The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-23
HOLIDAY TRADE
UNPARALLELED
Demands for a Higher Class Of Goods
Than Usual.
PRICES SHOW GREAT STRENGTH
War News Caused n slump Early in
the Week in Cotton, But Close
Found Actual staple Only
Slightly Below Opening.

NEW YORK. Dec. p --Bradstreet $
s,atcmea, Of trade tomorrow VIII say
Holiday trade activity. Of course reaches
SIS highest development during The week
now drawing TO close and u Is signi"-
cant of tn prosperous conditions nn"o'19-
ing the general business situation i''"t
ports. almost without exception. point 20
a volume OF business having lew II any
parallels in previous wears. Ahothtt
significant feature developed also, Is 'i"l
the demand Tor such goods embraces
higher class and q more expensive sr"ue
OF materials. q conclusion among trdue
reporters being that q larger ouyins ca
pacity exists now than I'm any previous
year Of the country's history
This favorable condition exists M ia 0e
OF the fact that the weather eohdi'i IONS
have not altogether favored railroad az
tribution Of winter goods the result Dcihg
les activity In purely retail lines than
had been looked for. though comparisons
with one year ago are generally iaNoIdp'''
Wholesale TRADE.
wholesale trade at This season usually
shows "a auietening tendency but II IS
question whether this tendency Is as
marked this year rs In former peil0as'
10 the advanced stage of the season chlei-
n growing ne out ofstringont money con-
ditions In speculative lines. may be charg-
cd some OF the quietness noted.
As above mtimaiod, however this is less
marked than I'm ordinary years. Just how
much influence upon current bank clear
ings has been exercised by money market
developments and what effect anticipa-
tory payments on January lst estimated
TO aggregate Noo0o9oo0 nave had upon
bank clearings IL would be hard 20 state
accurately. Prices generally have shown
exceptional strength. the great majority
OF staple quotations remaining unchanged
as the result of the weeks operations.
Exceptions TO this might be instanced In
aour. pork. coffee and lead, which are
higher, while copper cotton and tin are
lower War news ana tight money com
binod caused n slump early IA the week
in cotton. bat the close found prices
OF actual staple. spot cotton only slightly
below the opening The interior move
ment of cotton has failed go expand. and
there are evidences that foreign buyers
covered heavily at the decline.
WHEAT AND FLOUR.
Wheat including Hour. shipments for
the week 2M2u3 bushels against
sg-Scls bushels last week. J.sl5.23i bushels
bushels IN lS91 2ll1.702 in 1886. and 3, i57,s9l
IN $50.
Since July ist this season. the exports OF
wheat aggregate 10o3s36l0 bushels.
against rs. 2G0l last year and 1856 1j6
in 1918.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
3qio.o0o bushels. against i0l5.lS5 last week,
iiBG7s i'm this week year ago. 4.Sl9.0ii IN
1897: 2f6S 100 bushels in 1906 and !, $50 2S6 In
1876. Since July lst ,his season. corn eN-
ports aggregate Jos 40. $50 bushels, against
81 go S9l during the same period a year
ago. and 1920 39i in 1N7-gS
Business failures are fewer than Ordi-
nary at this season. though exceptional
money conditions have caused some few
heavy embarrassments. and the ensuing
liabilities will swell the months totals
considerably. The total number of fall
ures this week is 2il. as compared with
III last week. 2l2 n this week year ago.
and pa in 1897.
Canadian failures for the week number
29 as compared with IS last week. 81 in
this week a year ago and 20 In 1897.