The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-16
TRADE is FLOURISHING
SUMMING UP OF
BUSINESS. CONDITIONS FOR THE
WEEK FAVORABLE
HOLIDAY PURCHASING BRISK
In Reference to Prices 1t Can BE
Said That as Many Articles Have
Advanced as Have Declined-Raw
Cotton Remains Firm and I'm
changed-Iron and Steel Active
Failures for Week Show Decrease

NEW YORK. Dee .-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
General trade in wholesale and manu-
featuring lines is quieting down, but it
is werth noting. is undisturbed by the
money situation, the influences of which
have been confined to speculative cir
cles. Holiday trade. on the other hand.
has been given decided impetus, and
comparisons with the same period of
preceding years are uniformly favorable,
little doubt remaining that, although re-
tail trade in seasonable lines has been
somewhat affected in some localities by
unfavorable weather. holiday specialties
have enjoyed exceptional activity AS re-
CARDS prices, 1t IS a notable fact that as
many staples have advanced this week
as there have declined, while by far the
larger number of quotations have re-
NAMED steady, or firm. The strength of
textiles is still most notable feature of
the general situation. Cotton goods are
heavily sold, ahead by agents, and a
Very large spring business has already
been booked.
Raw cotton is firm and unchanged on
and reaffirmation of short crop esti-
mate by the department. of agriculture
Manufactured goods were not advanced,
and are firmly held. Wool Is less active
than of late, but prices are no less firm
and some finer grades are quotably high
CT. The London market has closed at an
advance over the last sale, and talk of
higher prices with the first of the year
Is common. WOODEN goods share the
strength Of raw material, and silk and it's
products are also firmly held
Corn, among cereals, has displayed a
specially strong tone, owing to small re-
eeipts and depleted stocks Provisions
have shown a weakening after the recent
advance, but lard and pork are still
higher than last week, and hog receipts
are rather smaller than expected. Wheat
has been steady, partly on foreign crop
reports, reporting cord weather, partly
because of limitations Of possible inter
national disturbances, AID also because
Of expectations of a bullish government
crop report.
I'm most lines of iron and steel quiet
ness and firmness are confident. Esti-
mates of production point to a little gain
in stocks, and a source Of strength is
capacity for the half OF next year, at
least is already booked. Dealings in ore
have been active, and although nothing
like the rush to book production wit
messed 4 year ago has been seen, q large
part of Text years output is expected to
be placed by the close Of the year. What
little weakness there is perceptible is In
q few lines of finished products. Hard
ware remains In quite active demand at
a number of markets, and holiday spe-
cialties are notably in good distribution.
In other metals there is considerable ir-
regularity. Tin is again lower, and cop
per IS being shaded, while lead is higher
The open season, usually not regarded
as favorable in the anthracite coal trade,
is this year welcomed, because 1t al
lows of unimpeded shipments later than
usual. Higher water in the Ohio has re-
leased u large quantity of bftuminous
coal, and the outlook Is for replenished
Western stocks. At the East, however
bituminous coal is still in scant supply.
Wheat, including -four shipments for
the week aggregate 3,25S,649 bushels;
against 5,15S, 331 bushels last week, 6, 243,-
S59 bushels in the corresponding week last
year 4,604, 500 bushels in 1897, 8, 524 82e BUSH
els in 1896, and 2,056,0i3 bushels in 1895.
Since July l, this season, the exports Of
wheat aggregate 81, 559, 1926 bushels, against
109 72O, $50 bushels last year, and 1885, 1871
bushels in 1S97-l6aS. Corn exports for the
week aggregate 4,O17, 1S5 bushels, against
3,S15, 699 bushels last week, 3,251, 1886 bushels
III this week a year ago, 4,129.85S bushels
in 1897, 2,G11, 80 bushels in 1896, and 2057,-
100 bushels in 1895 Since July 1, this sea-
son, corn exports aggregate TO-, 800, 666
bushels against 7S.lS7,2N bushels during
the same period year ago, and H. 5S1 1888
bushels in 1&97-1S9S.
Failures for the week number %,
against 81 last week, 81 in this week a
year ago, and 45 in 1897, 80 in 1896 and AZ
in $685.