The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-31
BradstTest and Dunn See improvement
All Over The Country.
The CROP PROSPECTS SPLENDID.
The Iron Industry Does Not Compare fa-
vorsbiy with Others Due 10 the Fact
That Wages Have Not Been Settled
atAll OF the Mills,

ton improXcmeut IN business, ana from
Detroit 10 Seattle and Portland splendid
crop prospects. The task OF adjusting the
! nusinees and industries Of the country 10
conditions created by new tariff law
has progressed with gratifying rapidi'y
and ease
Even the increasing length OF strik-
ing coal miners probably forwards the
adoption Of the uniformity plan, which
promises 20 remove most OF the causes OF
such struggles. Some confusion IS caused
bv events seemingly contradictory. by
! closing of large cotton mills when many
other works are starting, and by decline
IN some prices when others are adFanc-
ing. but the balance is unmisiakaDly on
the right side. .......-...,.,.-,
FOREIGN DEMAND INCREASED.
The most important event since the
passage OF the new tariff, which was gen
oraliv anticipated q week ago. has been
the marked Increase iu foreign demand
| and advance in price for wheat Whlch
has risen 4at cents during the week, Win
western receipts for the nrst time exceed
ing last years. with western railroads
besieged for cars and with Atlantic OK
ports Of 1.71S73S bushels, -four included
FOR the week and Z. .35l. 17S bushels in four
weeks. against Ggl7 S6j bushels last year
| With heavy contracts for shipment OK
cecdine 10000 bushels on a single day
IiyernOOl reports of "a shipment from
America to Northern Bohemia and French
markets excited speculative sales here
have little influence.
The fact that corn exports exceed last
years although the price has advanced
20 32S cents is further proui that ior-
eien demands are substantial. With crop
news still favorable. producers may pro-
baby realize something like SsOcplooo
more than last year on wheat, which
means a great difference In purchases by
agricultural states.
Corn also advanced % cents and cot
ton sixteenth. though reports as 20
yield are good
The Industrial sky Is partly clouded Nv
coal and iron difficulties and by the clos
ing Of some large cotton mills Having
run for months far ahead of consuming
demand on cotton bought at comparatively
high prices. the mills had "a large crop
and cheap cotton. and II is but the
rational way 20 halt production and clear
off accumulated stocks at the season
when vacations are common and begin
the new year ON its own basis.
MANUFACTURERS or WOOL.
The wOOllen manufacturer answers
whOlesomely and moderately 10 new TAR
iff conditions, and while the opening OF
light weights below about 81 IN cost has
met a very encouraging demand. the adj
vance in prices asked is not large. with
very heavy stocks or free WOOL on hand'
manufacturers are able and. IN the pres
enca Of large stocks Of foreign goods. are
obliged TO engage for the next season
without advancing prices i'm proportion 10
the rise in wool and large contracts or
that nature have already been made. SELL
ing Of wool at Boston. where the spccu-
lation has been most active. is suggestive
amounting to S.siSOo0 pounds for tne week
and at three chief markets to llesi 591. 49,.
Sales for four weeks have been 45lU3.4p
pounds. 2252S.500 being domestic against
72l1. $50 I'm an last yodr
DELAY i'm the iron industry is partly be-
cause wages have not been settled tt
all works. though az many Dut pdIl!
because steadily rising demand ooe7 Hot
vet raise prices In some products prices
ara a shade lower Notwithstanding
larger demand, owing 10 competition ne
tween works but Besscmer rs Shaue
higher In structural work, plates. sheels
and bars for the enormous operations or
agricultural implement works tne u--
mard increases. and for rolling stoch' o"-
ing 10 the abundance Of crops. oo. -
Failures for the week have been go IN
the United States against 2l last year
and 2S in Canada against 40 last year
BRABSTREETS ) VIEW BklGli l.
NEW YORK. July @.-Bradstreets To-
morrow Will say: g.
The unexpected early fau ueHlanu LOT
STABLE merchandise which Bradstreet s
announced last week has increased ana
although not conspicuous NJ some or the
larger eastern cities which il is approach
:
sipri and Missouri valleys ana IN the
large wheat growing States.
A special invest ration by ''"h-littt $
this week shows th1t increased purchases
by country merchants DO the resloh spe-
Gifted based on the prospecuNely large
wheat crop at home in the face or snort
wheat crops abroad has increased business
with western iobbers from 10 10 % per cent
compared with IAN trade 1t hkc o.
riod last year Tho total 'lume Ci this
new business is not large but ~ is lntsu-
"a I'm this the dull month OF the year
and 81 Is growing.
number Of western implement facto-
RIGS are unable TO ON their orders Tor
nearby delivery one "rlsr for slices
alone At St Louis calls for $4,000 worth
Of goods The depression among woollen
manufacturers is less pronounced because
prices Of cheyiOts and other WOolicns have
begun 10 advancing. pointing 10 profit in
handling high priced wool
IMPROVING AMONG JOBBERS
The greatest relative Improvement
among the iohbers and wholesa.e results
I'm various lines is az Chicago. ST. Louis,
Kansas City, Omaha, 81. Paul, and Min
noapolis. although at other points. notably
IN Texas. there Is a pronounced feeling Of
confidence IN an early revival OF demand
which Is already beginning 10 show Itself
A number OF uTcC trunk line railways are
present I'm cailyins more merchandise thon
one. two or three years ago. Fewer
manufacturing Industries than expected
have been compelled % close owing TO
2 lack Of coal ON account of the strike the
principal check fcing due 10 higher
prices fCr fuel
Iron and steel and the Gotten goods In
dustries are made unfavOrably situated
than almost any other. Bessemer pig
iron and steel bibCts continue az the
lowest quotations known. the latter q
shade undcr $ii awaiting the renewed de-
uani which has befur "a show Itself IN
staple lines Of merchandise.
The shutting down Of cotton mills 20
force a reduction of stocks on hand has
already stiffened prices. and with exist
ing conditions in other lines OF business
the outlook is for a better request for
cotton soods and FOR iron and steel I'm the
early autumn. Tho most favorable fea-
ture OF trade IS its slow, conservative,
steady expansion. II being based on the
increased wants and larger consumptive
capacity of the agricultural community.
for whom the propect is brighter than
IL has heen for six wears
IRON AND STEEL QUOTATIONS.
Practically the only decreases I'm quota
tions this week are for iron and steel.
Prices Of oats ana print cloths are un-
changed The list of advances is longer
and more significant, including prices Of
wheat -four. Indiar' corn. lard. sugar.
live stock, cotton, woollen goods, lead and
nails.
as wheat from both coasts Of the United
states and from Montreal this week
amount 10 23f3.02l bushels. compared
with I a7S o0O bushels last week 2GlS 600
bushels I'm the week a year ago. 100 600
bushels two years ago 2H17.oN0 bushels
three years ago. and as contrasted with
5G22 O0O bushels I'm the corresponding
week of 1898. There Is n sharp falling
of In exports Of Indian corn this week.
the total amounting 10 4S27II hushois
compared With "N nn0 hushals .ast week