The record-union., 1898-01-29
perseptihIe Confidence as Regards
Outlook for Spring Business.
Increased Activity in Many Lines. With a
Number Of Price Advances.
Another Considerable Drop in the
Failures Reported, Heavily In
creased Bank Clearances and
Large Exports of Cereals-A
Distinct Improvement in the
Cotton Goods Situation.

NEW YORK, Jan. 2S.-Bradstreet' :
Tomorrow will say:
Favorable conditions in the trade sit
uation continue to far outweigh those
of an opposite character. Stormy
weather throughout a large section OF
the country this week has checked the
movement of merchandise in consump>
ton. but the perceptible increase in the
demand for seasonable goods is report
ed as already resulting.
The last week Of the month closes
with increased activity in many lines,
number Of price advances, heavily
increased bank clearingS, as compared
with one year ago at nearly all cities,
another considerable drop in the num-
ber of failures reported, large exports
Of cereals, particularly wheat, corn and
flour, and perceptible confidence in
nearly all branches of trade as re-
CARDS the outlook for spring business.
Another favorable feature of the
week is the slight but distinct improve
ment in the cotton goods situation, in
which speculative activity is awaken>
ing. Print cloths are higher and some
makes of gray and medium weight cot
tons are more firmly held
Pig iron is rejecting the effect OF
present unprecedented production, and
further weakening in prices is re-
corded at Eastern points. At the
West, however, consumption of pig
and finished products of iron and steel
is reported increasing, SO as to hold
prices firm. Large sales of bar steel
IL: 4
ST. Louis, with mills refusing to take
orders for delivery earlier than late
summer.
Boots and shoes hold the late ad-
vance, and manufacturers of heavy
weights will not take orders for fall
delivery at present prices.
Wool is strong on large sales and
firm prices abroad
Prices of most staple products are
higher on the week; notable instances
are those of wheat, which is past the
dollar mark again at many Western
markets.
The active demand for the Klondike
trade is reflected in canned goods
stocks of which are reported very low,
prices holding late advances.
e(Ss
fair, those indicating backwardness
coming most generally from the South.
Cereal exports are again heavy, total
shipments of wheat, including flour, for
the week amounting to 5,110,624 BUSH
els, against 3,926,0OO bushels last week
2,515,0OO in this week a year ago and
$500, 600 bushels in 1896.
Business failures for the week are the
smallest reported in the fourth week of
January for five years past, numbering
only 2SS, against 300 last week, 326 in
the corresponding week of last year
and 393 in 1886. OF the failures re-
ported, 251, or 81 per cent We're of
concerns having $1,000 capital or less.
and 50 per cent. in all We're of concerns
having less than $20O00 capital Busi
ness failures in Canada this week num-
Der 4S, against 46 last week, 56 in the
week a year ago and 63 in the cores
ponding week of 1896.
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade" will
say tomorrow:
The first months new year has
brought rather more increase in bus
mess but less Improvement in prices
than was expected. With payments
through clearing houses T.3 per cent.
larger than in 1892, and probably the
largest ever known In any month with
railroad earnings 11.2 per cent. larger
than the best Of past years, the fact
that prices are very low only shows
more clearly the increase in quantities
of products sold. Nor is there any dis
position to refuse orders even at pres
ent prices; indeed, the competition OF
manufacturers seeking orders alone
prevents rise. Most of them have all
they can manage many working night
and day, one great steel concern run
ming on Sunday, but the works not yet
filled with orders are seeking con-
tracts at as low prices as have ever
been made.
The settlement of wages on a 10 per
cent advance April 1st for 200. 900 coal
miners of the central region, with other
changes, will tend toward a larger de-
mand for products of all kinds, though
also toward some increase in cost of
manufacture.
Wheat has become conspicuous, rising
5 cents for the week, with 51lsc for May
options Western receipts have been
10G09,0 ,053 bushels in four weeks,
against 12.0i5011 bushels last year
but Atlantic exports have been 12,003,
1oS bushels in four weeks, against T.
013, 704 last year, and Pacific exports,
with Tacoma, for the week, 4,015, ,5S4
bushels. against 3,454.95i last year.
The cotton manufacture is in mora
difficulty than any other. not merely be-
cause prices 90 not show much inn
provement, nor yet the demand for
goods, although both are helped by the
closing Of many mills, but largely be-
cause the manufacturers and workers
have considered too little the rapidly
growing production at the South
The wooden manufacture is doing
well, fine worsted goods having opened
at an advoce of 20 per cent over last
year, and large mills are constantly
buying wool. even at current high
prices. which implies great confidence
in the future. presumably based on
larger orders than are publicly reported.
Such purchases of wool have been fire.
quent of late, even by mills supposed to
be supplied far ahead and one Provi-
dence mill appears to have taken $50
600 pounds of worsted wool at Wheel
ing this week. Sales at three OF the
oh; of viyafc hava hon,, 1O0 Inn