The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-02
BUSINESS LARGE
AND PROSPEROUS
Failures for Four Weeks Much Less
Than in Former Years.
PRICES Of PIG IRON ADVANCE.
Cotton Goods Have Remained Strong,
All in Sight Not Contracted for
Being Quickly Snap-
ped up.
PRICES Of PIG IRON ADVANCE.

Wheat remains weak, yielding one cent
and quarter although Western receipts
were barely half last years for the week,
and for four weeks. only 2l,7l350 bushels
against $500, 7S9 last year. The great de-
crease in Atlantic exports. for the week
only 2.il0jj4 against 6l23N6 bushels. and
for four weeks lo,l73133 against Il. SSS 20
last year. explains much weakness.
CORN DECLINED.
Corn declined one cent. with slightly
smaller exports than last year for the
week. but for four weeks l5.26j.7b BUSH
els against ll.47gOsS last year
The cotton movement has not changed
much, but prices gained a sixteenth for
the week. closing at Isl cents against s.62
last year. >Thc large taklnss OF spnners
and the great demand for goods have
materially helped the rise.
Cotton goods have remained strong, all
coming forward not under contract be-
ing snapped up quickly. with contracts
still untitled running for next year. In
woOllens strong demand continues for
dress goods. and cotton warp and all
wool cashmeres tend higher. but there Is
not much change I'm mems wear. nor such
a rise as to Justify the high prices paid for
wool. Sales continue heavy. but largely
speculative, and stimulated by the rise
I'm London. The excitement Of speculation
leads many to overlook the fact that
purchase Of goods are TO some extent
hindered by the rise In prices already
made.
The iron manufacture has 10 meet a
greatly increased cost Of material next
year. Prices for 1909 have been fixed at
$3.50 for Bessemer ore at lower lake ports
D -
Bessemer against - last year, while coke
at s275 for furnace with high rail rates
in every. direction Indicate that iron will
not be made next year as cheaply as has
been.
PIG IRON
Prces Of pig stll advance. according 20
the Iron Age, Bessemer 10 S25 at Pitts
burg, with very small transactions. and
Grey Forge to S2l D. Quotations at other
points being unchanged.
Prices of some finished products are still
yielding as works run out Of orders and
compete with others for more business,
and refined bar Is 81 per ton lower at
Philadelphia. common 81 per ton lower at
Pittsburg ana plates 50 lower al Phila-
delpha with further concessions in
sheets because many of the tin plate
works are now closed. Some OF the iron
works about Pittsburg are running half
time
The shipment Of boots and shoes I'm
four weeks have been 373.30 cases, "a
per cent. larger than i'm 1897. and @ per
cent larger than I'm 1894, exceeding those
Of other years even more. But new bus
mess although considerable bon quantity.
shows "a marked decrease because of tile
prolonged rise i'm prices, even though that
rise has been relatively less than the
advance I'm leather which still continues
or i'm hides which has apparently been
checked again
Failures for the week have been lii
in the United states against M last
year. and q i'm Canada against 10 last
year.
NEW YORK. Dec. L-R. g. Dun *
Company's Weekly Review of Trade to-
morrow will say:
Business continues wonderfully large,
prosperous and healthy As The de-
tailed statement ~ failures by branches
of business can not bee made until next
week. 70 seems we'll 20 say that in four
weeks failures have been reported
amounting to- SGNiS,5aO against $40 f5
in the same weeks last year. SllGl0,l95 I'm
1851 and over Si2OoO.O00 I'm 1896 and also
I'm 1896 Yet the volume of solvent trade
represented by exchanges at the princi-
pal clearing houses has been for the
month Z2j per cent greater than last
year. and 10 per cent. greater than in
1882
Thus the ratio of defaults 10 business
payments was s257 IN $1,000 for November.
1895. and /. - for 1896 and $2.l5 for 1897.
but N25 for 1895. and only 90 cents in
81 100 for 1899.
I'm many lines the volume Of business
has been larger than I'm october, not
withstanding the extraordinary food Of
buying ever since the beginning OF last
AIurDh