The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-23
BRADSTREET,S TRADE REVIEW
The Fail Trade Awaited with Great
Commonwealth indications Point TO
improvement I'm Trade Manufacture,
Immense Business I'm Iron and steel.
Heavy Export Of & trains.

improvement III Eao
Immense Business I'm Iron and steel.
Heavy Export OF Grains.
New York, August l9.-Bradstreet's
tomorrow will say: Perhaps the most
interesting feature OF the general bus
mess situation at present is the air Of
confidence with which the mercantile
community awaits the approach Of the
fan trade period. While, OF course,
based in some degree upon favorable
results already achieved in many lines.
ii is unquestionably true that the fiat
tering crop outlook ut home and thc
return Of peace, with the expectation
Of benefits to our export trade, nat
urally expected To accrue therefrom,
make for much OF the feeling thus
expressed. Reflection Of the growth OF
fall trade is found in the steady eX-
pansiOn now going on in bank clear
ings, the improving demand at higher
prices for most makes OF iron n
steel. the generally favorable railway
earnings. which, in default Of a large
movement of crops to market. point
TO a large return trade in
tured goods to the agricultural sec
tons, and the reports of continued aC-
tivity in d~istributive trade west and
south, with signs of n moderate in
crease in interest at leading eastern
markets, which hitherto have not shar-
ed largely in the trade Improvement.
The immense business doing in iron
and steel products, at advanced prices,
calls attention 10 the proportionately
less notable expansion of crude iron
production. Pig iron statistics, in fact.
point to an even smaller output for
the current month, some of which cur
tailnlent, of course. is naturally based
upon midsummer conditions. Ad-
vances in man. grades Of iron, nota-
bly, Bessemer and southern pig, are
features of the week.
The situation in cereals shows but
little change. The balance established
between p~henomenally reduced visible
supplies. active milling demand at
home, and fair export inquiry on the
n hand, and the very promising crop
outlook on the other, tends to steadi-
ness in prices, and other cereals sym
pathiZe with wheat.
Large supplies OF raw cotton Mt home
and abroad, and the prediction OF a
yield this year nearly equal TO, If not
exceeding that grown a year ago. while
naturally stimulating to business at
the south, has a depressing effect upon
the price of the raw staple, and quo
tations are a fraction lower for She
week and 2 cents a pound lower than
Il stdi dSo dl III tllllt.
Reports as to collections the coun-
try over are very encouraging From
winter wheat sections especially re-
ports are very good. Some slowness
is noted in payments at the northwest.
but this is expected to disappear when
the spring wheat crop moves.
Business failures are larger in num-
Der than last week, ag%gregating 1876,
against III last week, but compared
with 221 in this week a year ago. 264
in 1896, 1872 in 1885 and 251 in 1894.
Buyers are appearing in increasing
numbers at leading western markets.
Bad roads still restrict business at
New Orleans, but a large fall business
is expected. At Memphis the outlook is
for the heaviest business i'm the history
of the city, but damage by cotton
worms in Texas affects trade at Gal
weston. In the south Atlantic cities re-
ports are of a p~erceptible improvement
in trade. On the Pacific coast, while
business is quiet in California, large
crops in Oregon and Washington are
expected TO make fall trade lively.
AT the east more is doing at Bal
Southern buyers are increasing
in number, and stocks are reported
heavily reduced. Business is active at
Pittsburg, iron and steel being cs-
pecially so. At Boston and New York
moderate improvement is noted. The
decreased condition Of the raw staple
tends TO encourage future business in
cotton goods, but print cloths are firm
and there is less talk OF curtailine
production at Fall River. In wool and
wooden goods business is only moder-
ate, and manufacturers buy for pres
ent requirements.
Wheat and corn shipments are small
er than those of last week. but are
still ahead OF last season. Wheat ship
ments for the week, including -four.
aggregate 1875, 93S bushels, against
3,S2s. SOC bushels (corrected) last week,
and compare with 5.316. 1913 bushels in
this week last rear, 1891 ,693 bushels
in the corresponding week of 1896.
2,3S9,140 bushels in 1895 and 3.IS2. 100
bushels in 1894. Since July 1st this
the exports of wheat aggregate
q, $685. s bushels, against 81, 1872, 346
bushels last year.
Corn exports for the week aggre-
gate 3,19s, OBJ bushels, against 3,5l7.952
bushels last week. 1923, OBS bushels in
1897, 2,7ss.s COL in 1896, lbs, 23s bushels
in 1895 and 105, 900 bushels in 1894. Since
July 1st this veal the exports Of corn
aggregate 20,22S,3 65 bushels, against
1855, ss3 bushels during the same Pc
riod last year.