Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-10-14
CONDITIONS OF TRADE.
A RosE-HuED vIEw OF THE SIT
uATION.
tBy Telegraph to virginIan- Pilot.>

tfsr-r1' 49, CAI1ON. IN "A
(By Telegraph to Yirginlan- Pilot.)
New York. Oct. 1S-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
Trade activity is widespread. all
measures of volume and value testify
ing to prevailing prosperous conditions.
Only good reports are received from
distrihutivc trade centers, and some
markets report Fall demand as hold
ing out longer than expected. Rail-
road earnings. bank clearings returns
and quotations OF staple prices nrc all
encouraging, pointing as they do to
maximum volume of business for this
period OF the year. Crop returns for
October bear out earlier Impressions OF
shortened yields OF most leading ag-
ricuitural products. Expectation of
more moderate yields Of leading cereals,
Is not confined TO this. country. The
worlds wheat crop will admittedly be
smaller, the rye, barley and oats yields
are not expected TO be large as year
ego. The higher range of prices of all
staples, and particularly OF agricultural
products, however, will furnish a
'profitabis balance to producers.
The advance In tho price OF cotton
has been notable one. and though
some reaction Is naturally noted, the
effects upon general Southern trade and
Industry of the great advance are par
icuiarly beneficial. as this section alone
has appeared to lag somcwhat behind
the procession OF prosperity.
In the manufacturing branch of the
trade, strength is we'll nigh universal.
Advances have been numerous, and
scarcity OF goods rather than of de-
mand Is the main subject Of complaint.
While source of depression to cot
ton, the Transvaal situation, has
proved rather favorable to wheat and
other cereals. off-sctting heavy IN
crcascs In visible supplies.
The liberality OF foreign demand is
perhaps best shown in the September
report OF exports of the leading pro-
ducts Shipments of brcadstuffs We're rs
large is those OF August, and there was
naturally a heavy gain in cotton ex-
ports, which arc double those of the
same month year ago. Totals OF lear
ms exports show an increase of % per
cent. over September a year ago, and
over September 1896, but a decrease of
SO Fer cent. from September, 1897,
which witnessed very heavy shipments
OF breadstuns.
General manufacturing Industry is
running fun, and activity is so wide
spread that II is hard to prefer one
industry To another in this respect
Coal production Is particularly heavy,
put scarcity OF cars is complained of
IN this and In the coke industry, with
the strength of lake freishts constitut-
ing a disturbing element as regards tho
supply OF anthracit in tho West.
Iron and steel are active as to pro-
auction, but new business is limited
by the small quantities available for
nearby delivery. Liberal orders are still
reported for the first half Of next year.
ana steel rails are reported tending up
ward AZ the West
Paper Is IN specially active demand at
present, news varieties. owing to low
water, being reported practically ont of
the market
sugar refining furnishes one exception
TO the reports OF general prosperity. and
production is decreasing partly. of
course. owing to the season, but also
10 the decentralization growing out of
price cutting.
Wool is very firm, though quieser in
some markets, While the manufactured
product is selling well on next spring,s
account 'i' us .
Tobacco is reported very generally ac-
i've ut nearly all markets West and
East. ii'N
Shoe manufacturers are busy and
leather and hides are sympn thcticniiv
strong i'm price
Lumber is in urgent demand i'm many
markets in spite Of the stage OF the
ScuSoh' ana prices are firm,
Wheat. including -four. shipments for
the week aggregate 5,9G5. GA bushels.
ls I So .as LIZ. .,.neI-
i.i2g,995 bushels In the corresponding
week OF 1885, 5,o59.72O bushels in 1so7'
1.l66,si7 bushels in 1896 and 2,4O9, 446
bushels in 1895.
Since July 1 this season crop exports
OF wheat aggregate Go, 965. oi7 bushels,
against 5I,2eS,1l6 bushels last year and
66.g2O.l32 bushels in 1S97-'9S
Corn exports for the week aggregate
$3.50, I92 bushels. against 4.93S. 7I9 bush
els last week, o,706292 bushels In this
week year ago, 2,22i.716 bushels in
1897. 1,Tl1,Gl0 bushels in 1896 and / .6s0
672 Bushels i'm 1895
Since July this season corn oxports
aggregate G4,T54,l 59 bushels. against 40
S66.240 bushels during tho same period
year ago and 45,S4a,S1s bushels in
1S97-'aS.
Business failures In the United States
number 40. as compared with 14G last
week. oa3 III this week n year ago. 1Ss
In 1857. 90 In 1896 and $50 in 1895.
business failures in the Dominion IF
Canada. number H. as compared with "a
last week. % in this week n year ago,
"A I'm 1897, 30 in 1896 and 81 in 1895.