Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-06
BRADsTREET & DUN.
business Satisfactory, In Spite OF the
Weeks Blizzard.


NEW YORK. February 5.-Brad-
streets to-day says: Severe cold wea-
Their. accompanied by high winds ana
heavy snow, has been feature tXer-
clsing considerable influence upon the
movement and the distribution OF staple
goods this week. The Northern and East
ern States appear TO have felt the enects
OF the storm most severely. In spite OF
this interruption OF business. however,
satisfactory trade for the season Is re-
ported in most lines. with special ac-
tivity reported in the iron and steel trades
and kindred lines. In the East the dlstrl-
button Of dry-goods and wool has peeh
checked, and the movement or produce
greatly interfered with, but the tone OF
the cOttOn-goOds situation is, II anything,
improved.
In the Middle States, and in the Central
West the movement OF iron into con-
sumption is still very large; but nervous
ness as to possible overproduction Affects
that market. Steel is slightly lower AT
the East, but firmly held at Chicago,
where, also. there are reported advances
in iron bars, wires, ana nalls. western
mills will not agree to deliver steel rails,
bills or rods on new orders before July
LIST. 49,
Southern buyers are coming into st.
Louis more numerously than usual at this
boots and shoes, and drugs is active. In
the Northwest better trade Is reported.
and the cold weather has helped the dis
tribution OF seasonable goods.
At the South trade is reported improved
at several important centres, and the
total Of January business is said TO be
above the average.
Alaskan business on the Pacific coast
is still very active. but export trade IN
cereals is small. Rain is needed in Cali
considerably
shortened.
Steadiness In prices has been a feature
OF the week the only decrease noted
being in wheat, corn, and -four, on a spec
ulative reaction. and in lead. while the
prices OF oats, pork, beef, and coffee are
higher
The export movement OF cereals shows
a heavy falling off for the week, but Is
still ahead Of the same week In preceding
years. The total shipments OF wheat,
-four included as wheat, amount to $685.
794 bushels. against 508,0O0 bushels last
week. 3.16S00O bushels this week a year
ago, 2,9O7. 900 bushels in 1896 2,01O. 900 BUSH
els in 1896 and 267S.0O0 bushels in 1893. In
Indian corn the exports also show large
falling off, aggregating 4.l0,9Si bushels
this week against $4,000 bushels last
week. 3.659.00O bushels a year ago, 3.2lZ,Oo0
bushels in 1896, and $4,000 bushels in 1880.
Business failures, though slightly larger
than last week. numbering 2y6 against
2SS the week before, are little above the
normal. They compare with a total num-
Der failing in the corresponding week or
1887, Of 305; OF 1896. OF 1913: in 1895. of z3.
and in 1894. of 1886. The total number fall
ing in the first week OF February. 1873.
was 223.
A REMARKABLE SHOWING.
Messrs. r. G. Dun & Co.'s Weekly Re-
view OF Trade says: Actual pay
ments through clearing houses in
January made a remarkable showing. be-
ing much larger than In any previous
month. 1868 per cent. larger than the
same month last year, and IL per cent.
larger than the same month In 1892. The
failures in January were smaller than in
any previous year OF which there Is re-
cord, and were probably smaller than In
any other January since 1881. The state
ment by branches OF business given this
week shows surprising gain In most de-
partments.
Meanwhile, the money market Is as
confident as ever, gold does not come
from Europe in large amount only be-
cause bankers find Il worth while TO lend
mercial balances are heavily In favor OF
the United States, as heretofore.
Perhaps the most striking feature or
the weak has been the decline in wheat.
/ no. i56 last year, -four included. from
Atlantic ports. and 1850 from Pacific
ports, against s44.343 bushels last year,
the temper OF the market has been weak
err The report OF the Agricultural De-
partment has had some influence. al
though its figures are not generally cre-
dited as reliable. The wheat market has
turned largely upon the operations or a
Chicago Spectator, but the fact remains
that the price depends largely upon for
eign needs and upon the comparative
scarcity OF American supply.
The outgo OF corn continues heavy
3,79S7 S6 bushels, against 1885, 400 for the
same week last year. and the excess over
last year, when exports were much the
greatest ever known, creates very
heavy foreign demand.
The spot price OF cotton remains UNI
changed, but the fact that receipts con-
tinue larger than during the same week
OF 1896, after the heaviest crop ever
known. checks speculative operations for
an advance.
The iron and steel manufacture is
steadily gaining I'm consumption or pig
iron. although production OF the mate
rial ia still In excess OF immediate de-
mands. but not enough to cause decline
in prices at Pittsburg or Chicago. Even
the southern producers are able 10 get a
fair price at Chicago and at the East.
and anthracite pig Is unchanged. The
demand for finished product mas been
very heavy, and includes structural iron
for the State Capitol building. Pennsyiva-
mia; 400 tons for the courthouse as