The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-09

Trade Improving Little. Owing TO the
HOLIDAY season.

SEw YosK, Dec. s-Rrcdsfreets review
of trade says: At the larger Eastern cities
retail trade has assumed the charact.ris-
tics Of the hciiaay season. Demand from
joohers is mainly 20 III out depleted
stocks. and the activity is mainly among
retailers. At the South there IS a reason
able activity In staple goods. with q mod
crate i'm provemens 81 Nashville, Chatta-
nooga, Savannah. Aagusts and Jackson
vile Southern jobbers are paying as
much attention 10 collecting bills IS -
selling goods At Charleston. Memphis
and Birmingham trade is quier and un-
changed. New Orleans and Galveston
liksxis= send unfavorable reports of the
movement of merchandise. but at the hrst-
named city the free marketing OF crops
makes money more plentiful, though the
demand for funds - small. There has
been a moderate gain IN the distri-
button OF shoes. groceries and light
hardw from Galveston. bat sales Of
dry goods are dull. Among Central and
Western cities Cleveland and Cincinnati
are exceptional in reporting gains IN de-
mand in isw lines, aud az the first named
from manufacturers. The movement of
staple merchandise from Detroit and Louis
vile Is characterized as teafurelsss. AT
Chicago sales OF clothing exceed those of
the ike period OF 1891, but the distribution
of shoes, rubber goods and hardware is
smaller ST. Louis jobbers report the
heaviest demand from nearby country
dealers 10 Eli In stocks. and q better feeling
In the finished iron and steel trade.
Kansas City jobbers send an encouraging
report, based on efforts 10 push trade in
Texas, and favorable results. North OF
Kansas City trade reports are less favor
able. owing TO unreasonable open weather.
and throughout Nebraska and adjacent
regions, owing 10 the need of rain. The
aggregate Duluth shipments by lake are
/ COO, 600 tons over 1898. but receipts are q
tribe smaller. The tendency of prices is
10 increased firmness. the list Of staples
showing advances being longer than that
on which quotations are not maintained.
At London the wool sales closed per
cent. higher than the opening for good
varieties. That staple is regarded as hay-
ing advanced, although quotations for
territories are nominally only steady.
American purchases a. London amount to
$500, COO bales.
Western tanners report per cent
advance in the price of skins. and Chicago
announces sales of pig iron and st. Louis
OF scrap iron. Quotations refer to sugar,
cotton. tin and lard. Live hogs have been
lower at Kansas City, but higher at Omaha.
Merchants and manufacturers are re-
ported as anticipating that business will
remain well within conservatives lines
during the winter, with q moderate in
crease in the spring.
There has been SOIL, 900 bushels of
what -four incIuded as wheat exported
from the United States, Canada none. this
week. compared with 2.55S. 600 bu.hels in
the like week year ago, 404, 900 bushels
two years ago. and 2.64i, 600 bushels in the
first week of January, 1890. Crop inter
ests in California have been improved by
seasonable rains throughout that state.
San Francisco wheat exporters are expect
ing an early shortage in tonnage.
Groceries and fancy goods are in better
demand at Toronto, but dry goods and
clothing are quiet.