The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-03

They Played an Important Role i'm
the Weeks Business.

NEW YORK, Feb. 2.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say: Weather influences have
played no small part in the general trade
situation this week, and yet some of the
unquestionable improvement in tone can
hardly be charged to the more seasonable
weather experienced. Whatever the causes,
however, and these have been diverse. the
fact remains that a number of staples, no
less than speculative securities, have hard
ened in value during the week. One indus
try, that of anthracite COAL prices of which
had begun to drop because of the open
winter, has been perceptibly braced. The
influence of colder weather, too. is percep-
tible in the wheat market Much of the
winter-sown crop is unprotected by snow.
and other influences of strength in this
market have been the reports to foreign
crops, the Argentine plague and conse-
quent strength of European advices.
There is little comfort to the hopes for
lower prices in the reports from the iron
trade this week. 1t is true that some con-
cessions have been made from the high
points reached on a number of products,
but the concessions in pig iron are claimed
to have been few and mostly on the prod
uct of furnaces recently put in blast,
whose output had not been contracted for.
Inquiry at the leading iron markets of the
country fails to indicate any widespread
weakening. and the concessions are claimed
to have been really in the nature of re-
adjustments. The steel situation is not
Overclear, and some business is reported
possible at concessions of 81 to 81 ton
where the product has not been contracted
ahead. Some export business in rails to
Norway is reported this week, while from
Birmingham come reports OF some good
sales of pig iron, with further export bust
ness checked by advancing freight rates
The production Of leading Southern inter-
ests is reported sold up to July.
In distributive trade the reports for the
month of January vary with the branches
of trade concerned. Retail distribution was
undoubtedly unfavorably affected by mild
weather. and stocks of retailers in some
sections of the country are reported large
On spring account, however, the January
business appears to have been in a high
degree satisfactory, shipments from lead
ing centers being much heavier than in
January a year ago, whatever complaints
were received of backward new business
being attributed to earlier buying. having
anticipated the regular season.
Wooden goods are holding the advances
recently asked, and raw wool is firm.
though sales are smaller than for some
weeks past, owing. it is claimed, to domes-
tic stocks of desirable wool being small.
London auction sales witnessed good prices
obtained for good lots. but considerable
quantities were carried over undisposed or.
The cotton-goods situation remains appar-
entity a strong one. Backward deliveries
are still complained of by converters. and
the iobbing business in spring cottons Is a
good one.
Wheat shipments. including flour. for
the week aggregate 2,72i.937 bu. against
35S1,197 last week. 6.5S5.4lS i'm the CORE
spending week of 1899. 3.6S5,035 in 1893.
3,16s, 746 in 1897 and 2.907,354 in 1896. Since
July l the exports of wheat aggregate
100 100 eS5 bu against 150Sf7. $50 last year and
$50. 23O. 033 i'm 1898. Corn exports for the
week aggregate $685. 1862 bu. against 3.526.S3i
last week, 1888. 73l in this week a year ago.
Iol es1 in 1SgS 81 $50 in 1897 and 3222. So In
1904 since July | corn exports aggregate
I29 I55. SOS blu, against 90. 453.654 during the
same period a year ago and 10o99s,659 in
1s97-9S
United States are only III, as compared
With 25s last week, 2O7 i'm this week a year
ago Dos i'm 1885, sos in 1897 and 33S in 1896.