Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-01

Cotton.
The circular issued yesterday by Haven
& Stout OF New York. reports:
THE notable feature Of the market
this week has been the undertone OF
strength. with no increase In the volume
Of transactions. The movement OF the
crop has been more moderate, as COM
pared with 1895, which, II Is claimed, Is
due TO the bad weather at the South. IL
has had. nevertheless, stimulating eff
feet upon buyers for investment. and
has caused some covering OF short con-
tracts by operators for decline. Ad-
vices from the South continue TO report
fairly firm markets, with prices above
parity with those ruling locally, and 10
this frmness In southern markets may
be attributed the strength OF the Jan
uary option, and the lis advance In
spot cotton here. Liverpool has turned
up as buyer. and has absorbed the
bulk of the offerings. There would seem
TO be some evidence OF a change OF GEN.
timent on the part OF the Liverpool cot
ton merchants, for until recently they
have shown a disposition to hold aloof
as buyers in our markets, with the Scent
ing expectation that the largo stock or
cotton in American now 10000 bales
greater than in 1880 would weigh upon
our markets, and enable the English spin
ners to obtain their supply Of the raw
material at lower prices than either the
Continent or America. They now sec
that the continued good export demand
primary points. in spite of the crop
movement. The distribution OF manu-
featured goods in England continues 10
suffer from the effects OF the recent ensi.
neers' strike. Manchester has been ad-
versely affected by the increase OF the
bubOnic plague I'm Bombay and the money
stringency at Calcutta, but, on the whole.
favorable reports are received from this
spinning centre. While the markets are
quiet, they are fairly firm all around,
and we'll engaged ahead for some months:
and the Stacking OF the eastern demand
Is Offset by the moderately better pros
poets for the South American trade. In
our own dry-goods market staple cotton
continues firm, and the strength OF print
cloths has instilled better feeling. There
is little change in the strike situation I'm
New England, although there seems to
be Increasing uneasiness among the opera
tives az points other than those already
reported as being out. Returning TO the
conditions Immediately affecting the mar
ket for future deliveries OF cotton the
outcome OF the political situation In inc
far East and our own difficulties with
Spain have been awaited with some nn-
easiness. and have been the cause OF
caution and hesitation among the local
trade. which continues TO look for lower
prices. though showing no disposition 10
sell for the expected decline. The lead
ing question before the trade continues
20 be one OF acreage for the new crop
In many southern papers coming TO hand
mention is made OF disposition on the
part OF the planters for a greater diversl-
fication OF their products and OF less dis
position 10 plant cotton. AS an incentive
TO this course, too much importance can
not be attached to the continued eleva-
ton of the prices OF grain and tobacco.
From the portion OF the cotton belt
where FERTILIZERS are used there come
reports OF small sales of commercial fer
tillzers, which OF itself Is no slight mol
cation OF what may be expected in me
~, a tier ~ acrcaaQ IN he planted In cotton
i'm the South Atlantic and North Guir
states