Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-11
ACTIVITY IN TRADE.
THIS THE PRE-EMINENT FEATURE
OF BUSINESS SITUATION.
PRICE STRENGTH ALSO NOTABLE.
Iron and Steel StiiI Excited by Re-
ports of Vigorous Dcmand-JOb-
port Activity.

NEW YORK, March 1O-Bradstreet's,
Of Tomorrow. will say: Industrial and
trade activity is still the pre-eminent fea-
ture of the general business situation.
Price strength, too. is notable. especially
In view Of the midwinter rise OF f'ebrua-
ry except In the case Of the leading &C.
reals and wool. In manufacturing lines.
the situation is one of great activity. Adj
ditional advances in wages this week
seem likely to swell the number Of work
ers whose wages are reported advanced
to close to $4,000
The iron and steel trade is still excited
by reports Of vigorous demand. The
shutting down of mills for repairs has
reduced the output Of pig-iron consider
ably The number Of old furnaces being
steadily increasing but the effect as yet
on production is not very marked. An
easier tendency in wool is one Of the dis
appointing features of the week, the out
growth. probably Of unsatisfactory de-
mand for mems wear goods, but also
reflection Of reports Of projected combi-
nations in the finished goods trade
COTTON GOODS AND COTTON.
The demand for cotton goods is very
active, and nearly all classes are firmly
held. though finished goods have not ad-
vanced to the same extent as the cruder
makes. Cotton remains steady. and the
reduced movement al the South Is making
the minimum estimates more fashionable
Lumber is active at most markets, ana
prices are firm, because of well-cleaned-
IN stocks. Raw and refined sugars have
alike moved upward this week. partly De
cause of unfavorable Cuban crop advices
and also in sympathy with the improve
ment going on i'm European beet mar
kets. Refined has been marked up, not
withstandng the trade war now gong
on. Wheat is weak, Notwithstanding crop
damage reports, and other cereals are IN
sympathy Herewith, chiefly because Of
the growth of bearish views of the sup
plies held by farmers. and n tendency TO
discount the generally-eXpected heavy
government estimates Of wheat In farm
ers' hands.
Reports from leading markets East and
West are Of an active spring jobbing de-
mand. particularly for dry-goods, but
shared in by clothing, shoes, and other
stables. On the Pacific coast business Is
| fairly good except at San Francisco
where general trade, as whole, Is below
the average. owing to the uncertainty re
| garding the corps
GRAIN EXPORTS.
| Wheat. including flour. shipments for
the week aggregate 4,39S.s2l bushels.
| against 5.Sl55S5 bushels last week, 44S.'6l
bushels in the corresponding week Of 1889.
500. 4S2 bushels in 1897. 2.40l .2O9 bushels III
1886. and 279l. 160 bushels In 1895. since
July LIST. this season. the exports OF wheat
aggregate ,755 bushels, against 49,
| 9n ia bushels last year.
Corn exrarts for the week aggregate
| 9. .5Ss bushels. against 5,79lSS bushels
last week. 1926, O56 bushels this week
year ago. 5.9lO,5l4 bushels in 1897, Los 6lS
! bushels in 1896, and 1886 bushels in 1885.
Since July 1st, this season. corn exports
aggregate 11722,S27 bushels, against l22,-
so. 795 during the same period year ago
| RECORD OF FAILURE.
Business failures for the week number
III. as compared with 10 last week, 2il
this week a year ago, 227 in 1897, 2SS in 1875
and 262 I'm 1895.
Failures for the week in the Dominion
Of Canada 81. as against 81 last week, 81
this week year ago, So in 1897, IS in 1856.
! and 80 in 1895