Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-18
THE STATE OF TRADE.
BraQStreet'S.

The activity in staple lines of merchan-
disc is less pronounced than a month ago,
due to interior merchants having suppleu
their demands for the time, gradual IN
crease of the territory included by the yell
low fever quarantine the low price OF cot
ton, a tendency in the Missouri river val
ley and spring wheat States 10 hold wheat
for higher prices, and to farmers belhS
busy with fall planting.
The drought is not broken in Kansas,
northern Missouri and Iowa. where rains
have been light, but the outlook IS not
alarming. Good rains have broken the
drought in Nebraska, where the ground is
ready for fall planting. Jnseasonable
weather has had an unfavorable influence
on the distribution OF merchandise
throughout the central west, and at chi
cago and ST. Louis sales have fallen on
Cotton is weak and 1l2c lower than
year ago on late estimates OF a 0O00oUo
yield against 100000 bales in 1851. A
well-informed correspondent of Brad
streets, after extended personal lnVesuga-
ton, gives reason for anticipating much
smaller yield than trade estimates indl-
cate. He looks for a Texas crop not TO
exceed 100000 bales or less than last
year, while the Mississippi valley will. he
thinks. produce less than an average crop
and Arkansas be in less favorable stu
alton than last year. The long and Sc
we're drought. facilitating picking and
marketing has he declares, destroyed all
hope of a top crop and will materially cut
short the late yield. Chattanooga is the
only southern city reporting an improve
menI III business. 1t attributes lliIS "
the drought having been broken and to
improved crop conditions. New Orleans
looks forward hopefully TO the appear
ance a rfrostS and a resumption Of bust
ness relations with the rest of the world
next month. .e-
The position of the cotton goods indus
try is no more favorable. but WOODEN goods
manufacturers report demand brisk, prices
steady and an unwilingness by makers to
accept new orders at present quotations.
Advances for Bessemer pig iron and steel
billets check sales, but prices are firmly
held. Some steel mills are not able 10
keep up with orders. The domestic con-
sumption of pig iron last month was OK
traordinarily heavy and promises to great
ly stimulate production.
With the slackening off in the rate of
distribution of merchandise, the upward
movement of prices is correspondingy
checked, and in this, the third week in
succession, the number of staples for
which quotations are lower is greater than
those which are higher or unchanged.
There are nominal advances for lard and
mems shoes. but prices for pork sugar,
other forms of iron and steel than those
named, for copper, lumber coal hides
and wool are unchanged. Quotations ara
lower for butter, potatoes wheat. corn,
oats flour, beef, coffee, cotton, print cloths
and lead.
September gross railway earnings ex-
cetded those for August, both in amount
ana percentage of gain, being unrivalled
as to proportion of gain shown. Total
september earnings of 132 companies. OPP
Grating nearly 100000 miles of road ag-
gregated $J0,Sl2,0i2, an increase over Sep
TENDER a year ago Of $500, 000 1r al per
cent. This followed a gain in August of
10 per cent. and of As per cent in July
over last year. The heaviest gains are
those shown by the Pacific, southwest and