Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-20

steel. particularly structural material. Ad
vances in copper on the strong statistical
position and lead are also among the inter-
esting features in the metal trade. At the
west iron and steel are particularly ,active
and the large number Of orders already
booked make manufacturers fairly inde
pendent regarding prices and favor an ad
vance on future business
The situation in cereals shows but little
change. The balance established between
phenomenally visible supplies active milling
demand at home and fair export inquiry on
the one hand and the very promising crop
outlok on the other hand tends to steadi-
hess in prices and other cereals sympathize
with wheat Large supplies of raw cotton
at home and abroad and the prediction OF
yield this year nearly equa! IL not exceeding
that grown year ago, while naturally slim
ulating to business at the south, has a de-
pressing effect upon the price of the raw
staple and quotations are a fraction lower
for the week and cents a pound lower than
year ago at this time. Reports as to col
lections the country over are very en-
couraging. From winter wheat sections es-
pecially reports are very good.
Some slowness is noted in payments at
the northwest. but this is expected to dis
appear when the spring wheat crop moves.
Business failures are larger in number
than last week, aggregating 193, against lo7
last week. but compared with 221 in this
week year ago, 264 in 1896, 1872 in 1895 and
-ol Ill loJf
Buyers are appearing in increasing num-
bers at leading western markets. Chicago
reports increased activity in distributive
trade on country demand. with dry goods
shipments especially large. Sales Of iron
and steel are restricted by inability to de-
liver. The short pack Of canned salmon has
advanced prices. Southern and western buy
ers are arriving at St. Louis and dry goods,
and boots and shoes, hats and caps are all
active. Advances in structural iron are a
feature, and tin plate and sheet mills are
behind on orders. Kansas City, st. Paul,
Omaha and Minneapolis report active trade.
East Of the Mississippi and north of the
Ohio rivers the reports of trade are not so
fattering but a steady business is reported
doing with some Slight Improvement at
number of markets. Bad roads still restrict
business at New Orleans, but a large fall
business Is expected. AT Memphis the out
look is for the heaviest business in the his
tory of the city, but damage by cotton worms
in Texas affects trade at Galveston. In the
south Atlantic cities reports are Of a per-
ceptible improvement in trade. On the Pa
cifc coast, while business is quiet in Cali
fornia, large crops in Oregon and Washing
ton are expected to make fall trade lively.
Oregon fruit men are doing a good business
and are shipping to California points. At the
east more is doing at Baltimore. Southern
buyers are increasing in number and stocks
are reported heavily reduced. Business is
active at Pittsburg iron and steel being es-
pecaly so. At Boston and New York
moderate improvement Is noted.
The depressed condition OF the raw staple
tends to discourage feature business in cot
ton goods, but print cloths are firm and
there is less talk Of curtailing production at