The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-22
NO COMPLAINT HEARD.
Holiday Trade Is Satisfactory
Throughout the Country.

Throughout the Country.
New York, Dec Or G Dun g. Co. s
Weekly Review of Trade says:
Better weather. conditions on the At
lantic seaboard and pronounced activity
in distribution Of all staple lines of mer-
chandise at southern cities have impair
ted a slightly more aggressive tone to
general business. Distinctive holiday
business, which at this period OF the
season means retail distribution, has
shown further improvement and 70
complaint is heard from any quarter,
while the jewelry trade is much more
active than for several years past.
Unchanged conditions in the leading
manufacturing industries during the
last week before the holidays mean
much. At this time in ordinary years
furnaces close down in large numbers,
and dizziness is general at mills and
shops where iron and steel are handled.
Instead Of reduction of working force or
cont essions in price this year, however.
reports from the principal cities indics re
the existence of contracts that will take
months to fill, and new sales are made
at the former level, despite much talk
of cheaper ore next year. Fuel declined
about 25 cents a ton recently, but this
is as far as the cost Of raw material has
been reduced. 1t is seldom possible to
secure prompt delivery of partially
manufactured forms or finished prod
uctS, and each week brings more orders
from abroad, while the November state
ment of British exports shows another
decrease compared with last year in
these products. Tin again dropped
sharply, taking the price about 10 cents
below the top, and almost to the level
prevailing a year ago.
Other industries exhibit the same indif-
ference to precedent Instead of holiday
quiet in the wool market, last weeks fig
ureS of sales in three chief eastern mar
kets amount to 7,23S, 900 pounds, against
6,7S5, 800 pounds in the preceding week, and
5267, 344 pounds two weeks ago, while a
fallen n
3l2 500 pounds from an average of over
II 600 600 pounds in the two previous
recovery from the recent decline and man
ufacturers purchase only raw material to
Another decline appeared in hides at
Chicago, taking the average back to the
was also easier, but the finished product
was well sustained by shipments from
the largest movement in recent weeks.
New orders are fewer in number but
shops have contracts for months. ahead.
Cotton is firmly held, despite arrivals
at southern ports far in excess of last
year and little Encouragement received
from spinners. Crop indications point to
mate of requirements.
Wheat is quiet, receipts aggresating A.
SO2,779 bushels, against 3,306, 2S5 bushels last
year, while Atlantic exports were 2.701, Az
bushels, flour included, against only L.
$50. 164 bushels in the same week in 1899
Corn advanced again to about cents
above last years level without important
news. The movement is much heavier for
three weeks Of December, receipts amount
ing to 14,792.257 bushels, against 9.404, 96S
bushels last year. while Atlantic exports
were 15, 720 bushels, against 1,235, 91s
bushels in 1899.
Liquidation in coffee caused a heavy
volume of option transactions and largely
increased estimates Of the next Brazil
crop took No. Rio down to the lowest
price of the year, which is 3 cents below
the top point The present figure IS still
more than cent abo- last years weak |
est spot, and receipts are $4,000 bags
larger.
Failures for the week were 29s in the
United States, ag-inst 220 last year. and |
Is IN Canada, against &c last year.