The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-14
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEW
TRADE DULL EXCEPT ny COZ TEASr
WIIH PRECEDING WEEkS.
Price Of staples Continues Downwardss
Petroleum, Coffee and Cotton show
es-Evcrything Quiet.

NEW YORK. Dec. 13.-Bradstreets TO-
morrow will say;
With the exception OF mild weather at
cities In Missouri Kansas, Nebraska. ana
Minnesota, colder weather has stimu-
lated sales OF Seasorable merchandise ~
nearly ali points. but only by contrast
with proceeding weeks.
Wholesale trade IL duh. merchants pre-
ferring TO reduce stocks at tie end OF
the year. TO make ready Tor annual in
ventOries.
In retail lines there has been a marked
increase IN demand.
trregularity Is shown IN mercantile coli
loctions, general trade throughout the
country being relatively most satisfac-
tory In the Central Mississippi.
Bank collections throughout the United
States aggregated 81. o.Ooo.0oo. a de-
crease or y per cent from last week.
winch ~ not unusual. As compared
with clearin.gs for the second week OF
December, 1874; this weeks aggregate
shows an increase OF 10 per cent
The course OF prices OF staples con-
tnues downward. Lumber remains
Iron and steel continue what appears 10
be. regular weekly decrease. although
reductions this week are fractional.
COTTON PRICES.
The only advances IN quotations re-
corded among the more important staples
are Tor petroleum. coffee. and cotton.
In industrial lines woollen manufac-
turers report fair ordcra Tor dry goods.
but at low prices.
Philadelphia textile plants running OH
fun time are those at work on orders
Tor immediate delivery. Philadelphia
manufacturers for Morocco have begun
running on short time.
There are 3i3 business failures re-
ported throughout the United States this
week, compared with 315 last week. a>.i
IN the like week enc year ago. 331 two
years ago. and as contrasted with 29s an
the second week of December. 1892.
Among more COuSDtguoita frate fpa-
lures are the disappointing Christmas
trade az several cities. smaller volume Of
at Chicago, increased distribution OF
heavier textiles. shoes, and rubber goods
at ST. Louis, and continued depression In
Certain lines al Kansas city. Omaha. and
minneapolis, because OF mild weather.
Among southern cities the single In
stance OF Improvement IL reported from
birmingham. although most distributing
centres expect AN Increased demand after
January lst Cotton receipts are un-
usually small at almost All southern
points, except at New Orlefbs, where
they are liberal. Galveston reports tho
Christmas trade smaller than one year
ago.
DUN.
r. G. Dun & Co Will say tomorrow In
their weekly review of trade:
Failures Tor the first week OF December
show liabilities OF S.l ,S3l. against si,O3c,-
s66 last year and i1bl. iO9 In 1898: in manu-
year ana $,l3o0ii In 1885, and in trading
sl,s92,&l, against s.. i0l. 45l last year and
s2.59i. 1866 In 1898. Failures for the week
have been 55S In the United States.
against 3i9 last year, and % IN Canada.
against 10 last year.
lt has been very quiet week, without
any disturbance. Prices OF manufactured
products slowly recede from the high
water mark OF speculation, and no ma
terial Increase I'm demand Is now expected
until after the holidays, but there Is gen
eral confidence that greater activity VIII
then appear
Speculation I'm products is not very
brisk, and I'm stock decidedly inactive, ex-
cept In "A few industrials. The outgo OF
gold does not expand, and the outward
movement OF products IL shade larger.
Clearings are l0.4 per cent more than last
year.
'ihe Government crop report caused
scarcely ripple OF interest, though indt-
eating less than 6,fO0,000 bales Of cotton
and n larger acreage than had been ox-
pectcd or winter wheat. The great sup
plies OF cotton brought over from pre-
yious years render II unimportant whefh-
er the yield OF 1895 was seven or six mill
lion bales, except as affecting futufa
planting and the extensive organization
of planters 10 keep back their cotton and
deprive small receipts or their natural
influence. Whether from that cause or
not, receipts have recently been over ~
per cent. smaller than last year. but
takings of spinners and exports are also
smaller.
IRON PRODUCTS.
Iron furnaces in blast December iss
turned out 2lG.797 tons weekly. against 2ls,-
3U6 November LIST, with increase OF s.0t
tons I'm stocks unsold. But actual con.
sumption ~ much smaller than the out
put at present and prices again decline
No 1 anthracite to Sl315. Bessemer pig az
Plttsburg to $780, and gray forge 10 fi2.
f.nished products are weak and sell below
quotations, though quoted prices average
about half OF | per cent. lower for the
week Heavy orders by the Rockefeller
interest for plates and other material TO
build vessels for transportation OF ore
next year have strengthened the market
somewhat, but the demand at the East
is very light, and most OF the works
have shortened force considerably, while
pittsburg structural forms, plates, sheets.
and pipes are In light demand, and some
bar mills I'm the valley have shut down
I ,r want OF orders. Higher prices are ex-
pected for ore and coke and II Is believed
this will cause an inward tprn I'm iron.
The shoe manufacture Is getting rather
more new business, mainly In cheaper
goods, by reduction IN prices, which has
averaged nearly per cent since the last
week OF November. Business I'm cotton
has not gained. and print cloths are lower
at 1-sc while few more reductions are
noted in prices OF other goods. The man.