The record-union., 1899-12-02

cent. larger than in 1894 exceeding
those Of other years even more. But
new business, although considerable In
quantity, shows a marked decrease, be-
cause of the prolonged rise in prices
even though the rise has been relatively
less than the advance in leather, which
still continues, or in hides, which has
apparently been checked again.
Failures for the week have been IA
in the United States, against Isl last
year, and y in Canada, against IL last
year.
| tomorrow will say:
Warm weather and a holiday have I'M
parted an appearance of irregularity and
even dullness to some lines of dlstrlpu-
tive trade, completing a month which
has been on the whole quieter than was
the preceding month, but one which still
makes satisfactory comparison with
corresponding period of a year ago,
When the weather conditions particu-
larly favored distribution. The price
situation generally is apparently one
of notable strength, in view of these
conditions. Farm products, it is true.
notably wheat and corn, have been
Unsatisfactory
eign demand and a bearish influence
exercised by increasing supplies of the
former grain. Other cereals are stron-
ger, however.
| Provisions have been lower, largely
on increased receipts of hogs, but lard
has been steady on good export de-
mand.
| Wooden goods have been strong also,
despite unfavorable weather. Raw
wool has again advanced on heavy
trading, and what is of additional in
terest, prices at the latest London wool
sales appear to have gained to par
ity with recent advances here.
| Crop damage reports from Brazil
have been a moving feature in coffee,
which started from a very low price
level and with large stocks carried over
from previous years. The price Of this
staple advanced nearly l cent in No
vember Il
Iron and steel are even Quieter than
they We're a week ago, and some Shad-
| ing of prices, more in the nature of re-
adjustment, however than of weakness,
! have given an appearance of irregu-
larity to the market and the feature
of the week has been the agreement
upon iron ore prices, placing the price
for the coming season, as was intimated
in this column last week, at nearly
double that paid at the opening of the
present year. Other metals have been
fairly steady in sympathy with Lon
don. A marked tendency toward higher
prices for hardware is reported at a
number of markets. Holiday business
in this line has opened well and the
prospect for spring trade is regarded
as encouraging.
| Coal remains strong in price, the chief
difficulty, as heretofore being questions
of transportation.
/ The industrial situation has improved.
Some further advances in wages of
railway employees and of glass workers
are to be noted, and some strikes of coal
miners have been settled
| Wheat Gncluding flour) shipments for
the week aggregate 1888, 400 bushels,
against 3,6S3,677 last week, 1883, $50 in
the corresponding week of 1898, 6.499. =
$50 in 1897, 1868, 160 in 1896 and 3,156,-
S2S in 1898. Since July LIST, this sea-
son, the exports of wheat aggregate S.
l9I, 946 bushels, against SO, Sos O42 last
year and 107, 1896, 649 in 1S97-yS.
Business failures in the United States.
as usual at this period, number III for
the week, as compared with POP last
week; 212 in 1898 25O in 1897, 359 in
1896 and 315 in 1895. Business failures
in the Dominion of Canada for the week
number %, against 3S last week. % in
this week a year ago, 81 in 1897 and Al
in 1896.