The evening times., 1899-09-16
BRADsTREET's REPORT.
Business of the Country Going For
ward mt 81 Rapid Pace.

NEW YORK, Sept 16.-Bradstreet's
financial report says: With comparative
ly little stock or other speculative activity
and with few strikingly new features pre-
senting themselves the general business of
the country goes forward at a good pace
and in unprecedented volume for this pc
ri0d of the year. Reports indicative of this
come from most leading markets, addition
al proof being furnished by the steadiness
of most prices on the high plane recently
reached, the very heavy business doing by
the transportation interests as reflected in
enormous railroad earnings, reports of eX-
panded fall demand heavy. export trade
totals, and reported cheerfulness of outlook
as TO the balance of the year. Fall trade
activity would appear to be at its maxi
mum, judging from adviees Of activity and
strength of demand reported alike from
Western and Eastern markets and shared
in also by most South Atlantic and interior
Southern cities. Yellow fever at some
Southern points, resulting in quarantine
regulations has tended TO restrict business
at a few market, notably New Orleans,
while unfavorable crop weather conditions
limit business at Galveston Jacksonville
advices are hopeful, indicating that yellow
and of Key West. The advanced stage of
the season and the improved sanitary con-
ditions existing or planned, however, rob
this visitation of most of its old terror.
Iron and steel are quiet but very strong
at the East. Blast furnace reports show
that current consumption and production
are not far apart, but production fails TO
show the expansion looked for and while
current work is at the rate of 14.000.0e0
tons per year, estimates of the years pro-
duction do not run much beyond Is, 500, 600
tons. The notable strength in cereals this
week is shown in corn, where paucity of
old supplies leads to the rumor of a Sep
tember squeeze. Little change is TO be
noted in wheat. though the Government re-
port was temporarily stimulating. Cotton
is shade lower on the week, owing mainly
to the failure of foreign spinners to accept
current Government and other advices as
to cotton-crop conditions. The strength of
cotton goods is however, notable. Lum-
Der retains all its old strength, and some
new buying is responsible for advanced
quotations at several centres. This is true
also of most building materials, with the
exception of brick which is rather weak
owing to reported overproduction.
wool is firm at all and higher at some
markets and much interest is taken in the
next London wool sales. Woolen goods are
strong, though some manufacturers COM
plain that the advance in raw material has
outstripped the gain in the manufactured
product. A number of mills are reported
to have instructed their agents that their
order books for spring delivery are filled.
Refiners' stocks of raw sugar are under
stood to be large and prices are slightly
lower, owing to the slackened demand. Re-
;c S,r, with hoox anti a
mand and much interest is manifested as
to the working out of the new arrange
ments between the wholesale grocers and
refiners.
Business failures for the week number
149, against 123 last week, and 173 in this
week year ago, and compare with 169 in
1897, 315 in 1886, and 21S in 1885,