The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-20
QUIET But CONFIDENT
Is the Way the Business
Status Is Summed Up
ANTE : ELECTION CAUTION
Is Putting the Brakes on Bus
mess Just a Bit.

New York, Oct- 1S.-BradStreetS to-
morrow will say: AS the jobbing distrib-
utive trade tends to lessen with the adj
vance Of the fall season. the repressive
influence Of ante-election feeling Is
brought out more perceptibly and the re-
suit is a generally quiet though at the
same time confident, feeling in general
trade which the stock market has APP
parently begun to discount, with the re-
suit OF swelling current bank clearings
well above recent totals. AS for some
time past, the best trade advices come
from the south, which remains cheerful
I'm spite of lower cotton. Pacific coast
advices are that export trade is very
large as a result OF army needs and Ash
attic requirements Northwestern trade
is on the whole quiet. and the disposition
to charge the election with this is mani
fest Eastern wholesale trade is quiet
but steady.
Cross railway returns continue excellent
considering the reports of quiet in ali
other lines, and net returns for August
are much more encouraging than those
of July. The country's foreign trade Is
in a fattering condition, September ex-
ports being the largest ever reported for
that month, and. swelled by high-priced
cotton shipments, the nine months re-
turns are far in advance Of all previous
years. Imports, on the other hand. show
few gains, and the outlook IS for a rec
ord-breaking export trade and a mer-
chandise balance for the calendar year
far in advance Of all other years.
Prices of farm products have tended
downward this week. The most notable
drop has been injection. half a cent for
the week, and one cent from the high
est point reached. due to the good pick
ing weather and absence of frost encour-
aging maximum estimates Of yield, but
also because of the heavy receipts
brought out by the high prices Of two
weeks ago. Cotton goods are very firm,
despite the drop in raw material, but the
disposition is to sell carefully. Wool is
active and firm in tone at eastern mar
kets but the remand is still to cover or
ders received by manufacturers who are
not inclined to buy beyond this.
The repression noted is, perhaps, more
prominent in the iron and steel indus
tries, where values for the cruder mater
ials remain we'll down to the lowest
point reached in more than a year past
and even here it may be noted that a
larger volume Of steel rail orders have
been placed this year than in former
periods. Sales this week of rails are es-
timated at 5000 tons, mostly at the west.
Structural material makers are reported
exceptionally well fixed as to orders. al
though meeting of makers, it Is rumor-
ed. may cut rates Pig iron has been
slow of sale, but Chicago reports that a
business of at least 100000 tons is in
sight that may be placed after election.
The large steel mills are we'll supplied
with orders. though at low prices, and
the usual scramble for fall business is
absent this year.
Wheat, including -four shipments for
the week aggregate 3,4ss,643 bushels.
against 4297, $50 bushels last week, AGO.
SIS bushels in the corresponding week Of
1899: 2S2. 773 bushels in 1898; 5.552,171 bush
els in 1897, and 40s7, PIT bushels in 1896
From July to date, this season, wheat
exports were 55.S11.165 bushels. against
s., 125, SIS bushels last season, and 61.51S,
$50 bushels in 1883. Corn exports for
the week aggregate 2,SS6, 1913 bushels,
against ZSSGtU0t DUcltlS last htths OsNcJr-
697 bushels IN this week year ago, 1885,
1s1 bushels in 1898; 1.117,543 bushels in
1897, and 2,979,eS4 bushels in 1896. From
July / to date this season exports are
81, 094. SCI bushels, against So, s12,S 56 bush
els last year, and 1854 31 bushels in
1S9s-9s
Business failures for the week number
223 in the United States, against 30 last
week. 221 in this week year ago, 213 in
1898; POS in 1897. and 292 in 1896. Canadian
failures for the week number D. against
Sc last week, % In this week a year ago,
"a in 1898. 27 IN 1897. and As in 1896
DUN'S REVIEW OF TRADE.
New York. Oct. 19-R G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review Of trade tomorrow will
say: A settlement of the coal strike sat
isfactory to all interests having been ef-
fected, business breathes more freely in
the east and distribution of merchsadise
is increasing slowly again, though the
election excitement keeps new buying in
many lines down to wants for immediate
consumption. In the west there is not
the same hesitation, where. as well as in
the south, the marketing Of the crops is
responsible for a feeling Of much conf
dence in the movement Of business II the
nation acts conservatively al the polls
Prices Of commodities are weaker, and
the caution 50 gratifying in a PRESIDENT tai
year keeps speculation at a minimum.
Cotton further declined, making the loss
about Sc a bale in two weeks. Planters
are rushing work. and picking IS ex-
pected TO progress rapidly enough 70 save
most OF the crop from early frost Such
prices make St possible to pay good
wages 10 pickers and the movement AZ
receiving points Increases largely Do
nestle spinners are not liberal buyer
but exports are only slightly smaller
than a year ago. Foreign buying In
creased With the resent sharp decline.
Wheat has shown more weakness. due
IN part 70 The great activity a Russian
ports. and Atlantic exports for the Seek
were only 2sl7. - bushels. against 2.Z70.-
- a year ago Corn also declined 5C-
Is above last gear. which may account
for the close In exports. 1914 hazhsls
against II s24.so IN fs1a
Few important fUctus tons occurred r.
iron ard steel h1t there we're $50 sd-
vances in Besssrnsr a. Ps.tsburK and
6.lIets a. PhIta1elphsa- sfodeTate gains
are reported n re vof1ns % t-saeae-
tons. although ne teudency j. - delay
Izrrs contracts f~T wseks TuT.sr7e7f
makers take irou freely. hoverers snd
orders fe- pipe sc urgput with FeTrre
weather coming on Strgct@~al Snaps
are iakea t0r foreign points rs faT Go
tant a. Eevpt and II he uass bridge
..---s 49, sFa-r r-fffr nnE.