Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-25
BUSINESS IRREGULAR
THIS. HOWEVER, DUE ONLY TO RE-
TAspING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
GENERAL SITUATION LOOKS STRONG.
Few Lines That Note Quieter Tone
Find Ready Substitutes Among
Other branches. Which Have as
Yet Been Rnther backward.

NEW YORK, March A-Bradstreets
tomorrow will say: r.f
Stormy weather, retarding spring dis
trlbution in some sections, has impaired
On irregular appearance to general trade,
while some few reductions in prices of
leading staples, notably raw cotton and
wool, copper, and some few other metals,
serve 10 break the otherwise almost un-
varying appearance of strength OF staple
values The general commercial situation,
however. continues to present much APP
parent strength and the few lines that
note a quieter tone Of business find ready
substitutes among other branches. which
as yet have been rather backward. The
see-saw Of wheat prices has been upward
this week. theoretically on reports of
crop damage at home and abroad, but
largely owing to speculative overseeing
during last weeks depression. which, by
the way agan developed some good for
eign buying.
Better weather conditions at the South,
and especially improved roads. find re-
Fiction IN a larger volume Of receipts Of
cotton this week, and the result is frac-
tional shading OF prices.
Copper Is slightly lower on the week
on rather less active jobbing inquiry. while
the high price of the metal seems at last
10 be affecting demand, which has slack
ened up. with consequent drop in the
value OF the metal. sympathized in by de-
clines in tin and lead.
IRON SITUATION.
The iron situation is still one Of great
strength. though the volume of business
IS concedodly smaller than for some
weeks past. and one grade of pig, Besse-
mer. is lower on the week. Nearly every
other grade OF pig-iron is higher on the
week. however. Steel billets and rails are
firmly held, and nearly all classes of fin
ished material are higher. rejecting the
early advance in the cruder forms.
The boot and shoe situation with job
bers is quite energetic. Hides are firm,
and the same IS true of leather. while
the current demand for the finished pro-
duct keeps manufacturers busy.
Cotton goods retain all their old
strength. though somewhat quieter in de-
mand at first hands, while the talk OF
combination In the manufacturing branch
OF trade has seriously unsettled the price
OF raw wool. which IS weak and lower
Sugar reflects steady buying in practi-
cally unchanged quotations. Lumber /:
feeling the stimulus OF the approach OF
active building operations. and white pine
and spruce are higher at nearly al
markets. with hardwood sympathizing
and even outstripping this class OF mate
rial. in their ~pward movement.
ADVANCES IN WAGES.
Industrially. the situation is satisfac
tory. While actual advances I'm wages
are as yet confined 10 the cotton manu-
featuring and iron and steel industries
the current OF Work in other lines is run
ming full and the number OF operative,
who have gained some advantage from
the activity In all Industrial lines total
easily $4,000.
Wheat. including flour. shipments fol
the week aggregate S,746.76l bushels
against 4il4,0i6 last week, SS96.SlS bushs
In the corresponding week OF 1888. l7l9, II
In 1897. l.7siSS7 bushels In 1896, and 1852. 90
I'm 1895. Since July LIST. this season
the exports OF wheat aggregate $50, 972 %
bushels against 1861 sos bushels las
year
Corn exports for the week aggregat,
1888 $50 bushels. against s.2ll, see bushel
last week. 4.fe6 81 this week year ago
t.ss25sl bushels in 1897. 1,727 e62 bushels il
1856 and 6i2.5i5 bushels IN 1885 Since Jul,
10th ibis season, corn exports aggregat
i2s.i5s So bushels. against 1871 ,03s 80
bushels during the same period a yea
ago.
THE WEEKS FAILURES =.
business failures for the week numbe
only iS2. as against 205 last week a ,dro
Of q. and as compared with 2i5 this weel
a year ago. 22l In 1887 2Ie In 1896, and q
IN 1856. and Canadian failures number 3
Tor the week, as against q last week =
this week a year ago. 10 in 1927. and A 4
1855, and IS IN 1895.