The record-union., 1897-11-13
Cooler Weather AeceIerates Distrl-
button of Winter Goods.
Improvement in Business Noted in Nearly
Every Northern Quarter.
Even With the Shrinkage of Trade
Caused by Fever and Quaran-
tines in the South Payments
Through Clearing Houses Con-
tinue Much Larger Than Last
Year.

NEW YORK. Nov. 12-R. G. Dun x
Co.'S weekly Review of Trade" VIII
say tomorrow:
colder and more stormy weather, SO
long needed to accelerate the distr1bu-
ton of winter goods, has materially
helped in some quarters and the re-
smiling Improvement in retail trade is
mentioned in nearly every northern
disnatch this week, so that orders to
fill stocks have been encouraging, and
in some branches a multitude ef de-
mands for immediate delivery show
that the distribution to consumers has
already gone much beyond the expecta-
tions of dealers.
But this is not yet the general rule.
and with many complaints OF delayed
trade from other quarters there still re
mains the extensive shrinkage caused
by fever and quarantines at the South
1t is, therefore, the more surprising
through clearinghouse continue
about as large as in 1892 and lo.i per
cent larger than last year
Railroad earnings also nearly equai
those of 1892 for the first week OF NO
vemher, and half the mileage IN the
United States shows earnings IN Octo-
Der of $50, 354 .496, or so per cent.
larger than last year and - per cent.
larger than 1892.
Speculative market feels disappoint-
lnent because prices do not rise farther
and faster, but it is fortunate for pro-
ducers and dealers that the experience
of some past years in that respect mas
not been repeated. There is nothing
TO cause general reaction. The purchas :
ing power of the people is gradually IN
creasing and after the lull which fol-
lows extensive replenishment of stochs
trade should give ample evidence OF
that increase.
The output of iron furnaces NoVem-
Der 1st was 202. 159 tons weekly, against
200 l29 on October 1st, against o.l per
cent. and unsold stocks decreased 4S.-
$50 tons in October, indicating a larger
consumption in manufactures than ever
before. even when the output of pig
was pushed by swiftly advancing prices
to the highest point, 21l ,6S2 tons, No
yember l. 1898. Prices of iron products
rose that year 55.3 per cent, but are
now 4 per cent. higher than June 9Th.
While most works have orders for the
rest of the year. and in sheets and some
other branches are far behind in de-
liveries, new orders are few, but in
clude one for 1900 cars at Chicago and
one for 400 at Pittsburg; one for an
armored ship at Chester; many for
small buildings and for st. Vincent :
Hospital and three schoolhouses here:
many for bridges. with some for the
drainage canal at Chicago; lively de-
mand for hoops and a large export
business, With a quantity of bars for
Asia
Woolen mills generally have orders
for three months ahead, and are not
seeking further engagements. Large
sales of speculative lots of wool at
prices not stated suggest that it may
be lower before the mills need further
orders. A year ago the price began
to mount with heavy speculation and
has risen 80 per cent. without reaction
in quotations, while the rise in goods
averages but ii per cent.
The decline in cotton and the slow
demand for goods. owing in part TO
warm weather have led cotton mills
to confer about the curtailment of pro-
duction, and further reductions have
been made in brown sheetings and
drills, prints, and by jobbers in bleached
goods Cotton declined an eighth to
5S7 cents for middling uplands, and
both exports and takings OF spnners
have been large.
Wheat dropped over , cents, but has
since risen as much on heavy buying
for export Western receipts continue
heavy, in two weeks HOPS, ,907 bushels,
against Io.5Sl. 192 last year. While At
lantic exports, -four included have been
6,5G2 025 bushels, against 1921 ,231 last
year An English authority reckons
the worlds yield at 161, 900. 600 bush
els lese than last year, which would
mean a market for all this country has
TO spare.
Corn exports are again larger than
last year. and the price has risen 15sc.
Later prices Of meats do not indicate
that farmers have as yet much induce
ment 70 save corn for feeding.
Failures for the week have been 291
in the United States, against lao last
year. and twenty-four in Canada,
against forty-six last year.
NEW YORK. Nov. 12.-Bradstreet s
tomorrow will say:
One of the most significant features
of the business situation is found in
the continued heavy weekly totals OF
bank clearings, that for six business
days ending November 11th amounting
to S1,3f1 GOO. 0G0 an increase of 10 per
cent. ever the preceding week, and Is
per cent. as compared with the second