp break in silver. AT the
close of the week a recovery or prices oc-
CURED. due 10 postponement Of gold ex-
ports till next week, and the covering OF
short interests which it Occasioned. Sill
yer has been very weak on the prospec-
tive failure of results at Brussels, though
the decline is checked by commercial
buying and covering Of shorts.
Available stocks Of wheat, both coasts.
United States and Canada, aggregate
105 0S6 900 bushels, or more than ever SINH
larlv reported before, the increase over
December !, 1891, being 2la,mO bushels
Including stocks available in Europe and
ehoat for Europe. the aggregate is un-
precedented, amounting 10 lioSfOOO
bushels. fully 100000 bushels more than
were ever reported in Europe, ahoat
therefor, and in North America at any
prior date. Exports Of wheat from Doth
coasts Of the United States this week
Ciour included equal 100000 bushels,
against 4.533.OOO bushels last week. $685.
900 bushels i'm the week year ago, Zo4l,OOO
bushels two years ago, and smaller guam
titles two and three years ago
There are 265 business failures In the
United States reported during six bust
ness days ended December Sth, as COM
pared with 26S the week before, $50 in
the second week of December, 1891, and
3H in the like week OF 1890, pointing to
generally sounder commercial conditions
now than at like periods one and two
years ago Bank clearances throughout
the country this week aggregate, T,45l,-
O0O 900, an increase Of nearly 8 per cent.
as compared with last week, and of is
per cent. compared with the like week
one year ago.
At fourteen Southern cities interviews
with leading jobbers show that, with
minor exceptions, mercantile collections
are uniformly better than they were last
year at n like date, and debts of country
dealers to merchants at distributing CEN
tres are smaller and fewer in number.
Where figures are given they point to de-
creases of from 10 to % per cent Bal
timore reports a disposition at the South
70 buy small quantities frequently or as
wanted and greater care as to local
credits at the bottom Of the Improvement.
Nashville adds to the list good crops
raised at a minimum expense, and says
bills are being discounted more than
usual, and mat some farmers are hold
ing cotton for higher prices, borrowing
money on it and paying their debts. At
Birmingham trade is gaining in volume.
AT Richmond, Charleston and Atlanta in
creased orders for holiday goods are the
feature. Savannah says staple goods
have advanced 10G15 per cent. New Or
leans, with colder weather. higher prices
for cotton and active sales of sugar and
rice, anticipates a good volume Of bust
ness The volume Of business at Mem
phls, Augusta, Little Rock and some
other centres has not equaled the record
in former years, but has resultd more
faVorably. Galvestons jobbers report
that country dealers owe them from so
TO - per cent less than a year ago.
Dallas says Texas farmers have made
good crops, and Fort Worth that general
trade is fair.
Eastern centres present few changes
AT Boston boot and shoe factories are
busy on spring orders; leather is active
and there has been more buying Of wool
at steady prices. Philadelphia textile man.
ufacturers are buying wool for nearby
wants only but tobacco dealers there
say that staple is active. AT that city,
too, as at Pittsburg, pig iron is not so
firm as 1t has been, with less prospect
for an advance In the near future. More
iron has been turned out at the Pittsburg
mills within four months than last year.
but with about the same net result. I'm
seasonable weather has checked trade a
little Mt Buffalo, though only temporarily.
Hobby specialties are moving freely at
all la,ge cities jobbers finding it difficult
10 meet demands in some lines. Staple
cotton continue TO advance with the
well-sustained demand. Prints are very
firm at an advance Of Ia TO lie, and
prospects favor a further rise. Cotton
has scored a net gain OF 1-c. within
week. due to growth of a belief in a
short crop and delayed action on the
Anti-Option bill.
Locally. heavy groceries are firm; other
staples quiet with heavy run on confec-
lions. fancy groceries. fireworks and other
holiday specialties. Collections are good.