The record-union., 1897-11-20
REVIEW OF TRADE
CONDITIONS.
Moderate Improvement Reported in
Staple Prices,
Also in the Distribution Of WooIen Goods,
Shoes, Hats and Hardware.
Active Demand for Iron, Steel,
Agricultural Implements and
Railway Cars-The Confidence
of Great Business Next Year
Unabating.

OF Great Business Next Year
Unabating.
NEW YORK, Nov. 19-Bradstreet's 8
tomorrow will say:
There is a moderate improvement in
staple prices, and in distribution of
woolen goods, shoes, hats and hard
ware in the region tributary to Chica-
go, st. Louis, Kansas City and Oma-
ha- In South Carolina and Louisiana
jobbers report a moderate revival in
demand from interior merchants which
represents some of the business de-
layed by yellow fever guarantees.
Trade reports from Georgia and Tex
as are quite irregular. Some cotton
planters are compelled to sell cotton at
loss to meet advances made earlier in
the season, and have little or no sur
plus With which to buy merchandise.
Others, notably in Texas, contrive to
hold cotton, which delays mercantile
collections and in some sections has an
unfavorable influence
Colder weather northwest and in the
Central Mississippi and Missouri River
valleys have helped retail trading. Man.
implements, railway cars and wooden
goods report an active demand and a
large output, although the appearance
Of speculative steel has resulted in
weakening the price of billets and
like tendency on the part of Bessemer
pig iron.
Higher prices are recorded for wheat,
corn, oats, syrup, hides, leather, shoes
and for turpentine.
The reaction in iron and steel is like
ly to be followed by an advance. if
the present rate of consumption contin-
ues. Lower prices for wheat, -four and
pork are expected to recognize the ad-
vanceS on wheat and Indian corn, so
that lower prices for copper is practi-
eally the only important decline in the
week.
Wheat exports show heavy IN
crease alike over last week and last
year. With one exception, that of the
second week in September, it is the
largst single weeks total on record. The
total exports of wheat (f1our included
as wheaO from both coasts of the Unit
ed States and from Montreal this week
aggregate 6.653 191 bushels, against 81
44o, 542 bushels last week; 1887 900
bushels in this week year ago, and
2,916,000 bushels in 1895.
There We're 235 business failures re-
ported throughout the United States
this week, compared with 273 last week;
3O9 in the week a year go and 323 two
years ago
NEW YORK, Nov. 19.-R. G.. Dun &
Company's Weekly Review of Trade"
will say Tomorrow:
All markets and all industries are
working toward the period of Thanks
giving, of stock taking and of holidays
Colder weather has done much to ac-
celerate retail trade, so greatly delayed
in many lines by increases on the
whole, and many manufacturers are un-
able to take all the orders offered, while
others are committed as far ahead as
they are willing to be. The output in
several great industries is considerably
the largest ever known, and the conf
dence of great business next year is un-
abated. Hesitation in speculative
markets is in part because an immense
capital has been turned from them to
investment in productive enterprises.
Wheat has advanced a cent during
the week, and small fluctuations have
been due to reports about Argentine
rather than to the heaviest exports ever
known. Atlantic exports, flour in
cluded, have been in three weeks Of
November, g. 799, 800 bushels against s.
0o2, JOG last year, and in the CORE
spending year thus far over S.6O0.OOO
bushels, while the Western receipts
have been in three weeks 81 213 6ti0
bushels against 14796, $50 last year.
Corn exports have been 7,101 Ola bush
els against GAL ,66S last year.
Iron products have changed b,k
slightly in price, with wire nails and
rods shade lower, and while the con-
sumption of pig is the largest ever
known, works in some branches are re-
ceiving orders equal to their output
while others have orders SO far ahead
that they are nnable or unwilling to
take more. There is less activity in
bars at the East, but a healthy demand
at the West for manufacturing, car
building ana other uses, and rails are in
larger demand there, while some East
ern works have recently taken orders
for months ahead. Sheets are active
and competition reduces the price of tin
plates a little further. Gray forge is
slightly lower at Eastern, and Chicago
prices unchanged, notwithstanding the
great output and stocks are being
further reduced
The coke output was 150.S57 tons for
the week, with furnace selling at 81 rs
for the rest of this year. Anthracite
coal continues weak, with sales at 81
net here, the production in October hay-
ing been 5.220.00 tons. Tin is sus-
tanned by large consumptions.
Lead is little lower at So rs and a
break in spelter has reduced the price
at Pfttsburg to 81 05.
The wooden 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 act
i've retail trade would quickly bring a
change, prices of wool are so high that
some mills have stopped part of their
looms Cases are mentioned Of mills
which could realize a profit of 500, 900
to 100000 by selling the wool they
hold, but can expect none by manufac-
turing at current prices. Wool mark
cts have become stagnant, and sales are
almost wholly to realize speculative
profits. amounting at the three chief
markets to only 4,213.000 pounds for
the week. Cotton goods kept weak as
raw material declines.