The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-08
STRIKE OF IRON MINERS
LUMBER DEMAND EXPANDS AS
THE SPRING ADVANCES.
LABOR TROUBLES A FEATURE OF THE
WEEK.
Cotton is Low r; Manufactured Goods Firm
Wool and Woolens Quiet; Iron and
Steel Slow. The Price Situation
is Sill Very Favorable,
is Still Very Favorable.

New York. April 7.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
The quieter tone of distributive trade
is even more marked this week than
last, testifying to the unfavorable effect
upon retail trade and indirectly upon
iobbing distribution of the cold, back
ward spring and less favorable wheat
crop advices. While reports as to the
damage of winter wheat are most num-
erous from the Southwest, the influence
of the backward season, frost in the
ground and other unfavorabe conditions
have tended to moderate the hitherto
very cheerful tome of adviceS from the
spring wheat States. Other features
of the week are a further quieting down
of the excitement in iron and steel, al
though here lack of supplies and not
lack of consumptive demand is assigned
as the chief reason. A strike of iron
ore miners in the Lake Superior district
seems likely to c0mphcate the ore sup
ply question. Strikes, involving $4,000
men, have been a feature of the weeks
operations. Lumber is feeling the intlu-
ence of expanding spring demand at
many markets, and prices are very
strong.
The situation in textiles is little
changed. Cotton is slightly lower on
fuller crop movement, but manufactured
goods are firm, though some speculative
lots of gray eottonS have been offered
at concessions. Wool and woolens are
rather quiet, though full orders for wo-
mems wear goods are encouraging and
the raw product is steady, the view
being that the proposed goods combina-
tons have not gotten very large sup
plies of wool. The situation as regards
prices is still a very favorable one, the
list of staples advancing or remaining
steady, being by far the most numer~
Gus, while bank clearings statistics, rail
road earnings and all other obtainable
measures of trade progress point to
an immense business, speculative and
otherwise. having been done during the
first quarter of the year 1899.
Throughout the west and northwest,}
with few exceptions complaint is made
of unreasonable cold weather affecting
distribuation, particularly at retail. Ae-i
companying these reports, however, are
numerous statements That the business
done during the first quarter is consid,
erably in advance of that handled
year ago. Complaint of bad weather
and roads come from the South, Texas,
trade and agricultural operations being
unfayorably affected, and New Orleans
reports that spring trade is likely to
be disappointing for like reason.
Wheat, including -four, shipments for
the week aggregate 3,3S4,S0O bushels,
against 1888, 23S bushels last week; g.,
IT'S. 726 bushels in the corresponding
week of 1898; 2,036,7 97 bushels in 1897;
| 1 ,764 800 bushels in 1896 and 1884, 179
bushels in 1895 Since July LIST this sea
son exports of wheat aggregate 1SS,345,-
600 bushels, against 1S3S46,27S bush
els last year.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
), IA, 654 as against all 43
bushels last week 3,557.000 bushels in
this week year ago: 4,645,5S5 bushels
in 1897 1,391,S46 bushels in 1896 and
S14 100 bushels in 1895. Since July LIST
/ this season, corn exports aggregate 49,
2S9,679 bushels against 139,09S,G4S
bushels during the same period year
ago.
Business failures for The week mum
Der 1870 exactly the same number as
last week but compared with 200 in this
week year ago, 232 in 1897; 231 in
1896 and 225 in 1895.
Business failures for the week in
the Dominion of Canada are light, num-
bering only u as against 81 last week.
80 in this week a year ago, 81 i'll 1897:
80 in 1896 and 70 IN 1893.