The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-14

strength OF Prices ~tiii the Leading
Feature OF Trade situation.

New York. November iO.-Brad-
streets tomorrow viii say:
Strength OF prices. a natural outcome
OF past and present active demand. -
still the leading feature OF the trade
situation. notwithstanding that unseas-
ouably warm weather an some sections
OF the country tends 20 restrict retaa
d~ist-ibutive trade. and necessarily
exercises some effect upon ~re-orders
from and collections by joobcrs. Less
than ordinary interruption IL indicated
by election day o~bservanccs. The
Strength Of textiles. both raw and man
uractured, has been further acccntuat-
ed during week. increases being
noted in raw cotton, and hemp.
The strength OF textiles. feathers.
oils and miscellaneous products was
calculated 10 offset the weakness and
ir~Tagulargty in metals, not includiny
iron and steel. however. cereals and
other food products. Raw cotton adj
vanced easily this week on an appear
ance of better buying by foreign con-
sumezs, induced by reports of frost
damage, statistics of small movement
and active domestic demand for tho
manufactured product. Realizing, lat
er, impaired some irreguIarity and even
excitement 10 this staple.
Cereals appear to have reached a dead
level, with prices showing little or no
change. The dizziness OF wheat nj Do
nestle markets finds explanation In
Bradstreet's statistics OF the worlds
stocks. which indicate n gain for Tho
month of over 5000. 600 bushel con-
tributed entirely from American SQUIRE
IS. however. as foreign supplies show
ed a slight shrinkagc.
Corn Is strong, Notwithstanding rath-
er more liberal current e.,
yield, and largely owing TO the rcadi-
hess OF foreign buying at concessions.
Signs accumulate that shoe manu-
faoturers and jobbers are meeting with
success in securing recently advanced
prices. Hides and leather are sympa-
theticany strong and shoe manufac-
turers are actively employed.
Activity in lumber is a feature at
many markets and strength OF prices
Is no less marked.
In iron and steel there Is rather more
irregularity noted. Active demand o
railroad account has induced an adj
vance in iron and steel bars Of 50 per
ton, but steel biflets are lower. There
Is a heavy volume OF business reported
in pig iron for late 1900 delivery. n
that product Is slightly higher at the
eaSt. Blast furnace statistics for Oc-
tober point to a further increase in pro-
duction, but stocks again show a de-
crease, pointing to consumption s;ii
outstripping production. Copper is dun
at the recent decline and tin is rather
weaker.
In hardware, business is relatively
more active at the west, heavy and
light sorts being equally active, but in
builders grades the outlook at the east
is not so favorable. High prices arc
turning away export business in An
fshed products, but imports show little.
il any expansion.
Wheat, Including flour, shipments
for the week aggregate $780, SAP bushels,
against 3,046, $50 bushels last week,
3,754, 693 bushels in the corresponding
week of 1898, 5,445, 542 bushels in 1897.
ut 1864, 515 bushels in 1896 and 3~.325,025
bushels in 1895. Since July LIST, this
season, the exports OF wheat aggregate
IT, 39.S bushels, against 1920 16
bushels last year, and s9,3l9,734 bushels
in 1898.
Corn exports for The week aggregate
4,5S1, 447 bushels against 4.503. 425 BUSH
els last week. 2,342. 745 bushels In this
week a yea ago, 2.65l, SAG bushels In
1897, 1882. 036 bushels in 1896 and l,921,-
418 bushels in 1895. Since July LIST. this
season corn exports aggregate SO, 473, 247
bushels, against SO, 297, 1872 bushels dur
ing the same period a rear ago n
So, 460, $50 bushels in 1897 -9S.
Business failures for the week num-
Der 1872. as compared with ia last week,
1877 in this week a year ago, 273 In 1897.
25S In 1896 and 297 in 1895.