The age-herald., 1900-12-08
WEEKLY REVIEW OF
 GENERAL TRADE
Quieter Tone and Reduced VoI-
 une of Wholesale Business
THE WEATHER A DRAWBACK
Southern Trade Remains Good, But Eastern Advices Are That Retail Business Is Backward Inclined.
 Iron Business Duler.

New York, December 7.-Bradstreets to- morrow will say:
 There is a quieter tone and reduced vol ume of business doing at wholesale in many lines, but this is not unusual at this sea- son and i partly balanced by a larger in- terest in retail and holiday distribution. Weather conditions are still a drawback to the trade in winter weight goods, but 1t is notable that better report comes from the Northwest than for some weeks past. Southern trade advices remain good, but retail business at Eastern markets is still reported backward
 In the largest lines of trade new features are not numerous. Textiles are quiet and rather dull with agents pending the open ing of the spring season. Wool and wool ems are still quet. Cotton is irregular and the market is at a balance pending the publication of the next Government crop report, which, however, is expected to ap- proximate 9,750OOO bales The high cost of a raw cotton has not as yet been equaled by the advance in manufactured goods
 A hopeful feature this week, however, was the taking of a large lot of brown cot tens for export to China. The higher trend of values in November has been duplicated in the first week of December and cereals long backward in this respect have led the advance which, however, has not been steadily maintained.
 Finished products monopolize the activi- ty in the iron and steel trades, with bars, plates, sheets and bridge materials most active. Even in finished lines, however, there is less reported doing in new busi- ness, but Pittsburg and Chicago mills are reported sold ahead sixty to ninety days. At Chicago plates are scarce, and a prem ium if offered for early deliveries of gal yanized and black sheets. The rail mar ket is active and sixty thousand tons were sold at Chicago this week, while the total among the rail mill books claimed to aggregate 100000 tons.
 Iron Business Quiet.
 While good sales of pig iron are reported at some markets, business as whole in this hne IS quieter, without however, any lack of firmness. Much Is heard about forth coming reductions in cost of ore, coke and labor and this undoubtedly cheeks ordering ahead, but higher prices for rails are talked of and southern furnaces are reported heavily sold ahead. There is little or noth- ing doing in Bessemer pig and billets. Among the other metals copper is active and firm, but tin is weaker.
  manufacturers report jobbers steady buy CTS at the slight advance made some weeks ago. Snow and wet weather are helping re- tail trade in shoes and rubbers in north ern markets.
 A better report comes from tine flour mill- ing industry, but the demand is hardly what was expected.
 Sugar is higher for raws, but the refin- ing branch presents the old appearance of irregularity and another price war is fore shadowed.
 Wheat including flour shipments, for the week aggregate 3,432,1 ,150 bushels, against 2,497, ,SS0 last week. ,331 in the corres- bonding week of 1899, 6,S639 952 in 1898, 6,266,- 159 in 1897, and 4,222,71S in 1896. From July to date this season wheat exports are 92,- 231 426 bushels, against 94,30l 27S last sea- son and 1031476994 in 1S98-99.
 Corn exports for the week aggregate B. 371 BIT bushels, against 4,S01 300 last week, 3,S15, ,699 bushels in this week year ago, 4.3SS, ,5S5 in 1S9S 3,125554 in 1897 and 3,54l 2SS in 1896. From July 1 to date this season corn exports are S0,052,SsS bushels, against 100 433 701 last and 69, 1885, 2s6 in 1S9S99
 Failures for the past week number 224 as against 1S4 last week, 220 In this week a year ago, 2S7 in 1S9S 292 in 1897, and 3S1 in 1896. Canadian failures number 27, as against 2S last week, 31 in this week a year ago. 29 in 1S9S 23 in 1897 and 42 in 1898