Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-20
THE STATE OF TRADE.
All Markets working Toward STOCK
Taking md the Holidays.

NEW YORK, November H-Messrs.
r. @. Dun & Co.'S weekly review OF trade
will say Tomorrow: All markets and In
dustries are working toward the period
of Thanksgiving, of stock-taking, ana OF
holidays. Colder weather has done mucn
to accelerate retail trade. greatly delayed
in many lines by unusually mild and open
weather. The producing force increases
on the whole. and many manufacturers
are unable to take time-orders onered,
while others are committed as FAR aheao
as they are willing to be. The output
in several great industries Is consider
ably the largest ever known, and the
confidence In great business next year Is
undated. The hesitation In speculative
markets is in part because OF immense
capital that has been turned from them
to investment in productive enterprises.
Wheat has advanced cent during the
week. Atlantic exports, hour incluaeo'
have been In three weeks of November,
OH, 769 bushels, against 6,052,10 last year.
and in the crop year thus far, over &,OW,-
900 bushels, while the western receipts
have been q .2O3.66 in three weeks,
against 14796,SSS last year.
Corn exports have been 7,Olo0l4 bushels,
against GAL 6s last year. Cotton de-
clined to 5.d cents, with heavy receipts,
but closed at 5.S7, with better foreign
sened the prospect Of heavy movement
later.
Iron products have changed but slight
ly in price, with wire nails AID rods
shade lower, and while the consumption
of pig-iron is the largest ever known,
works in some branches are receiving
orders equal to their output, while others
have orders so far ahead that they are
unable, or unwilling. to take more. There
is less animation in bars at the East.
but a heavy demand in the West for
manufacturing and car-building, while
some eastern works have recently taken
orders for months ahead. Sheets are ac-
tive. Gray forge is slightly lower, with
eastern and Chicago prices Of pig un-
changed, Notwithstanding the great out
put. while stocks are being further re-
duced.
The coke output was 15o,5a tons for the
week, with furnace selling at $l.75 for
the rest of this year. Anthracite coal
continues weak, with sales at "a net here,
the production in October having been
$4,000 tons. This is sustained by large
consumption. Lead Is little lower at
$3.75. and break in spelter has reduced
the price at Pittsburg to A.05.
The woollen market is embarrassed by
the delay Of winter weather, which re-
tards orders from clothiers. although most
works have enough for some time ahead,
and while cold weather and active re-
tail trade would quickly bring a change.
the prices of wool are so high that some
mills have stopped part of their looms.
Cases are mentioned of mills which could
realize profit Of 100000 to 10000 by
selling the wool they hold. but which can
expect none by manufacturing at current
prices. The wool markets have become
stagnant and sales are almost wholly
TO realize speculative profits, amounting
at the three chief markets to only 1885,.
600 pounds for the week.
Cotton goods continue week. as the raw
a ~ AG o. m ~ h
lighter demand.
= Failures for the week, PSI in the United
States, against 1874 last year, and 81 in
Canada, against 40 last year.
MODERATE IMPROVEMENT.
Bradstreet's tomorrow will say: There
prices. and in the distribution of woollen
good, shoes, and hardware In the region
tributary to Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas
City, and Omaha. In South Carolina,
Tennessee, and Louisiana jobbers report
moderate revival in demand from In
terror merchants, which represents some
Of the business delayed by yellow-fever
guarantees. Trade reports from Georgia
and Texas are quite irregular. Some
cotton planters are compelled to sell cot
ton at loss to meet advances made
early in the season, and have little or
no surplus with which to buy merchan-
disc Others. notably in Texas. continue
to hold cotton, which delays mercantile
unfavorable influence.
Colder weather in the Northwest and
in the Central Mississippi and Missouri
river valleys has helped retail trade.
Manufacturers of iron, steel, agricultu-
raj implements, stoves railway cars, ana
woollen goods report an active demand
and a large output, although the appear
ance of speculative steel has resulted In
a weakening of the prices of billets and a
like tendency on the part or Bessemer
pig-iron Higher prices are recorded for
wheat corn, oats. syrup. hides, leather,
shoes, and turpentine. The reaction IN
iron and steel is likely to be followed by
an advance II the consumption continues.
lower price for copper is practically
the only important decline In the week.
Wheat exports show a heavy increase
over last week and last year, and with one
exception. that of the second week In
total on record. The total exports OF
wheat (flour included as wheaD from
both coasts of the United States and
Montreal this week aggregate 6,653.iyZ
bushels, against 5. AS, 542 last week $780,
600 In the like week year ago. 2,ylb,OV0
in 1895, 1892. 500 in 1894, and 2,764.oSO in 1898
The total exports in the second week or
September. 1891, were 6.S4,GO bushels.
Corn exports also show a gain, aggre-
eating 800 100 bushels. against 2.925.5H
last year, 1,743,cO0 in 1895. and $4,000 in
1894.
There were 235 business failures re-
ported throughout the United States this
week. compared with 273 last week, JOS
in the corresponding week year ago,
1923 two years ago, and 295 three years
ago, and as compared with 1853 in the like
week of 1888
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