The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-11
|COTT TON, WOOL AND
HEMP ADVANCED
Strength of Prices Still the
Feature in Trade.
"
CEREALS ARE AT A STAND
HIDES, LEATHER AND SHOES
ARE ADVANCING.
lRREGULARITY IN IRON AND Steel
Copper Dull at the Present Decline and Tin
Weaker Rlgh Prices Turn Away Export
Business in Finished Products. I'M
ports at a Stand.

J. New York. Nov. 10.-Bradstreet's to
morrow viii say:
strength Of prices, natural out
come of past and present active demand,
is still the leading feature of the trade
situation, Notwithstanding that unsea-
sonably warm weather in some sections
of the gcountry tends to restrict retail
distributive trade and necessarily eXer-
cises some effect upon recorders from
and collections by jobbers. Less than
ordinary Interruption is>~4ndicated by
election day observances. The strength
of textiles, both raw and manufactured,
has been further accentuated during the
week, increases being noted in raw cot
ton, wool and hemp.
THE strength of feathers, oils and mis-
eellaneous products was calculated to
offset the weakness and irregularity in
metals, not including iron and steel,
however, cereals and other food products.
Raw cotton advanced easily this week
on an appearance of better buying by
foreign consumers, induced by reports Of
frost damage, statistics of small move
ment and active domestic demand for
the manufactured product Realizing
later impaired some irregularity and
even excitement to this staple. Wool
has been equally strong, though trans
actions are smaller, and a material gain
in prices is to be noted, while from the
| manufactured goods branch come re-
ports of confident strength and of prob
able future advances in mems wear
goods and carpets Cereals appear to
have reached a dead level, with prices
showing little or no change The dull
| ness of wheat with domestic markets
finds explanation in Bradstreets' statis-
tics Of worlds stocks, which indicate
gain for the month of over 100000
bushels contributed entirely from Ameri-
can sources however, as foreign supplies
showed a slight shrinkage.
Corn is strong, notwithstanding rather
more liberal current estimates of yield,
and largely owing to the readiness of
foreign buying at concessions. Signs
accumulate that shoe manufacturers
and jobbers are meeting with success in
securing recently advanced prices.
Hides and leather are sympathetically
strong and shoe manufacturers are ac-
| lively employed. Activity in lumber is
feature at many markets and strength
of prices is no less marked.
SIN iron and steel there is rather
more irregularity noted. Active demand
on railroad account has induced an adj
vance in iron and steel bars Of So per
ton, but steel billets are lower There
is heavy volume of business reported
in pig iron for late 1900 delivery, and
that product is slightly higher at the
east. Blast furnace statistics for Dc
tober point to a further increase in pro-
duction, but stocks again show a de-
crease, pointing to consumption still out
stripping production. Copper is dull at
the present decline and tin is rather
weaker
I'm hardware business is relatively
more active at the West, heavy and light
sorts being equally active, but in build
ers' grades the outlook at the East is
not so favorable.
High prices are turning away export
business in finished products, but i'm
ports show little, if any, expansion.
Wheat, including flour, shipments for
the week aggregate 4,650,S42 bushels,
against 3,046,S56 bushels last week;
! 1874, 693 bushels in the corresponding
week Of 1898: 5.445,542 bushels in 1897;
1864 SO bushels in 1896, and 1925, 025
bushels in 1895. Since July list this
season, the exports of wheat aggregate
77,239S5S bushels, against 77,620.216
bushels hast year and S9,319, 734 bushels
in 1898.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
1851, All bushels against 4,503425
bushels last week; 2,342, 745 bushels in
this week year ago; 2,651, $40 bushels
IN, g 1,.ssb nlc in,
1,921,41S bushely in 1895. Since July
LIST. this season, corn exports aggregate
SO, 473,247 bushels, against 53,29719
bushels during the same period year
ago and 53,460,650 bushels in 1898.
Business failures for the week num-
Der 1872 as compared with ia last week;
1877 in this week year ago; 273 in 1897;
25S in 1896, and 279 in 1895.
Business failures in the Dominion of
Canada number % as against p last
week: 80 in this week year ago; 33 in