The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-01-23
RETAIL TRADE is QUIET
AFFECTED By THE PHENOME-
NALLY MILD WEATHER.
THIS APPLIES TO sEAsoNABlE GOODS
Wherever Spring Trade Has Developed, Par
ticuIahy in Dry Goods, il Has Been in
Large Volume. Iron and Steel
dustr.es Still Active.

duSl,eS Still Active.
New York, Jan. 19.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
General trade and prices as a whole
even balance which has been
the leading feature for some time
past and in which it will require the
advent of distinctly new features to
affect any basic change. General de-
manI is large for this season of the
YEAR, but speculation is quiet to the cx-
IRENE of dullness i'll some lines aud eS-
pecially in those branches of speculation
which go to radically affect financial af-
fairs and therefore the volume of bank
clearinss.
Close examination of leading lines of
industry fails to show marked unfavor-
able features. 1t is true that retail trade
in seasonable goods has been and is be-
ing affected by phenomenally mild-wiEtcr
weather, but wherever spring trade, par
tlcularly in dry goods, has been develop
~. it has beer in such volume and ac-
comLanied with such Il readiness Of ac-
ceptance of advanced prices as to point
to undimillished confidence OIL the part
Of the trade world as to The outlook fer
spring business.
The iron and steel industry justly
regarded as a trustworthy index of gen
eral trade, is, still actively employed on
old orders and new business is limited
for reasons unnecessary to r~ecapitulate.
1t Is evident that the few reactions in
prices shown in such an ordinarily dull
period as this have strengthened rather
than lessened confidence i'll the future.
Signs of preparation for the coming sea-
sons needs are shown IL the reported
active inquiry for steel rails at the
west, recent sales at Chicago aggregat-
ing 80 900 tons, some Of which are for
northw estern railroads and some for ex-
port.
"Production is as evidently hard push
ed as ever and the question of fuel sup
plies rather than of new orders, en-
crossed manufacturers attention. Some
concessions in foundry iron are noted,
but. aside from this, price changes are
within very narrow limits. The other
metals are rather stronger, copper and
| tin being weak, the latter in sympathy
with advances abroad. Spring trade in
hardware is opening well, and advances
III prices are generally reported.
Cereals are dull in nearly all direc-
tons, and the pressure of enlarged
stocks particularly abroad, has been in
tluential this week in bringing about a
price TticIlOli III pTlcSS.
Corn and oats, however. are rather
tirmer OF foreign buying, though sympa-
thetically affected by the decline in the
leading cereal.
Coffee is active speculation being in
luenced by higher European advices and
evidence of a large domestic cOnslImptive
demand. Apparently improved British
prospects i'll South Africa are assigned
as the reason for the better buying of
cotton. resulting III a fractional advance
this week. The crop movement still
continues much smaller than expected by
the bears. Cotton goods are meeting
with good demand on spring account.
Concessions at second hands are report
cd, owing mainly to backward deliveries
now arriving being unsold by receivers.
Rather more inquiry IS noted for wool.
particularly at Boston. and mems wear
sales for next Fall are, meeting with
good patronage. notwithstanding the ad-
vances demanded. Fine woods are at
about the highest point reached in twenty |
years.
Lumber is strong, particularly white
pine grades, partly because Of smaller
stocks and a possibly smaller cut in the
Northwest as a result of lack Of II
and partly because of a hopeful feeling as
to the building outlook the coming spring.
wheat, including -four. shipments for
the week aggregate 1901, O26 bushels,
against i 24S.926 bushels last week;
5.1aS.671 bushels in the corresponding
week of 1899: 3.726.O64 bushels in 1895:
2,016, 7O6 bushels in 1897, and 3,S49.27I
bushels in 1896. Since July 1st this |
season the export of wheat aggregate |
113,S .S31 bushels. against 139 234, 719
bushels last year AMI 141, 56S,974 bushels
in 1S979S.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
3,199,312 bushels, against 3,314.576
bushels last week; . ops. 1911 bushels in
this week a year ago; 3.4SG.11 3 bushels
in 1898: 3.02O,3322 bushels in 1897, and
3,192.365 bushels in 1896. Since July
LIST this season corn exports, corrected,
aggregate 122,O3O.O69 bushels. against
J2 O2O,1 100 bushels during the same |
period a year ago and 81 931 139 bushels
in 1S97-9S.
"Business failures in the United States |
are fewer i'll number. there being DO
for tn week., as compared with 8 last
week: 262 III this week Il year ago;j
300 in 1898; 429 in 1897 and 341@ IN 1896.
Business failures in the Dominion Of
Canada for the week number 30 as
compared with % last week: 80 in this
week a year ago: 4G in 1893; 81 in 1897
and % in 1896.
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