Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-30


the lowest since March IA, 1895, and not
half a cent above the lowest for nearly
half a century. is partly due TO emoar-
easements caused by the fever, but also
indicates the prevailing behet that Una
quantity to come forward Is large. ror
two months more cotton has come INTO
sight than during the greatest crop ever
grown. I'm spite of delays caused py
ouorantines hut the unfavorable condi-
tions about the time OF maturity renoer
II less likely than usual that the top-crop
will be satisfactory, so that receipts may
dron off earlier than usual. on the othei
hand II Is to be noted that the extensive
labor troubles threaten the manufacture
I'm England, while the lowest price ever
known here for print cloths renects d
heavy accumulated stock OF other goods'
as well. -,
The increase in production by the mills
has been over 40 per cent. in ten years,
far beyond the increase in population ana
they consumed almost as much cotton IN
the last crop year. with materially III
minished demand for goods, as in the
most prosperous years heretofore
The wool markets have become quiet.
Instead of 100000 pounds reported sold
in Boston in the last week of septem-
Der. 100000 the next week. 100000 tho
second week of October, and 100000 tho
third week, sales have been but 2.nOOoO.
and at the three chief markets, 5,23l 800,
making the aggregate for the month &c.
$4,000 pounds, against over 66,OVOW
pounds in September. Prices are said
to be we'll maintained. though to cents
below former asking prices, but occa-
sional heavy sales indicate concessions
for liquidation of speculative lots The
market for goods is not active, as prices
have been so far advanced as to hinder
buying, in many cases Intentionally, ana
the future is more clear, and the mills
have ahead quite as large contracts as
they just now desire.
The buying of iron and steel products,
though smaller than of late. continues to
keep the works well engaged ahead, and
induces others to resume operations.
Both buyers and manufacturers find II
prudent to limit engagements ahead, and
the period of adjustment will make the
industry safer for some time to come.
There is great pressure for speedy de-
liveries but in bars and wires some abate-
ment of demand, with slightly lower
prices for wire nails. Tin is little
weaker. and copper at II cents for Lake.
and the competition Of home producers
lowers tin plate to 500. The coke out
put is larger, 1858 tons, but anthracite
coal is weaker. being offered here at s4.05,
against $50, named in circulars.
The failures for the week have been
PIG in the United States. against 30 last
year, and % in Canada, against 40 last
year.
BRADSTREETS VIEW.
Bradstreets tomorrow will say: Gene
raj trade retains most Of the features of
xrffh cd n
the movement of staple merchandise At
large eastern and central western cities
the sales of seasonable goods have not
equalled expectations, and at none. OF
these points has the volume Of business
increased. At Chicago St. Louis Balti-
more, New York and Providence there
has been a decrease in the volume OF
business in some lines, due in part to
the unreasonable weather and in some
instances to the continued quarantine OF
yelow-fever districts. Some jobbers at
cities which supply southern merchants
have delayed sending out travellers, and
IN instances have called travellers home.
Mercantile collections are slower, fill
ing in orders are small and more in
frequent, and business in staple lines
for the latter half Of October aside
frcm that in wool and metals. has been
somewhat disappointing The Northwest
continues to make relatively more IA
vorable reports as to trade, although at
Afilw aukee and Minneapolis mild weather
has checked distribution. Nearly all
southern cities, except a few In Texas,
Arkansas, and Georgia, continue TO feel
the influence of the yellow-fever quaran-
tine, the extremely low price Of cotton,
and delayed collections.
The consumption Of iron and steel con-
tinues heavy, but mills refuse orders for
| 1898 delivery, in the belief that the cost
| of making iron and steel will be higher.
| Woollen goods continue firm. in fair
demand, with an upward tendency, but
| cotton fabrics are weak and the market
| Is heavily stocked.
| Wheat Is again above dollar, on con-
tinued heavy exports. Our Wheat eX-
| Dor. movement, aggregating more than
| 20 100000 bushels within thirteen wee ks,
| is unprecedented, and points 20 heener
appreciation of the statistical strength
| of wheat by European importers than
| by American traders.
The exports OF wheat. -four included as
wheat. from both coasts of The United
states and from Montreal, this week,
amount to 5.9l1, 391 bushels. against 5.552,-
| 900 bushels last week, 362S,0OO bushels In
| the last week OF October, 1896, 2,743,0O
| bushels in 1895, and 2.934Oo0 bushels in
1894 as compared with 2,S6O,cO0 bushels
| in the like week OF 1888.
The exports of Indian corn amount to
| !. $50 1873 bushels this week, compared with
| I. III 900 bushels last week. 2.6499O0 bushels
| in the same week of 1896, 10000 bushels
| in 1895. and 146, 600 In 1894, and as contrast
| ed with SAG. 600 bushels in 1893.
The total number of business failures
reported throughout the United States
| this week is 2lS, compared with 40 last
week GAG in the same week wear ago,
| 300 two years ago, and .53 three years
ago and as contrasted with 1853 In the
| fourth week OF October. 1893.
There were 80 business failures report
| cd from the Dominion of Canada this
| week. compared with q last week, 81 in
| the like week year ago, and IS In the