The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-23
HOLIDAY TRADE is ACTIVE.
PRESENT SEASON SEEMS ALMOST
WITHOUT A PARALLEL.

More Goods Than Ever, and Goods of
nBetter Quality Are Being Bought.
Wholesale Trade Is Rather Quiet.
Prices of the Majority of Staples
show Unusual acknowledgement
of CereaIs-Fewer Business Fail
ures.
New York, Dec. 22.-Bradstreets state
ment of trade tomorrow will say:
Holiday trade activity, of course, reaches
its highest development during the week
now drawing TO close and il is significant
of the prosperous conditions underlying
the general business situation that reports
almost without exception point to a voG-
ume of business having few, if any paral-
lels in previous years.
Another significant feature developel
also is that the demand for such goods
embraces a higher class and a mos ex-
pensive grade of materials, the cOnclus ion
among trade reporters bsing that larger
buying capacity exists now than in any
previous year of the country history.
This favorable condition. too, exists in face
of the fact that weather conditions have
not altogether favored rail distribution of
winter goods, the result being less activ-
ity in purely retail lines than had been
looked for, though comparisons with on :
year ago are generally favorable.
Wholesale trade at this season usually
shows a quoting l. ndency, but IL is que :
tiona BILE whether this tendency is IS mark
ed This year as in former periods. TO the
advanced stage of the season chiefly, and
perhaps also to the sentimental effect
81 xrr.
in speculative lines, may be charged some
Of the quietness noted. AS above in ina, ed,
however, this is less marked than in ordi-
nary years.
Just how much influence upon current
bank clearirgs has been exercised by
money market developments and what eff
feet anticipa tions of interest payments On
Jan. J. estimated to aggregate SlO0,0OO,OO
have had upon bank clearings, 1t would
| be hard TO late accurately.
Prices Show Strength.
Prices generally have shown exception
| al strength, the great majority of staple
qrof aticns remaining unchanged as a re-
suit of the weeks operations. As excep-
| tons TO this might be instanced -four, FORK
| coffee and sead which are higher, while
4 copper, cotton and tin are lower.
War news and tight money combined
| caused slump early in the week in cot
| AOI, nut AIC Cl-SS lOuilu III fNCS VI t1C az
ual staple, spot cotton, only slightly be
| low the opening. The interior movement
/ CT cotton has failed 10 expand, and there
/ are evidences that foreign buyers covered
heavily at the decline.
Wheat, including flour shipments, fol
the week aggregate 2,S13,74 bushels
against 3,25S642 bushels last week, 5,5l5,2S
bushels in the corresponding week of 1893
Asst, 55s bushels in 1897; 2,111,702 bushels il
| 1885, and 3, Ash, 991 bushels in 1895. Sine
| July /, this season, the exports of whea
| aggregate 100,373, $40 bushels, against 1l5.
236.0S4 bushels last year, and 123, IS
| bushels in 1S97-9S.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
$3.50, 600 bushels, against 4,017.lS5 bushels
last week, 4, 1903 673 bushels in this weel
| a year ago, 4,S79,011 bushels in 1897; 2 46S, 16
| bushels in 1896, and /, S39, 2S6 bushels in 1895
! Since July /, this season, corn exports ag
| gregated 10S 4l6,S $50 bushels, against n, $50,
| 1914 bushels during the same period yea
| ago. and II, $50, 1874 bushels in 1S97-9S.
Business failures are fewer than ordina
ry at this season. though exceptional mon
| ey conditions have caused some heavy EN-
| barrassments, and the ensuing liabilitie
| will swell the months totals considerably
The total number OF embarrassment
this week is I'll, as compared with q
last week, 212 In this week year ago, ans
$50 In 1897. Canadian failures for the weel
| number 20, as compared with Is last week
"a in this week year ago, and 80 in 1877