The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-29
WEEKLY TRADE REVIEW
vooxxs <orfys AND a BErTER DE.
mxSD f0s vTBER ARTICLES.
In Other Respects the Outlook IL Not fa-
yorabIs on Account of the Asi'auon 90
lag on Regarding the Tariff.


which - now over 4fo hoapPV"'e"e'
The volume OF seasonable merchandise
distributed Is less than expected. with
out taxing into account an Improvement
In business compared with year ago.
Nearly all central Western and southern
trade centres report business very quiet
Dry goods continue depressed. cotton pro-
ducts selling with difncuity, some vafie-
ties only on concessions. Ine announce
ment OF reduced OK passed cotton mih
dividends, ana that several large estap-
nshments will shut down TO enable con
sumption 70 overtake production. when
coupled with the comparative indifference
Of consumers TO the lowest prices on
record for iron and steel, would appear
10 sufficiently characterize the actuai
condition OF general trade.
WOOLLEN GOODS ACTIVE.
The more favorable features are rela-
tive activity among wooiien goods manu-
facturers, VINO are worslng On oid or
ders. improved demand tor SHOES ana
heather. and a continuance OF the COM
parative activity on the general demand
az Savannah, Memphis, 81. Louis.
Omaha, Sioux Falls. Minneapolis, and
ST. Paul, the better d0fnand for lumber
AZ the West and IN the trade outlook
ia Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
Increased exports are reported from Pa
cifc coast ports. but there Is COMPARE
lively little gain In domestic trade here.
except in cattle, wool aud hardware In
Portland.
Among twenty Of tine more important
etaple products, only two-hides and
wheat-hare advanced, while one-half
the number-cotton, lumber, coal, Bes-
scmer pig iron, steel billets, steel rails.
print clothes. sugar. pork ana conee-
are unchanged, although there Is a nomi-
mai advance In the asking price for Bes-
semer pig and steel billets.
Wool manufacturers have stocked up;
wool is of. as are cotton goods when
sold IN quantity; rosin is lower, and
among cereals. flour. Indian corn and
oats. to which may be added lard and
petroleum.
EXPORTS OF WHEAT.
Exports of wheat flour included as
wheat) from both coasts OF the United
states and Montreal this week amount 10
2.osl. 3zS bushels, compared with 26S5.oO0
bushels last week, 2.064. 600 bushels In the
week year ago. 2.i26.00 bushels In the
week two years ago, 2,l0l,000 bushels three
years ago, and as compared with $4,000
bushels in the like week Of 500. Exports
OF Indian corn also show falling of
amounting to 2,1s5,eS3 bushels this week.
against 3.ls0,O00 bushels last week, i.720.-
900 bushels ia the week year ago, 1,0i0,-
600 busels two years ago. $1,000 bushels in
three years ago and as contrasted with
1.09e 900 bushels I'm the like week of 1893
There were 2s7 business failures
throughout the United States this week.
a moderate increase compared with total
corresponding periods in preceding years.
The aggregate last week was 2l5 COM
pared with pa in the fourth week of May
year ago. 1S In the like week of 1885,
a similar total In 1894 and "a in the cor
responding period OF 1898.
There were 20 business failures report
ed from the Canadian Dominion this
week against Is last week. Is In the week
a year ago. and 35 two years ago.
DUNS VIEW OF 1T.
NEW YORK May pr @. Dun's
Weekly Review of Trade tomorrow will
say:
People are actually doing more business
than they realize They reckon by vail
ues, but these are much lower than in
hny previous year OF pros Arity. and
leave little margin for profits. In guam
tty there Is almost as much business be-
ing done as during the years of greatest
prosperity, and though the increase in
population would call for a material ex-.
pansicn the comparison is not discour-
and gradual. out mere has been done on
The whole in May than in April. while
returns OF April slowed the volume OF
business only 10 per cent. smaller than
that OF the best year neretof)re. et hes
ifation is doing it's work every week ana
multitudes are waiting because of posi-
bllities at Washington, who ought to be
FILLING the demand fer labor ami the pro-
ducts of labor
Events have proved the crop of wheat
going out ~ much larger Than any OF
the markets expected and western re-
ceipts for the week were 80 per cent
larger than last year while Atlantic ex-
ports have been for four weeks 6,1S5.S29
bushels -four il Guided against 4.9SS.775
last year. At this season actual receipts
count rather than predictions, and the
truth Is that the country has exported
an extraordinary quantity " wheat and
-four and yet has SO much TO spare that
the May option has declined nearly cent
for a week. Besides the outso OF corn
largely taking the pace Of wheat In for
eign consumption Is far beyond precedent
or expectation and for four weeks has
been s.Se0Osi against 0V1.sS5 last year.
With liberal Interior supplies the price
has declined a fraction. Cotton Is un-
changed although at this season exports
are insignificant.
CAUSE OF DELAY.
Manufacturers have special cause for
delay. owing to the possible competition
with foreign goods largely Imported.
but there has been no setback In prices,
although cotton goods are dull without
large demand. and print cloths are at the
bottom price IL is evident that pro-
durtlon far beyond the consuming de-
mand has forces The indcscv into a
waiting attitude The wcs en .ils are
producing more than they have tone tor
years. though much less than they could
or would like 10 produce, and manutac-
turers are doing almost nothing in the
wool market though speculation has
kept the sales large. in four weeks OF
May 2S,So5.t0o pounds against a0i5s,S5o u
the corresponding weeks Of 1882. There
is some weakness observable with west
ern holders, and Eastern prices begin
10 feel the weight OF enormous imports
although holders still calculate on a
rise as soon as new duties take effect.
The iron manufacture gains in spite
Of the closing Of some furnaces. The
production OF pig exceeds consumption
and Is somewhat decreasing. while the
consumption has gradually gained, this
week, IN part because Of several struc'
turai contracts. including 1909 tons fo'
this city ana Ia part because the agri
cultural implements works have made
larger demands. and also because OF the
proposed leasing OF nearly all the roo
mills In the country, which has caused
some buying. Pig-iron shows no change