Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-29
THE TRADE SITUATION.
Favorable Conditions Far Outweigh
Those of Opposite Kind.


hh'orable Conditions Far Outweigh
Those of Opposite Kind.
NEW YORK. January 2s-Bradstreet's
tomorrow will say: Favorable condi-
lions in the trade situation continue to
tar outweigh those of an opposite charac-
ter. stormy weather throughout large
| section OF the country this week has
checked the movement of merchandise.
| The last week of the month closes with
| increased activity in many lines. n num-
Der of price advances, heavily increased
bank clearings as compared with one
year ago at nearly all cities, another con-
siderable drop In the number of failures
reported; large exports of cereals. par
| ucularly wheat, corn, and -four. and per-
! ceptible confidence in nearly all branches
Of trade as regards the outlook for spring
business. Another favorable feature is a
slight, but distinct, Improvement in the
cotton-goods market. under which specu-
latiye activity is awakening Print-cloths
are higher, and some makes of gray and
medium weight cottons are more firmly
/ held.
/ Plg-iron is rejecting the effect Of the
present unprecedented production and a
| 1urther weakening in prices is recorded
at eastern points. At the West. how
ever, consumption Of pig and the products
OF iron and steel is reported as increasing
so as to hold prices firm.
Large sales of bar steel and rails are
reported at Chicago and st. Louis. with
mills refusing to take orders for delivery
earlier than late summer.
Boots and shoes hold the late advance
and managers Of heavy-weights will not
take orders for fall delivery at present
prices Wool is strong. on large sales and
firm prices abroad.
MOST STAPLES HIGHER.
The prices of most staple products arc
higher on the week, a noticeable instance
being that Of wheat, which is past the
dollar mark again at many western mar
kets. The active demand for the Klondike
trade is reflected in canned goods. the
stocks OF which are reported very low.
with prices holding the late advance.
Collections are generally reported fair
those indicating backwardness coming
most generally from the South.
Cereal exports are again heavy. the
total shipments of wheat, including four
for the week. amounting to 5.1l062f
bushels against 3926,0O0 bushels last
week 2515,000 this week a year ago. p
$4,000 bushels in 1896, and 2OS3,OOO bushels
in 1894.
Corn exports have also heavily in
creased from last week, amounting to H.
$4,000 bushels against 3,4S6.OO0 bushels
last week. 3.O11OOO bushels last year. g.
$4,000 bushels in 1896, and $4,000 bushels
in 1895.
The business failures for the week are
the smallest in number reported in the |
fourth week of January for five years |
past numbering only 2SS, against 300 last |
week, S26 in the corresponding week of |
10 IL,
1894
OF the failures reported. 251. or 81 per
cent, were Of concerns having 5000 capt. |
tai or less, and 80 per cent. in all were of |
concerns having less than $4,000 capital. |
Business failures in Canada this week |
number 49, against 46 last week 56 this |
week year ago. and 63 in the corre- |
spending week Of 1896.
THE DUN REVIEW.
Messrs. r. G. Dun & Co.'s Weekly Re-
view Of Trade will say tomorrow:
The first month Of the new year has
brought rather more increase in business,
but Less improvement in prices than was |
expected. With payments through clear
lighthouses 7.3 per cent larger than in
1892, and probably the largest ever known |
In any month. with railroad earnings ia
per cent. larger than the best of the past
only shows more clearly the increase in
the quantities Of products sold Nor is
there any disposition to refuse orders,
even at present prices. Indeed, the COM
petition Of manufacturers seeking orders
alone prevents rise. Most of them
have all they can manage. many work
ing night and day, and one great steel
concern running on Saturday. but the
works not yet filled with orders are seek
ing contracts at as low prices as have
ever been made, indicating that even
these are not entirely Improbable. The
settlement of wages on 10 per cent. adj
vance, April 1st, for 100000 coal miners OF
the central region, with other changes,
will tend toward a larger demand for
products of all kinds, though aIso toward
some increase in the cost of manufac-
ture.
Wheat has been conspicuous rising
cents for the week, with l-Sc. for May
options. Western receipts have been
10 OO9. 053 bushels in four weeks against
6 045712 last year, but Atlantic exports
have been 12.OO3 .S2S bushels i'm four weeks,
against 7.103.67 last year, and Pacific cx-
ports. without Tacoma, for the week,
4Ol5.5S3 bushels against 3,45i. s95 last year.
So heavy an outgo. with wheat over 81
per bushels, and with corn exports for
the four weeks equalling the extraord-
nary movement OF last year. discJoses the
strength of foreign demand even better
than current accounts of disappointing
shipments from Argentina and poor pros
poets in Russia
Cotton has risen a sixteenth, notwith-
standing the strikes in eastern mills. and
the official report OF decrease OF 1915
per cent. In British exports Of cotton
goods last year. Receipts still run so
far beyond those following the largest
srop on record that estimates once
deemed extravagant are commonly nc
cepted.
COTTON MANUFACTURE.
The cotton manufacture Is in somewhat
more difficulty than any other, because
prices do not much improve, nor yet
Toes the demand for goods. though both
are helped by the closing of many mills.
,ut largely also because the manufac-
urers and workers have considered too
little the rapidly growing production at
he South.
Mine-Work Contract Signed. C