The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-28
BRADSTREEr,s REPORT
A Temporary Hold Up I'm b General
Advance In Trade-The Iron Business
sun strong, Though Smaller Than
For Several Weeks-GrAin exports

New York. March 24-Bradstreet's or
tomorrow will say Stormy weather.
retarding spring distribution in some
sections. has impaired an irregular APP
pearance to general trade. while some
few reductions in prices Of leading
staples, notably raw cotton n wool,
copper and some few other metals.
serve TO break the otherwise unvary-
ing appearance OF strength OF staple
values. The general commercial stu
alton, however, continues TO present
much apparent strength. and the few
lines that note a Quieter ton OF BUSH
ness find ready substitutes among other
branches, which, as yet. have been
rather backward. The see-saw OF
wheat prices has been upward this
week, theoretically on reports OF crop
damage at home and abroad, and large
ly owing TO speculative overseeing
during last weeks depression. which
by the way again developed some good
foreign buying.
Better weather at the south and, es-
pecially, improved roads find reflection
in a large volume Of receipts OF cotton
his week and the result is a fractional
shading of prices.
The iron is still one of great strength,
thong the volume of business is con-
cededly smaller than for some weeks
past, and one grade of pig. Bessemer,
is lower on the week. Nearly every
other grade Of pig iron is higher on the
week. however. Steel billets n rails
are firmly held and nearly all classes
of finished material are higher, reflect
ing the earlier a in the crude
forms.
The boot and shoe situation with job
bers is quite encouraging. Hides, though
dull, are firm, and the same is true OF
leather, while the current demand for
the finished product keeps manufactu-
rers busy.
Cotton goods retain all their old
strength, though somewhat quieter in
demand at first hands, while the talk
of combination in the manufacturing
branch of trade has seriously unset
tied the price OF raw wool, which is
weak and lower.
Sugar reflects steady buying at prac-
tically unchanged quotations. Lumber
is feeling the stimulus OF the approach
Of active building operations, and white
pine and spruce are higher at
nearly all markets, with hard woods
sympathizing with n even outstrip-
ping these classes of material in their
upward movement.
Industrially the situation is satisfac-
tory. lille actual ADVANCES III wages
are as yet confined to the cotton man
~ufacturing and the iron and steel in
dustries, the current of work in other
lines is running full, and the number
Of operatives who nave gained some
advantage from the activity in all in
dustrial lines totals easy 500, 900.
Wheat, including flour, shipments for
the week aggregate 3,746, 761 bushels,
against ALAG 46 bushels last week,
1896, 318 bushels in the corresponding
week Of 1898, 1,749,3 19 bushels in 1897,
1,74A837 bushels in 1896 and 1852, 965
bushels in 1895. Since July LIST, this
season, the exports Of wheat aggregate
$780, 72, 562 bushels, against 176, SIG, SSS
bushels last year.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
1863, 629 bushels, against 4,211, 1926 bush
les last week, 4,496,2 57 bushels in this
week a year ago, 1852, 6S7 bushels in
1897. 1,727,9 1852 bushels in 1896 and 672,-
asa bushels in 1895. Since July 1st. this
season., corn exports aggregate 1885,
153, $50 bushels against 131, 033, 926 BUSH
els during the same period a year ago.
Business failures for the week num-
Der only 1S2, as against 205 last week,
compared with 215 in this week a year
ago, 221 in 1897, 276 in 1896 and 232 in
1895.