Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-27
TRADE CONDITIONS.
IN THE MAIN THEY STILL PRESENT
FAVORABLE FEATURES.
SMALLER NUMBER OF FAILURES.
Fair Gains I'm Railroad Earnings--
Bank Clenrings Showing Heavy
Gains-Further Price Advances In
Iron and steel.

NEW YORK, August 2e.-Bradstreets
tomorrow will say:
Business conditions in the main reflect
the continuance OF most of the favorable
features hitherto dominating the trade
situation in the more favored sections of
the country. Prominent in this direction.
of course. are the iron and steel and al
lied industries. in which active demand,
present or prospective. has led 10 further
price advances. sustained, and even in
creased, activity in distribution in most
western markets, with some improvement
likewise noted at the South and on the
Pacific coast, steadiness in prices-wheat.
corn, and cotton, however, excepted
reduced number Of business failures, fair
gains in railroad earnings as a whole, and
bank clearings in spite OF slight reduc-
ton from last week, showing heavy gains
over all corresponding periods in previous
years.
LESS FAVORABLE ELEMENTS.
The less favorable elements in the sit
uation are the reports Of arrested or
smaller than expected trade at eastern
markets, more particularly in textile lines.
lowered quotations. and apparently less
active demand from abroad for our cereal
products, and reduced prices paid for the
SOuth's great staple, raw cotton quail
flying the latter might be mentioned the
fact that spring wheat has apparently
begun TO move in the Northwest, and the
promise of large yields I'm wheat and cot
ton alike has tended TO depress prices.
In the iron and steel trade the strength
developed has been notable, and the con-
fidence expressed is striking, in view of
the Willingness of new buyers 10 immedi-
ately grant price demands. Less COM
plant about rain is heard from the
South, and the quiet, satisfactory trade
accounts from leading markets apparent
ly reflect the confidence in a large yield
OF cotton which has depressed prices II
cent per pound.
Business failures In the United States
were 172, against 1875 last week, and, com
pare with 2lO i'm this week a year ago,
800 in 1896, 1870 In 1895, and l92 in 1896.
ACTIVITY AT THE WEST
A feature Of demand at western mar
kets this week has been the inquiry from
jobbers of dry goods. clothing. boots, and
shoes; special activity being noted at Chi
casO, ~. LOUIS, 81. IduI, LOUISVILLE, anu
Omaha.
Wheat shipments for the week, in
Guiding -four aggregate 1904 76 bushels,
as against 1885,, 3iS bushels last week, 5,li9-
653 bushels i'm the corresponding week OF
1897. $3.50 S5i bushels I'm 1896. Isl. 1928 bushels
in 1895, and 3,420 go bushels in 1884. Since
July LIST, this year. the exports Of wheat
aggregate 25.5O6.552 bushels, against
265sl, 1893 during the same period last year.
Corn exports aggregate 26is,933 bushels
against 3,l9602l bushels last week, 2,2S2 i52
bushels i'm this week OF last year. 2,6l0,309
bushels in 1896. 1,12i536 in 1895, and 1900
in 1884,
Since July LIST this year the exports of
corn aggregate 22,s77. 3Ol bushels, against
q, SsS,3i5 bushels last year.
Hot weather has checked distribution
In Canada this week, but Montreal reports
an improved distribution In groceries
cheese exports heavy, and prices moving
upward. while Toronto looks for large
trade the coming week, as result OF the
exposition at that city.
business failures I'm the Dominion this
week number q, against 26 last week, %
this week a year ago, 81 in 1886, and AZ in
1888