Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-07
COLLECTIONS UNIFORMLY GOOD
Retail Trade Reflects QuietinE Down
of Eager Demand Before Holidays.

oI ringer DemunO belOre HOliunyS.
NEW YORK. Jan. 6-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
The situation is quiet The Wholesale dis
tributivc trade annual inventories have oc-
cupied attention and distribution in this
branch is. therefore, of only seasonable pro-
portions. Retail trade reflects the quieting
down of the eager demand ruling before the
holidays, but it is significant that the ma
1ority of the reports received since January
in this and in the wholesale branch refer
to collections as almost uniformly good.
Export trade, particularly in cereals, con-
tinues well UP to maximum figures, while
reports from the new great industries of the
iron and steel have been in less demand
this week and large orders are fewer in
number. American consumers having pretty
well covered themselves for some months to
come by their liberal buying in December.
In finished products, however, and Iartic-
ularly in steel. rather more has evidently
been doing, this being reflected in advances
at both the east and the prices OF steel
rails, steel beams plates and sheets. Some
heavy orders for railroad account are Ie-
ported booked and the export trade contin-
ues Of liberal proportions partly adci, no
doubt, by the shading in ocean freight rates
cturrinc during the last month. Aside
from the aggressive strength OF steel prices,
quotations are little changed from week
ago.
Good trade reports, at home and abroad
and small receipts, coupled with more out
standing speculative interests have made
for steadiness in raw cotton prices, while
in manufactured goods all the old strength
is maintained in print cloths and some other
makes of cotton goods have been slightly
advanced. Returns to 1898 trade in most
lines have been favorable and the opening
OF spring trade is awaited with more than
usual confidence, this feeling being particu-
larly marked in the lines above enumerated
and in lumber and agricultural implements
Bank clearings for the week reflect eX-
ceptionally heavy annual settlements in a
total of s1,765 100000 nearly 100000 900
larger than ever bef1re reported 25 per cent
larger than last week, "a per cent larger
than in this week year ago, "a per cent
larger than in 1897, 20 per cent larger than
In 1879 and 20 per cent larger than in 1894.
Business failures are exceptionally small
for the opening week of the new year, num-
bering only 237, against 21S last week. 1888
in this week a year ago ASS in 1897, 446 in
1895 and 405 in 1895.
The steadiness of wheat this week, partici-
pated in by other cereals, finds explanation
in continued foreign buying, the strength Of
the statistical position, the normal time for
decreases in American stocks having arrived
with supplies still smaller than at any cor
responding date for ten years past, aided
by favorable advCes from Argentine, whence
minimum estimates are again arriving.
The worlds stock OF wheat on January |.
as shown by telegraph and cable advices 20
Bradstreets, gained only 100000 bushels
over December l, against n gain of $4,000,
600 bushels in November: and European and
American stocks combined on January l, 1899.
aggregated only llS,049, 900 bushels. 13, ,OOO,-
coo bushels smaller than on January / last
year. 100000 bushels smaller than
on Sns,os January as,,o- l. 1897 1000 600 90
l. 1896, 900 bushels smaller than on
January /, 1895. and 100000 600 bushels
smaller than on January /, 1894. when the
maximum OF stocks in recent years was
reached. Stocks in the United States east
of the Rockies are the lightest for eight
years past and with the exception of 1891
are the smallest yield for fifteen years past.
The December total of bank clearings
proved a fitting conclusion to a year Of un-
precedented eXEansi5a in many lines in an
aggregate of seventy-seven cities Of $7,355,-
3ll,222, a gain Of 1871 per cent over Novem-
bcrs hitherto unapproached total of 235
per cent over December. 1897 of 565 per
cent over December 1896; of 7l.2 per cent
over the same month OF 1894 and of 90 I
per cent over the same period of 1892
This latter gain, too, was shown in spite
4 the fact that the stock clearing house at
New York CITY ia estimated 10 have re-
duced the volume of yearly clearings at
that city by $4,000, 900 900
Wheat shipments, including -four. for the
6,292 ,625 bushels last week, 34s1,576 bushels
in the corresponding week of 1898, BIOS
tSs bushels in 1897. 3.47l, GSl bushels In 1896
and 2,5S7l7S bushels in 1885.
Since July l. last year, the exports Of