The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-09
HOLIDAY TRADE
HAS OPENED WELL
S----------------------
Cotton Has Lost Some of its
Strength.
IRON AND STEEL QUIET
WOOL is STRONG, THOUGH DE
MAND Is QUGETER.
LITTLE CHANGE IN COPPER, TIN LOWER
Trade and Industry Are Generally Well EN-
ployed, With Demand Treading Close
Upon and Even Passing Supply.
Labor Trouble Unimportant,

New York, Dec. S.--BradStreet' IS tomor-
row will say:
The last month of the year has open
try generally well employed, demand
treadling close upon and even passing sup
ply, labor troubles, ayerted in some in-
stances by widespread advance in wages,
of small Importance except in one or two
cities, and with the general level of val
ues of staples at the highest point reach
ed for eight years past. Holiday de-
mand has opened we'll, and collections
from retail trades therefore show some
improvement.
THE strength of cereals, notably
wheat, this week is a reflection largely
Of decreased receipts at the Northwest
Increases in November this year We're
mot as large either i'll this country or
abroad as they were one year ago, and
to this extent the outlook is less bearish
and, owing to the smaller worlds produc-
ton this year, hopes of well maintained
prices have not been abandoned.
'fCottom has lost some of the notable
strength displayed in past weeks, owing
chiefly to a portion of the speculative ele-
ment becoming tired and selling freely
on slightly increased receipts. Toward
the close some strength was noticeable
on improved foreign buying. and the net
change for the week is not serious
After year of unprecedented activ-
ity and advancing prices, iron and steel
are quiet, with few significant changes.
partly because the season of the year
does mot favor new work, and partly also
owing to the fact that producers are very
generally sold up to the middle of next
year. Prices show no marked change,
plates and sheets being relatively weak
among the finished products, while bars
are strong.
Cooper shows little change. but tin is
lower again, affecting decreasing specu-
lative interest and smaller consunlptive
demand. Activity in hardware is largely
confined TO holiday specialties. which are
experiencing an active movement at most
markets. The feature of the coal trade
has been the increasing scarcity Of bitnm-
mons grades east and west, some mar
kets being reported practically bare Of
supplies.
THE strength of wool is apparently
unimpaired, though demand is quieteq
London prices have again moved higher
and the small available supply of fine
grades supports the belief that prices may
still move upward. The granting of 10
per cent advance at nearly all the large
cotton mills throughout New england
ON the basis of census figures, world point
to am increasing purchasing power be-
ing secured by nearly 10000 people.
THE coffee trade of the country, but
particularly in New York, has been agi-
tated and speculative prices have been
influenced by the delays growing out of
the unsettled situation of the quarantined
cargoes from Santos. More seasoEable
weather conditions have further stimu-
lated the demand for boots and shoes at
numerous points. and hides and leather
retain an the strength gained as result
of last months general rise. Notwith-
standing advanced stage of the season.
lumber. hard wood particularly coritln-
ues in active demand at most markets.
Wheat, including flour shipments for
the week aggregate 5.133331 bushels.
against 3,699,400 bushels last week. g.
S6S, 952 bushels In the corresponding week
of 1898; 6,266, 100 bushels in 1897; A.
222, ia bushels in 1896. and 2.45S. 325
bushels in 1895. Since July 1st this sea-
son the exports of wheat aggregate o.
301. 227 bushels, against 103,370,994
bushels last year and ia, 204. 79S bushels
in 1S97-'9S.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
3,S13, 600 bushels, against 4,r4l ,514 bush
els last week, 4,3SS.535 bushels in this
week year ago, 3,125554 bushels in
1897; 3,511.2S8 bushels i'm 1886 and -
391 1874 bushels in 1895. Since July 1st
this season corn exports aggregate 100.-
4S3, 701 bushels, against 6993o,2S5 bush
els during the same period year ago and
67 Psi, 800 bushels in 1S97-9S.
Business failures in the United States
for the week number 22O, as compared
with lit last week, 237 in this week a
year ago, '292 i'm 1897, 3Sl 1896 and
313 in 1895.
Business failures in the Dominion of
Canada for the week number 81 as COM
pared with % last week, % i'm this weeK
year ago. % in 1897, II in 1896 and
50 in 1885,