The herald., 1897-12-25
Bradstreet's Report

NEW YORK, Dec. N.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: Quietness in wholesale
trade but pronounced and notable activity
In retail trade have been the salient fea-
lures in this weeks trade situation. Price
changes, which are numerous, are largely
In an upward direction and the year draws
to close with results asl whole fully
equaling and In many instances surpass-
ing early expectations. Perhaps the most
notable feature has been the unanimity
with which the trade reports from all parts
Of the country, with some few exceptions
point to a very heavy holiday trade, in
nearly all cases comparing favorably with
recent preceding years.
Reports are that stocks of these goods
have been heavily reduced. Particularly
prominent In reporting a good retail trade
In the west are Chicago. St. Louis and
Kansas City. At the south New Orleans
reports retailers reaping harvest and
December trade larger than usual. Sim
ilarly good reports come from Nashville
Savannah and Memphis. but collections
and business would be larger were 1t not
FOR the low price of cotton.
In the northwest colder weather has i'm
proved the demand for seasonable goods
and this. combined with the usual holiday
business. has resulted In good total trade
with especially good reports from Mil
waukee, st. Paul and Omaha. At the east
seasonable conditions prevail. while whole
sale trade Is quiet and holiday business
active. No improvement is noted in the
cotton goods situation and wage reduc-
tons seem imminent Good business has
been done In boots and shoes and ship
ments are far ahead of last year. Pacific
coast retail trade is active and Klondike
boomers are gathering in the cities of
Washington and Oregon
Proof that the unsettled condition OF the
-t,nu ~tk
ness in the cereal is furnished by the fig
ures Of shipments this week from both
coasts of the United States and Canada
The total exports reported to Bradstreets
aggregate (fiour as wheat) 4'757, sos bushels
as again 4.6A 900 bushels last week. They
also compare with exports of 2R1a.UD BUSH
els in this week lat year and 3,475.DtO BUSH
els in 1S9a
Commercial failures in the United States
remain about normal. The total for this
week amounts to $50 as compared with
2SS in the previous week. but Isl smaller
than the total In 1895. when 3l8 were re-
ported There are 30 business failures in
the Dominion this week against 4S last
week.
FINANCIAL, REVIEW
NEW YORK, Dec. 2A-Bradstreet's
financial review tomorrow will say; Spec
ulation has been dull and the professional
operators who furnished nearly all the
activity were apparently impressed with
belief that the money market might. under
existing circumstances, become sufficiently
stringent to disturb prices.
This produced, early in the week, gen.
eral disposition to wait and cover a mod
crate amount Of temporary beariehness.
At the same time the street appar-
emily believes that values will improve and
that the public, after January list. will
appear as purchasers and furnish basis
for an active and higher market. Attempts
to force prices down brought out little or
no long stock and the board short interests
were quick to cover on any appearance of
support. while on declines. however slight,
demand for stock though not Of an ag
gressive kind, made its appearance.
There continues to be more or less evil
dence OF manipulation throughout the
market, the absence Of any public interest
tending, however. to restrict demonstra-
tions of that kind. London has sold stocks
moderately, but the market there, as is the
case here, is in a holiday mood and its
action between now and the end of the
year is Of little Importance The some-
what bearish feeling among the traders
already referred to seemed to wear of as
the week progressed and 1t became APP
parent that there would be no very severe
pressure In the money market. Call loans
were quoted as high as 4 to per cent on
Monday and Tuesday. but later in the
week rates were not better than 3Q3h
per cent, and a good effect was produced
by the news that $4,000 or more Of gov
ernment currency skies would be redeemed
forthwith by the treasury and that only
half of the 4S6D0UOO which the Union Pa
cific syndicate is to pay on Monday will go
into the treasury. the other half going to
depositors in banks. With this the market
showed a further bullish tone and an in
creased inclination to respond to favorable
reports. particularly those in connection
with the anthracite coal stocks and the
New York local transportation corpora
tions.
Dun's Review