The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-28
.SATISF ACTOPY
TRADE OUTLOOK.
Spring Orders Larger Than Eyer Be-
fore at This Tine.
SPECULATION IN SOME STAPLES.
Has Been u Notable Feature OF the
Weeks Business, But. in Regular
Channels Of Trade. Conditions
Have Been Very Satisfactory

NfiW YORK. Jan. 2t-BFadslreets TO-
morrow viii say:
The apparently steady rise in the tide
OF general business has been dlFel 7ihtD
This week by an outburst OF speeu'sllN
Interest In a number of staples notably
cotton and wheat which heretofore nav"
registered steady gains on actual con-
sumptive demand rather than on the
development of marked builish specul"-
tion. Large transactions and oouyon'
prices have been features in this staple
and signs are not wanting that sympa-
thetic. though smaller. movements in
number OF other lines are either under
way or contemplated.
Exceptional industrial activity, par
ticulaily in the iron and steel trades -
another feature Of note ana mere 700
price advances are al but general re-
lccting so far as can be seen chiefly IN,
urgency Of consumers requirements inc
claim. In fact. being made that specula-
rion has not n yet entered into inc
buying in this branch Of industry. The
same claim. however can hardly De
made as regards a number OF movements
toward concentration in this and other
industries. where. I'm fact. the movement
toward combination is described as ap-
preaching virtual craze.
IMAiENSB ORDERS
In the regular channels OF distribuiiNe
trade conditions continue, IN the man,
satisfactory. the volume Of spring orders
at most markets being represented as
larger than In any recent preceding
year az this time. While II Is hafdly
possible to rs the entire responsibility TOT
the 5ullishness IN wheat and cotton upon
the movement which so far has proved 50
successful In stocks. the claim is freely
made that considerable profits realized
i'm tho stock market have sought expires
sion I'm the channels Of staple food and
textile distribution.
Color is given 10 this claim by The fact
that the situation in actual wheat shows
but little change from recent weeks IL
is true that the tendency 10 pare down
alleged official estimates OF Russian crops
and some weather reports from the West
have been more encouraging to the hold
ers OF actual wheat but the magnitude
of the outburst Of new buying shared IN
by former persistent shorts IN Whedl
alone. hardly explain the activity I'm this
market which has resulted I'm the highest
prices reached since the collapse OF the
Letter deal.
IRON AND STEEL.
Activity I'm demand for nearly all
classes OF iron and steel is reflected in
advances for nearly every class Of pig
iron and in steel blllets, rails. wire and
plates Announcements Of a large num-
her Of connections and combinations pro-
lected or under way are also feature
In the domain of other metals. notably
copper and tin, speculation and actual
demand alike make for higher prices.
Better reports are received from the
lumber trade i'm a number Of cities and
an the old advances are maintained with
..a4EN4nfr Iva nmffppE far gnftnR hfIEf-
ness.
Some important dry goods trade is 10
be noted az Eastern points. notably Phil
adephia and Boston. Wool, though firm,
IS slow OF sale, ard finished products with
the possible exception Of dress wOOllens
ID not move az freely as hoped for.
feature this week. in fact, being the very
low prices announced by some manufac-
turers.
General industry IS reported active,
notably soft coal mining and ship build
ing An encouraging feature in the
former trade has been the wage settle
ment made with 10000 Western coal
miners for another year.
GRAIN EXPORTS
Wheat including -four shipments for
the week aggregate 4,93l,52 bushels
against 519s67l bushels last week, $685.
y hNfllfio III liit correspondents WEN "
lSgS. 25i5. i0S bushels I'm 1897: 2,j,O, 206 BUSH
els Ia 1896, and 2,4S3S5s IN 1895.
Since July lst, this season, the exports
of wheat aggregate lA232, POI bushels
against li6 49, $50 bushels last year.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
1905. 733 bushels against 292s,l9l bushels
last week 4,e26559 bushels in this week
year ago 30ll COZ bushels I'm 1897: 3,i97 OS6
bushels In 1906 and 942 i6i bushels In 1895
Since July lst. this season, corn exports
aggregate o. rs 923 bushels against $500. %
73s bushels during the same period year
ago.
Business failures are fewer In number.
aggregating 2i5 against 262 last week: 2ss
In this week year ago; S26 In 1897; 1913 In
1896. and 3l2 IN 1895
Rusiness failures for the Dominion OF
Canada for the week number 30 against
90 last week; ~ in this week a year ago;
L., L., ~ 4 In