The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-12-28
TRADE REPORT.


as follows:
Seasonable conditions rule in trade
at present Holiday trade activity is
wider and comparisons with previous
years are favorable at most markets,
with the possible exception of some
parts of the northwest, where the
spring wheat shortage and unseasona-
bic weather have checked distribution.
Notably cheerful reports come, too,
from western jobbers, who have been
called on for reassorting orders, and
who report collections good. Quietness
in wholesale lines is usual at this pc
riod. but it is to be noted that specially
good advices come from the iron and
steel, hardware, grocery, fancy goods,
toys and confectionery trade, while a
distinctly cheerful tone is found in
shoes, leather and lumber, although
eastern shipments of the first named
are still considerably smaller than last
year Industrial lines are fairly we'll
employed and strikes are few and far
between. Prices show few changes,
most staples being steady, but it might
be noted that most farm products are
slightly higher than last week and we'll
above 1899
New business in pig iron is small,
but values are steady, which indicates
confidence in the future outlook in
spite of reiterated stories of a large cut
in ore prices next season, the proba-
bility of which is being denied. Besse-
mer pig and steel billets are firm and
the latter market is reported we'll un-
der control. Here production is in
creasing, but stocks are smaller. Fin
ished products are a trifle quieter, but
much more active than usual at this
time of the year. Plates are active and
hold all the late advances.
Business in hardware is very active
and at leading western points the sea-
sons business is reported the best on
record. In structural material an i'm
mense amount of business is still be
/ ing placed, and specifications are com
ing forward freely. Export trade is
/ quieter and there are cabled reports of
shutdowns of Scotch iron producers
The other metals are steady except in
tin, which is weak on reports of larger
shipments from the far east
Speculation in The cereals has been
narrow, dull and featureless, but prices
have been aided by short covering on
Argentine crop reports, advices of an
exportable surplus from that country
of only 100000 900 bushels and the poor
grade of receipts at the northwest
Corn receipts are large, but little of il
grades to contract, while the export
business holds up the price of the casl
article. Cotton, following the reason
ing as to large supply being needed
to satisfy even a much reduced con
sumption, signs of which are yet pre-
scented, and favored by smaller receipts
is slightly higher on the week and quo
tations are now about where they wer
before the late break.
Wool is fairly active, mostly for ter
} ritory grades, but the wooden goods sit
uation is still unchanged Lumber i
| dull at retail, but firmly held by whole
: salers, who look for a good trade mex
l year. Bad weather restricts loggin
2 operations in the northwest Eastern
shoe manufacturers are well supple
2 with orders and leather firm, but hide
: are generally reported dull and easier
Wheat (including four shipment
3 for the week aggregate 4,123,35 busl
J. els. against 4,7S5,577 bushels last weel
: 2,S13,714 bushels in the correspondent
+ week of 1899. 5,513,23 in 1898, 4,757
i $50 bushels in 1897 and 2,011, 703 busl
e els in 1896 From July l to date thi
e season wheat exports are 90.140,35
bushels against 10O,3S3.6 96 bushels la:
e season and 117,320,0S4 bushels in 1879
/ 1899.
t Business failures in the Unite
e States for the week number 260 g
l. against 247 last week, 211 in this wee
S q year ago, PIP in 1898 and $50 in 1879
Canadian failures for the week nun
? Der % agaist 10 last week, 29 in tn
0 week year ago, "a in 1898 and 80
n 1897.
Wheat.
q Portland.-Buyers are still paying
@5416c for Walla Walla and Sic fl
+ bluestem, with fairly free selling NOV
n ment
y a.-Wheat--Quiet and steady