Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-22
STATUS OF TRADE.
GENERAL SITUATION ONE or QUIET
STRENGTH.
INDUSTRIAL LINES STILL ACTIVE.
Enlarged Demand for This CounfrS's
Manufactured Goods Tends 10
Agricultural Products.

NEW YORK. April 21.-Bradstreets to-
morrow viii say:
The general business situation is one Of
quiet strength. while in industrial lines
activity continues undated. The WELL
nIch universal testimony Of damage to
the winter-wheat crop has had surprising
ly little effect on prices as yet owing
partly % improved weather conditions.
strengthening the hopes of larger area
ia spring wheat and also to good crop
reports abroad and increased visible sup
plies. as compared with year ago, en-
oouraging foreign buyers in their neglect
or American offerings.
FOREIGN TRADE.
AN enlarged demand for this country's
Manufactured products In some degree
c.ltttalances the falling off I'm the
value oi agricultural exports. notably ce-
Ies end cotton. shown. as compared
with q yea- ago. For the month of March
drop ~ $lSWQ0oJ IN the exports Of
tra.lstfs cotton. provisions. live cattle.
AND mineral oils has been partly made
up Dr. DID, -.. 0f nearly 100000 900 in other
products leaving the net deficiency. as
cou.-,.l Ul,. year ago. per cent. I'm
I."s I,l-e, the increased purchasing
r.s.t o. t.e country. the total for March.
iu a.t being the largest since May. 1897.
lr Oh. ..ue months period. the exports,
., whole are little less than double
oh. imports.
IRON AND STEEL
H .ion and steel new business is of
f.. smaller proportions. a notable eX-
cr.u. however being i'm the line o. wire
goods and nails. on which prices have
i... Very generally advanced. Quotations
o. .--lron, steel billets. and nearly all of
tl. .rlder forms are firmly held. while
60. many finished products such as plates
and trs even higher quotations are ask
Mills and furnaces are reported
C.w.ed with business on earlier orders
al. The disposition Of buyers TO delay
placing their orders for the latter part Of
tla year is reported as viewed with
,llanlmity.
COTTON GOODS AND WOOL
THE cotton-goods situation is still a
strong ole though the current demand
tom agents is light Heavy orders book
.I for gray goods some time ago make
for strength in this line, but cOnverters
complain that finished goods have not adj
Nanced pIop0uionately. The retail dis
troLl0u of staple products has been Inn
proved by more favorable weather, thus
elc0urs g.us hopes of future good reor-
oels from wholesale hands Following
the uutlurst of activity in wool last week.
business has rather fallen OFF. but values |
l.maiu steady. Continued buying OF h.sh
grades oil foreign wool foI re-cXp0rt is |
reported. and there IS some talk of high- /
grade American woods being bought for /
shipment to England.
COTTON AND SUGAR
Following an advance early in the week. |
due OBJ good foreign adyices and the |
smaIer-than-expectcd crop movement.
cotton ls quieter but the strength Of raw |
sugars Is "a notable feature Abroad. beet |
sugar has been advanced. while the Cuban |
yield is not expected t0 Doe large. and |
Bradstreat's aduces point TO no more than |
haf an average crop being grown in |
louisiana
Raw sugar is higher ON the week, but |
refined lags behind. though the consump-
uJu is enormous
LUMBER; LEATHER; HIDES.
The demand for lumber at wholesale
Continues good and the southern indus
IT. seems 10 be sharing TO the fun in
Ae general prosperity.
Leather and hides are strong, and boots
ia- shoes have had recent advances.
GRAIN EXPORTS
Wheat including -four shipments for
70 week aggregate 2.232 $50 bushels
against l.5s3.6l9 bushels last week. 1922.
l' u the corresponding week Of 1898
-.irs bushels in 1897, l. 2S6 $50 bushels I'm !
l,. and 2i3l63i bushels in 1895.
since July LIST. this season, the exports
OF wheat aggregated 193.262l7S bushels,
AGAINST l3l503. CSC bushels last year.
Corn exports for the week aggregated
sHls9 bushels. against 2o55125 bushels
a.t year, 3 1858. is2 bushels this week
ltr ago. 47o9.M5 bushels in 1857. 9:1 20
he.s jon 1896. and 1872 $50 bushels in 1895
Since July lst this season. corn exports
sssresate 12S.Ol77i4, against l7SlT.324
bushels during the same period a year
60
FAILURES.
Business failures show a notable falling
l ii.m those OF last week aggregating
against 2i8 in the preceding week, PA
l week Il year ago, PIG in 1887 2iO in
-. and Z25 IN 1895.
business failures In the Dominion of
canada number 30. against % last week,
i-s week a year ago, p IN 1887, 81 in
'., and % IN 1896.