The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-11
BRADSTREET'S
REVIEW OF TRADE
Strength Of Price Of Leading Staples a
Feature.
SOME FAVORABLE EFFECTS
Are Likely to FOLLOW the Atmospheric
Changes Of the Week.
IRON STRONG AND AGGRESSIVE
Some Reflection of the Cold Wave is
Found in the Advanced Price of
Wheat Business Failures
Unusually Small.
SOME FAVORABLE EFFECTS
IRON STRONG AND AGGRESSIVE

New York, February 10.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
That some favorable effects are likely
to follow the atmospheric changes of the
week is evidenced by reports of increased
distribution at retail of heavy winter goods,
while the effect on spring trade appears to
be chiefly regarded as of retardation
rather than of positive injury. In leading
staples the strength of prices is still
feature, all the gains made in January be-
ing sustained, if not further improved.
Some reflection of the cod wave is found
in the advance in wheat, showing an In
clination to concede some damage to the
winter wheat crop, in view of claims that
snow protection is lacking in many sections.
The strength of cotton while. to some ex-
tent based on smaller receipts and a re-
duction of the usual winter crop, appears
mainly due to the cheerful tone of the cot
ton goods market and the strength of de-
mand and price manifested by those sta
pies both at home and abroad. In agrees
sive strength alike of demand and price,
however, iron and steel are easily first this
week, and the list of advances reported
this week is almost total of that indus
try's products.
Advance in Iron Products
Among the advances noted might be men,
toned barbed wire, steel rails, southern,
eastern and Bessemer pig iron, nails and
wire and plates.
Weather conditions have not favored the
lumber trade, but reports, particularly from
the hard wood branch, are still very ia
Vorabe and prices exhibit all their old
strength. Hides are firm and some activity
and advance in leather is reported. A fair
trade is doing in wool and rather better
tone is reported in the wooden goods mar
ket. Anthracite coal, favored by weather,
is active.
Since July 1 of this year the exports of
wheat aggregate 1856, 597 709 bushels, against
15S,549,42S last year.
Corn exports for the same period aggre-
gate 103,2I9,275 bushels, against 105 800, 731
during the same period last year.
Business failures in the United States
number only 1893 this week, against 267 last
week and 27S in this week year ago.
DUN's REVIEW
New York, February 1O.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S review of trade will say tomorrow:
The solid basis for good business has not
been shaken by speculative reaction. Stocks
have been slightly lower and the market IS
all the safer because much urscEndness and
unreason have been shaken out. Specula-
prices, has also taken turn, and with
heavy exports the market tends upward
again.
The cotton movement is not essentially
speculative but based on reported injuries
and holds it's advance Meanwhile dis
patches from all parts of the country show
extraordinary activity in the chief branches
of trade, and business much larger than
year ago in nearly all. The heavy excess
of exports over imports continues. New
York exports having been in five weeks 16
per cent. larger than last year, while the
imports were per cent. larger. In wheat.
Americans are getting profits, even though
prices are lower than they were some
months ago.
The Priee of Wheat Up
After some yielding the price rose to 1885
cents and the May option rose Nc during
the week, with Atlantic exports of 1928 1852
bushels, -four included, against 2,174 921
bushels last year. and total exports, includ-
ing the Pacific, 4.647 ,405 bushels, against
q 0,515 bushels last year. Western receipts
have been 3,056,0i6 bushels against 1887 40
bushels for the week last year, while corn
exports for the week were also 3,102,t09
bushels against 1856, 976 bushels last year.
A. higher or lower prices foreigners are
constantly taking more wheat and corn
from us than in any previous year.
The cotton market is in slightly stronger
position because foreign buying continues
now point to a smaller crop than was ex-
pected. The stocks on hand are heavy, both
commercial and mill, but foreign buying
supports the rise in prices thus far. Mill
operations help also, though at this season
they are naturally small Tor the heavy de-
mand for goods of late leads buyers to re-
member that the material has not advanced
in prices as much staple cottons since
the lowest price was reached Goods are
rapidly rising with the expanding demand,
but the material has advanced only 1sc.
The Wool Market
What wool is worth in view of the great
stocks yet unconsumed few are able to
Judge and that fact hinders adjustment of
prices for goods Sales have been small,
only 400 pounds at the three chief mar
kets for the week against 5,303,2O0 last year
and 9175 500 In the same week of 1897, but
this year and in 1897 the buying has by no
means represented consumption only. While
one-quarter and one-half blood wool and
delaine have been in demand and firm the
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