The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-11
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEWS,
Dun's and Bradstrcct's Reports on
the Conditions of Business.
FEWER FAILURES THAN LAST YEAR.
Improvement In Demand for Indus
triai froductiOns-Movc oI
wheat Heavy.

New York. December 10.R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review of trade viii say:
! The opening of congress with the annual
message and reports has not discouraged
| business, as some predicted, but all specu-
latlve markets are stronger than week
ago
| The productive industries even In the
season usually about the dulest of the year
met definite Improvement In demand for
important products presumably the fruit
of prevailing conviction that new bust
ness will begin to crowd the work after the
new year starts. The outward movement
OF wheat and other products continues
heavy. Securities are advancing with rca-
sen in the increased earnings of railways.
Si7. COS ,0Sl for November on reporting roads
in the United States. l6S larger than last
year and 50 larger than in lS92.
striking comparison for five years
81 ows hat In each Of the last three months
earnings have been greater than In any
previous year with larger .ncrease in
November than in October or September
The sudden advance In December wheat
would do harm were it not based on
bushels to Europe. That fact and the con-
tnued foreign demand in spite Of such con-
tracts has helped a rise Of l2c here.
Western receipts for the week were 5.19S,-
III bushels, against S69l,37l last year, and
Atlantic exports, including flour, 4312, 1877,
against 24l5,7H last year.
Cotton rs stronger In spite of estimates
ranging from 10000 600 to 1000 900. A
strike in English mills is no longer threat
cued and the possibility of one at Fall
River has little weight
The demand for WOODEN goods has clearly
improved, and that wool has been pur-
chased abroad and is being impor ed and
while some grades have been sold largely
at prices lower than a month ago. prices
arc maintained
Preparations for railroad work next year
aud contracts for export improve the de-
mand for iron. In and about New York
bridges and building contracts call for
10000 tons and Chicago works are figuring
on numerous contracts for 5000 railway
cars.
The formation of the American Steel and
Wirc company IS expected TO strengthen
prices and causes some buying While
Bessemer at $40 and Grey forge at So rs are
slightly lower at Pitshurg prices are
stronger at Chicago and in all quarters
heavy
Failures for the week have been $40 in
'4iN 'i'''Nh otaAta, against ooU last year, and /
20 in Canada, against AZ last year.
Review by Bradstrccts
New York. December iO-Bradstreet's |
VIII say tomorrow; Mild weather through |
out most Of the country has interfered with |
the distribution of winter weight clothing
and other seasonable goods and trade from
first hands is quleter even than last week.
Jobhers and retailers, however, ronort a
steadily increasing trade and IN some sec
lions very active business in holiday goods.
groceries and kindred products. Rerorts
from the South continue as a whole very
good, with special favorable accounts from
New Orleans, Atlanta, Nashville and tho
Central South. Collections are as rule
generally very satisfactory in spite of the
lower price OF cotton. Favorable reports
come from Chicago, Kansas City. 81. Louis
and tho South.
The price situation Is one of sustained
and even aggressive strength Wheat Ia
higher, partly on improved statistical posi-
ten. but largely in sympathy with the
Chicago squeeze which advanced prices
IL cents within week All other cereals
have improved, while coffee. leaf tohacc,
and raw sugar have been enhanced In
value. The decreases in exports have been
a feature, corn having fallen S0SS 900
bushels this week. against !, $50 900 bushels
last week ard 35il ,o0n bushels last wear