The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-09-19
THE CONDITION OF BUSINESS
Dun and Bradstreet's Commercial
Agencies Give Interesting Facts.
At the South the Fall Trade is Open
ing Up More Freely Than Antici.
pated. The Tendency to Re-
action in Prices Among
Food. Staples Continues.
BY Southern Associated Press.

streets tomorrow will say: The week
is characterized u.trade circles by an
unexpected, but no less pronounced
Improvement South and Southwest.
Thisiis reflected by the supplies that
'nre distributed to these regions. Rela.
lively unfavorable features arc found
in u quieter tone 10 dry goods jobbing
circles; check to sessonable trade
throughout tho central West to
the unusual heat; low prices
tor mems wear, woolens aud
an unsatisfactory outlook due to
depressed quotation abroad; only
moderate orders for domestic wooden
manufactures; CANCELLATION OF few
Nebraska'general merchandise orders
at Chicago aud the somewhat critical
position of the American tin plate i'll.
dustry owing to heavy advance III
prices OF tin plate bars without cor
responding increase in the prices of
tin plate.
At the South fall trade,is opening
up more freely than anticipated with
marked improvement in business and
increased confidence as to the outlook
ut Jacksonville, Atlanta and Augusta.
The Improvement in iron has had an
influence at Birmingham and through.
out the tributary region, all evidence
OF which ii found i'll tho temporary in
ability of Birmingham Wholesalers
to meet the demand for hardware aud
groceries
Aside from the Grmuess of cotton
goods, prices, which is u feature in
trade circles North ard East, the most
conspicuous movement Is the cou-
tinued activity III iron and steel, high
est quotations yet reached having no
effect in restricting demand. Present
rate of production of pig iron exceeds
2OO, QUO tons weekly, the largest i'll our
history, at the rate OF more than 100.
OOO ,0OU tons per annum. Lake cities
reported improved demand Tor general
merchandise.
Revised estimates from Texas point
to only half cotton crop, but trade Is
uctive and the outlook favorable be-
cause OF a greater relative increase IN
the price of cotton than the reduction
III out'turn. Louisiana sugar crop Is
reported from IL per cent. to 20 per
cent. smaller than that of lust year.
Tho tendency 10 reaction III prices,
particularly among food staples, con.
tlnues with further liquidation In
wheat, Indian corn, pork, lard and
sugar. Reactions arc reported III prices
for cotton aud hides. On tile other
hand higher coal prices have appeared
Ut New York and Philadelphia, and the
prospect is for further advance all
along the line.
In addition to higher quotations for
cedar, prices OF almost ell staudard
varieties OF cotton goods are higher, and
tend upward. Then there is 81 adj.
vauceIu steel rails, the litter now Doiug
on: a parity with quotations for bilets.
Total of business failures throughout
tue United States this week number
2l3, as compared with ISL last week,
223 III the second week OF September,
lS94-300 IN that week in 1893, and l43
III the corresponding week Of 1892,
New YORK, September -. X. Il.
Dun X Co., III their weekly review of
trade to morrow. will say: A slight
set back, winch may mean much, or
nothing, according TO the final outcome
OF the crops, Is not unexpected at this
season. Ii the Government crop re
ports were correct the situation would
not be encouraging. But pot much
confidence Is placed in the reduced
estimate of cOru, none at oil in the esti
mate of wheat aud even the most Ell
thusiaslic bulls do not think 1t worth
while to quote the Government report
AS to cotton.
The fact is that we are beginning to
market not far from 2,2U0, 0UO bushels
of corn, though only about 500 900, :
900 bushels will be moved from tho
countries where II is grown, about
45U GOO, 600 bushels wheat where the
farmers are unwlsely holding back II
large proportion and about 200, 900
bales cotton, II the latter Indications
may be, to add 10 the stocks carried
over.
The commercial stocks of cotton Sep.
temb Der ! here and abroad amounted TO
,, 100, 53S bales and domestic mill
stocks were 3GO,Gl3 bales, allowing not
siU9Ie bale for increase of stocks ut
Southern mills. Prices have settled
back u little during the past week, not.
withstanding the gloomy department
report.
The wheat crop is evidently larger
than the department has estimated,
though nobody knows how much larger,
aud 10 coming forward with more en-.
coursging rapMity, no less than >. 713.
ll3 bushels having been received at
Western ports. about ,, 44G, 0ul bushels
for the same week last year from "A
much larger crop. The price declined
sharply, about 10 cents per bushel,
with little indication OF recovery. The
price Of corn has only yielded with
strong prospect of the largest crop ever
grown, and at IS cents ut New York n
large proportion of the crop will be of