Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-28
TRADE IS QUIETER.
THE FACT DUE TO THE UNsEAsoN'
ABLY WARM WEATHER.
ORDERS 70 JOBDERS LEES URGENT
=. .,,rcciabIe Loss of Strength u"
Prices, However, and Among ir''
Changes Advances Are stiii "oS'
Numerous.

tomorrow will say:
A ouleting down of distributive trade
more particularly at retail, Is reported
I'm telegraphic advices to Bradstreets this
week, growing out of the unseasonapiy
warm weather row being experienced III
most sections of the country. rehecuoh
of this is found In less urgent orders re-
ceived by jobbers. and in somewhat I'M
paired collections at many points. AS re-
cards prices. however there il no appre-
ciable loss Of strength the great majority
of quotations remaining steady, ana
among those making changes -dVances
are still most numerous. That the gene
raj business Of the country remains at
an unprecedented volume is testified 10
by the heavy gains noted in bank clear
ances over a year ago. ana by the I'LL
mense increase IN railroad earnings over
exceptionally good returns last OCTOBER.
As regards the current activity in rail
ways, 1t may be said that east-bOund
traffic from Chicago in the last month
has more than doubled that reported III
the same period a year ago. ana nearly
twice as large as that reported in Octo-
Der of 1892, a record period OF good trade.
The ocean-freight situation is gradually
improving, partly because high rates are
attracting the available disengaged ton
mage. and partly because the check TO
foreign buying, particularly Of cereals,
caused by the advance in steamship
rates. has exercised a reflex action on the
latter market.
CORN. WHEAT, COTTON. &C.
simultaneously with the drop in freight
rates this week has come "A hardening
Of quotations for cereals, partly the re-
suit Of this improved foreign buying, not
wlthstanding the late decline, and partly,
also. because the foreign and domestic
demand for corn has not as yet brought
out the flood of offerings earlier looked
for.
Wheat has been sympathetically strong,
as have other cereals, and wheat-flour
has been advanced this week.
Coffee is firm, but not much higher on
the week, some speculative reaction hay-
ing been noted.
Among leading products decreasing in
price. tin and copper among the metals.
have been most notable. the latter claim
ed to be due TO productions approaching
mor3 TO a parity with demand.
Cotton is fractonally lower, rs a result
OF the deadlock between foreign consul
mors and American producers. The sit
uatiOn OF cotton goods. one Of aggressive
strength, is supporting feature of no
small account
The strength Of wool i'm natural, In view
OF the very large sales, most Of which
are claimed TO have been for account Of
manufacturers. In woollen goods. demand
is favorable, and further price advances
are predicted. Lumber, after slight hesl-
tation at some markets, Que TO enlarged
supplies. is again very firm, as are also
hides and leather, in sympathy with re-
cens advances in boots and shoes.
IRON AND STEEL
Tho situation of iron and steel is per-
haps the most notable one. The feature
of the market is the reported booking by
the steel-rail mills Of the country Of near
" IS per cent. of their capacity for next
years delivery. In all, 100000 tons of
rails are reported to have been booked
for delivery next year, and there IS IN ad-
dition considerable unfinished business OF
1899 account, which. it Is claimed, VIII
still further enlarge the volume of bust
ness handled next year.
Heavy buying Of pg-iron, undoubtedly
TO cover some OF these rail sales, Is re-
ncrted i'm the Central West, at prices lit
tie below those ruling for some time past.
In allied lines Of business, demand is still
cars for plates for ship-building, and for
wire. are additional signs Of strength
The demand for hardware IS active in
nearly all markets.
The scarcity of supplies noted last week
is still a feature, and jobbers are still
pushed for prompt shipments. BarDed
wire. nails, and hand implements tend
higher at some eastern markets.
GRAIN EXPORTS.
Complaint that present high prices are
iniuring our export trade is also heard.
| Wheat. including flour, shipments for the
week were 4,4l6.4 J5 bushels. ag dnst 4,l0o.-
6lS bushels last week. 5,J6J99 bushels IN
the corresponding week OF 1898, 5.sll,asl
/ bushels in 1881, 3,62S00 bushels in 1895,
and 2.7l30li bushels in 1895.
Since July lst. this season, the exports
OF wheat aggregate 695i2l6o bushels,
against 67,O7l.S SO bushels last year. and
! Is. 2S3 Ggi bushels IN 1S37-'9S.
| Corn exports for the week, 4525.5l9 bush
/ els. against 5.O5S 697 bushels last week
! 242l.376 bushels in this week year ago
! / 5Sa193 bushels in 1891 2.6@i2 bushels
/ I'm 1896. and 97O,j5l bushels In 1885.
Since July 1st. this season corn exports
aggregated 743SS,375 bushels. against ~
/ 3S7s07 bushels during the same period a
/ year ago, and 4S,609.55i bushels III 1871 %
FAILURES.
! Business failures for the week number
OH as compared with 22l last week, Hs
This week a year ago, 21S in 1897, PIG IN
/ 1896, and 299 in 1895.
Rusiness failures for the week In
/ Canada number q, as compared with q
IL q !