The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-25
HOLIDAY TRADE is HEAVY.
HARVEST REAPED BY RETAILERS
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

Business Wholly Up to and In Many
Instances Surprising Expecta-
lions Cotton Goods Situation
Among the Eastern Mills Not I'M
proved and Many Mills Passing
Dividends Export Business in
Wheat Somewhat Affected by the
Speculative Uncertainty at Chi
csEO.
New York Dec. PAR. C. Dun's Week
ly Review of Trade tomorrow will say:
Trade reports show a remarkably large
holiday trade, at many points the largest
for five years. Moreover, the season when
wholesale business usually shrinks, the
pressure of demands for immediate delv-
cries, which results from unprecedented
distribution to consumers, keeps many es-
adjustments at work that usually begin
the rest spell somewhat earlier. Instead
of decreasing, the demand for products
shows an unexpected increase in several
important branches. Foreign trade con-
tinues satisfactory, even in comparison
with the remarkable record of a year ago,
when exports exceeded $117, coo, 600 In De-
cember. Commercial failures for the north
have been less than half last years to the
same date.
THE outgoing flood of grain is not
checked by Chicago speculation, though
more corn than wheat has been moving.
Wheat exports, flour included. have been
365S,321 bushels for the week, against
1,456,4lS a year ago, and in four weeks 49,
1885, 95 bushels against 9O99, 5S7 last year,
while corn exports for the week, 4,57O, 1913
bushels against 1,751,74O last year have
been in four weeks 1,42O ISL against 1,17e,-
073 last year.
Wheat has varied little, closing cents
higher for the week, after deliveries of
surprising magnitude in Chicago, and corn
closes nearly a cent higher.
Cotton has also been moving largely
and has risen a sixteenth
Cotton goods have further declined in
prices of bleached, which meet active
southern competition, and the Fall River
spinners insist upon reduction of one
ninth in wages. other New England mills
joining. Out of 101 New England works
forty-five have passed dividends, fourteen
at Fall River, with fifteen others paying
one per cent. for the last quarter. The
fall in the price of cotton, when mills
were holding heavy stocks of goods, plac-
ed this industry in a most embarrassing
condition.
wool is firm, traders having disposed
of 100000 pounds to the territory and
l,4O0,OO OF domestic at Boston, and sales at
three cities reached 1859, 100 pounds.
There Ss a stronger demand for iron
and its products, Bessemer rising to $40
- fAsaar - M
Eastern Bar Association has advanced the
price to IL cents for refined and 1.O21a
cents for common.
Owing to changes in freight rates.
southern pig is offered $3.50 lower.
A striking feature is the unusual de-
mand for the season in building cars, of
which 4,O00 have been ordered at Chicago
by one trunk line, and rails there have
advanced to SIS, with sales here of 5000
tons for home use and 1000 for Mexico
Building contracts are unusual in num-
Der for this season.
Illinois steel companies have orders
booked for eight months ahead, and more
coming. Pipes are quite active, and bill
lets have raised about so cents.
Anthracite coal is 50 cents stronger with
colder weather. Tin is slightly weaker.
owing to large shipments
Failures for the week have been 292 in
the United States, against 297 last year,
ana 50 IN canada, against A last year"
New York, Dec. A.-Bradstreets of to-
morrow viii say3 "Quietness in wholesale
lines, but pronounced and notable activity
in retail trade, have been the salient feat
ure in this weeks trade situation. Price
changes are largely in an unsettled condi-
jtlon and the year draws to close with
the result wholly equal, and in many in
stances surprising expectations. The hol-
iday trade has been heavy At the south.
New Orleans reports retailers reaping a
harvest. Similarly good reports come from
Nashville Savannah and Memphis. but
collections and business would be larger
We're 1t not for the low price of cotton.
AT the east, seasonable conditions pre-
vail, the wholesale trade being quiet and
the holiday business active. No improve
ment is noted in the cotton goods situa-
ton and wage reductions seem imminent
Good business has been done In boots and
shoes, and shipments are far ahead of last
year. Pacific coast retail trade is active
and Klondyke boomers are gathering in
the cities of Washington and Oregon.
Proof that the unsettled condition of
the wheat situation affects the export bust
ness in that cereal is furnished by the fig
ures of shipments this week from both
coasts of the United States and Canada
THE total failures this week were 2SO
which is smaller than the total in 1885,
when 316 were reported"
BEARS AFRAID OF THE BULLS.