The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-10
nRADsTREET,s REVIEW

New York, December 9.--Bradstreets To-
morrow will say:
Business conditions continue of a most
encouraging character. A very satisfactory
feature, and one fun of encouragement to
all wholesale lines of trade is the activity
shown in retail trade in nearly all markets.
Reports received as to the holiday trade.
proper, too, point to the business constitute
ing a record maker in this respect The
Importance of the early arrival of real win
ter weather to the retail distribution of
heavy clothing and similar seasonable
goods can hardly be overestimated. In the
wider domain of general trade and indus
try perhaps the most notable feature has
been the continued activity at advancing
prices shown for most classes of iron and
steel, but particularly pig iron and steel
bilets. So pronounced has this demand be-
come since the placing of the first large rail-
orders that what is ordinarily regarded as
dull period in this industry has given place
to exceptional activity and the stimulating
effect already impaired to values seems
likely to be added to rather than diminished
so far as the outlook for the coming year
can at present be foreshadowed.
Immense Sales of Pig
Features of the week have been immense
sales of Bessemer pig iron, large sac of
steel billets and heavy orders for ship
plates. Car builders, too, have placed large
orders impeled thereto by the enlarged de-
mand for railroads which find their present
facilities for handling goods over-taXed.
EXpro trade continues encouraging and OF
a favorable nature in this respect is aWak-
ening in freights reported toward the close
of the week.
Increased supplies, consequent ON the
heaviest movement from farmers hands
ever known have constituted a bearish
feature in wheat prices this week, notwth-
standing the continued heavy shipments
obroad and the coarscr grains have sym
pathized with this important cereal.
Activity in the lumber trade has been
feature calling for commencing the placing
of large government orders for yellow pine
lumber, most of which is for Cuba, having
insured plenty OF work for number OIL
southern mills until far into the new year.
number of branches of the trade report
sustained demand OF proportions sufficient
to take care of the season reasonably
Small receipts and prices retain frmness.
Cotton Again Higher
Cotton is again higher, partly owing to
the smaller estimates becoming fashionable,
this feeling being reflected in improved spot
demand at leading markets. Cotton goods,
too, are firmer. This, in part, is due to
sympathy with the raw product, while the
advance in print cloths is attributed to the
successful disposal of the large supplies
which few weeks ago hung over the mar
ket.
rather more is doing in raw WOOL at
slightly lower quotations, but reports from
the dry goods trade show little improve
ment.
Since July the exports of wheat aggre-
gate 1926 094 bushels against ia 40 69S
bushels last year. From the same period
corn exports aggregate 69,OZ6,Sz3 bushels
against 67,251 $50 bushels during the same
period year ago.
Steadiness OF prices has been a notable
feature OF business this fall, though the
natural drift of values has been toward a
higher level.