The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-28
ACCORDING TO BRADSTREET.
Quietfng of Dfstributive Trade q
Feature of the Week.

NEW YORK, Oct 27.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: A quietng down of dis
tributive trade, more particularly at retail
is reported in telegraphed advices to Brad
streets this week, growing out of the un-
seasonably warm weather now being ex-
perienced in most sections of the country
AS regards prices, however. there is no
appreciate loss of strength, the great ma
jority of quotations remaining steady, and
among those making changes advances are
still most numerous. That the business CON-
dition of the country remains at an I'M
precedented volume is testified to by the
heavy gains noted in bank clearings over
a year ago and by the immense increases
in railway earnings over exceptionally good
returns last October. AS regards the cur
rent activity in transportation it may be
said that east-bound traffic from Chicago
in the past month has been more than
double that reported in the same period
a year ago and nearly twice as large as
that reported in October of 1892. The ocean
freights situation is gradually improving,
partly because high rates are attracting
all available disengaged tonnage and partly
because the check to foreign buying, par
ticularly of cereals, caused by the advance
in vessel rates, has exercised reflex action
on the latter market simultaneously with
the drop In freight rates this week has come
the result of this improved foreign buy
ing meeting the late decline and partly
also because foreign and domestic demand
flood of offerings earlier looked for. Wheat
has been sympathetically strong, as have
other cereals. and wheat flour has been ad-
Among leading products decreasing In
price tin and copper among the metals have
Due to Production approaching more to %
parity with demand. Cotton Is fractionally
lower as the result of the deadlock be-
producers. The situation of cotton goods,
one of aggressive strength, is undoubtedly
a supporting feature of no small account.
of the very large sales, most of which are
claimed to have been for account of manu-
facturers. Wooden goods are stronger.
The situation of iron and steel Is per-
The feature of the market is the reported
booking by the steel rail mills of the coup-
for next years delivery. In all 10000 tons
of rails are reported TO have been booked
for delivery next year, and there is In add.
account which it is claimed will still
further enlarge the volume of business
handled next year: Heavy buying OF pig
rail sales is reported In the central West
at prices but little below those ruling for
some time past. In all lines of business de-
mand is stil very heavy, demand for steel
for cars, of plates for ship building and for
wire being additional signs of strength. De-
mand for hardware is active at nearly all
markets. The scarcity of supplies noted
last week is still feature, and jobbers are
still pushed for prompt shipments.
week aggregate SAG, 4s5 bushels. against
4lsO,6ls last week. 5.56O,991 in the CORE
spending week of 1898, SSH, 391 in 1897, $685.
600 in 1896 and 2,743.0l4 in 1895. Since July
this season the exports of wheat aggregate.
So 542 leo bushels against 81. OIL, $50 last year
and IS, 2S3 694 in 1897. Corn exports for the
"a Inns
5,05S e97 last week. 2,424.376 in this week a
year ago. 1,5s5, 597 in 1897 2649, 425 in 1896 and
1870 sol In 1885, Since July / this season
corn exports aggregate H.3SS.375 bushels
against 1881, S07 during the same period a
year ago and As 600 55f in 1897.
Business failures for the week number
2I1. as compared with POI last week 219 in
this week year ago. 21S in 1897, a6 in 1895
and 2S9 in 1895. Business failures for the
week in Canada number q, as compared
with 20 last week and q In this week a
year ago.