The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-25
GENERAL TRADE
IS SATISFACTORY
The Few Quiet Lines COunterbalanced
by New Life in Others.
IRON SITUATION STILL STRONG,
Although the Volume Of Business rs
SmaIIer-Tho Range of wheat
Prices Has Been Upward-Bus-
mess Failures Fewer.

NEW YORK. March 24-Bradstreets
or tomorrow will say:
stormy weather, retard.ng spring dis
tributon in some sections. has impaired
an irregular appearance to general trade,
while some fcw reductions in leading
stapes-notaby raw cotton and wool,
copper and some few other metals
serve to break the otherwise almost I'M
varying appearance of strength of staple
values. The general commercial situa-
ton, however, continues TO present much
apparent strength. and the few lines that
note quicter tone of bus 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 re-
ports OF crop damage at home and abroac,
but largely owing TO speculative over
selling during last week oepressioni
which, by the way, again developed some
good foreign buying.
COTTON LOWER.
Better weather at the South and es-
pecally improved roads find reelection in
a larger volume Of receipts Of cotton this
week. and the result IS a fractional shade
ing of prices.
Copper is slightly lower ON the week
on rather less active jobbiug inquiry.
While the price of copper seems at a.t
to be affecting demand. which has slack
ened up. with "a consequent drop iu tla
value of that metal Sympathized BOO bF
declines in tin and lcadN the iron situation
is still one of great strength, though the
volume OF business is concedodly smaller
than for some weeks past, and ono grade
of -Bessemer-is lower on the week.
Nearly every other grade Of pig iron is
higher on the week. however. steel bil-
lets and rails are firmly held and nearly
AN classes of finished material are higher,
rejecting the early advance I'm the cruder
forms.
The boot and shoe situation with Job
beers is quite energetic. Hides are firm,
and the same true of leather. while the
current demand for the finished product
keep manufacturers busy. Cotton goods
retain am their old strength. though
somewhat quieter I'm demand az first
hands while the talk of combination in
the manufacturing branch OF trade has
seriously unsettled the price of raw wool.
which is weak and lower.
Sugar reflects steady buying in practi-
cally unchanged quotations. Lumber IS
feeling the stimulus Of the approach or
active building operations and while pine
and spruce are higher al nearly an
markets. with hardwoods sympathizins
and even outstripng this class of mate
rial I'm their upward movement.
ADVANCE ~ WAGES.
Tnduetrially. the situation is satisfac-
tory While actual advances I'm wages
are as yet confined 10 the cotton manu-
featuring and iron and steel Industries.
tho current Of work I'm other lines is run
ming fun and the number of operatives
who have gained some advantage from
the activity I'm all industrial lines totals
easy 10000.
Wheat. including -four. shipments for
the week aggregate 3f46.i6l pusheis
against 41li0iG last week. 3Nb.3lN hus n -.,
en- the corrcsp spending week or lNN, L'f' -
no I'm 1897. 17AS7 bushels i'm 1896, ana
O. $50 9G5 in 1906.
since Julv 1st. this season. the exports
~ wheat aggregate 1s09l2l62 hushcis
against 17G.5GSqS bushels last year
corn oxports for the week aggregai 10
. ooa 40 bushels against f2ll.32f bushels
last week. 1862 I'm this week year
AGO. $50 COZ bushels in 1897 1.I2,.Fh2 n,'7n-
els en- 1906. and c7255 bushels IN lN' Si..L'
Irlv 10th this season. corn exports s.. ~.
create 12G 152.5S2 bushels against l5l'o''.'-D
bushels during the same period d 9'"i
FEWER FAILURES.
rueiross failures for the week nun or
o,l,. 80 ms against 2o5 last week. drop
~ % and comrared With 2l5 IN ms We ooS
n voor ago. 92i IN 1857: DIG IN 1895. ana -,
4, rso- and Canadian failures number =,
ea~ +ho vreel, as against p last week. -
Il, ,bie week a wear ago; 10 in 1897; a. IN
1906. and 40 in 1898.