Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-09
TRADE.
Transvaal War Proves Mettle
Of British Spectators.
BIG WEEK In AMERICA
Reserves in south AFRICA Have Ten
dcncy 10 CAME the Engllshmen
to Look to America for
Their Securities.

| New York, Nov. Ar. q. Dun &
Co.'s weekly review of trade says:
1 British disasters in south Africa
have brought to view something beside
1.-THE steady self-reliance of the English
lpeople, that they hold not many Amer
lean securities to be dslodged in any
| time OF alarm, but are inclined to take
more when stocks and money look for
| safe investment.
A little decline of three-quarters of
a cent in wheat and one and one-half
cents In corn does not hinder exports,
though it is some evidence that grow
ers think they have ample supplies. At
lantic exports of wheat for Ave weeks
have been, -four included, 1860, 500
bushels, against 1882 31 bushels last
year,and Pacific exports 2,713,551 bush
els, against s.917,434 bushels last year.
Western receipts of wheat have con-
tinued heavy, but have not rivaled last
years extraordinary outpouring,
amounting to only s6,95s,os7 bushels in
| five weeks, against 49,64O,791 bushels
last year, but western corn receipts
run ahead of last years in the same
weeks, and the exports have been 49,
64s,o44 bushels, against 1853, 15s bush
els last year.
| The enormous sales of wool at Bos-
ton, 21,557,5oo pounds reported. maxi
| ing 25,36s,700 pounds, at the three chief
markets for the week, are extremely
Important. That not all Is for cons
sumption, as the trade is naturally
tempted to believe, may be true, and
yet actual purchases by the mills of
half that quantity would imply extra
ordinary encouragement respecting
the demand for wooden goods. The
prices have been generally advanced to
an average scarcely below that Of May,
1s92, and for Ohio washed, light and
ldark unwashed, and pulled wool ,slight-
" higher. Expectation of higher prfc-
es at London prompted much specula-
tive buying, but the demand for WOOL
en- goods Is also uhdenia'bly encourag-
| ing.
The cotton manufacture has also
great demand, with prices constantly
rising, SO that with middling uplands
at 7.56 cents goods. are relatively near
er in price than they have been since
Oct. 1, but whether both will advance
much further depends upon the cor
4 rectness of current estimates of the
Forthcoming crop.
| In the Iron Trade.
Prices of pig iron for early deliveries
are still advancing, but as a great part
of the demand has protected itself by
contracts running far into next year.
Including purchases of so, 900 tons Bes-
|semer this week at $3.50, and as bill
lets are quoted at $39.5o for spot, but
$35 for next year, the market can be
interpreted several ways. Anthracite
|pig is also quoted at $24.50 for early
delivery, and local coke at Chicago. But
no finished products have advanced
during the last week, excepting refined
bars, which the eastern association has
4 put up 81 per ton. More weakness ap-
pears in some lines Of which the works
have not orders running far ahead.
But it is claimed that 100000 tons Of
rails, 80 per cent OF the entire capacity,
has ben sold for next year. Tin is
weaker OF 1880 cents and lake copper
at II cents, while spelter is offered at
4.85 cents.
Dealers are refusing TO pay the high
er prices asked by manufacturers OF
boots and shoes to such an extent that
future orders are somewhat restricted.
Yet the October shipments were 47s,-
722 cases. against 415,259 last year, an
increase Of 12 per cent, and 1878 In
the same week Of 1892, an increase of
nearly 80, per cent. Considerable irreg-
ularity appears in the relation between
demand and supply, with rather more
general hesitancy In buying on the
part of dealers in women's goods.
i Hides and leather remain strong.
packers having somewhat advanced
prices at Chicago, their supplies being
sold four to six weeks ahead.
As Viewed by Rradstrcet.
Braistret's says:
4 Despite some variation in the cur
rents of trade distribution the aggre-
gate movement continues of immense
volume; in fact, If the aggregate OF
| bank clearings in the country outside
| of the metropolis is a trustworthy in
dex, as it no doubt is, the country's
trade reached its highest mark in the
month of October. Prices certainly
show marked strength in view of the
| proportions of earlier advances. Cooler
weather has been welcomed by the re-
tail trade of the country and some
Istimulus has already been noted, alike
1 to distribution and to the confidence OF
i distributors