The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-13
BETWEEN SEASONS DULLNESs.
Bradstreet Finds 1t Not as Marked ms
I'm Former Years.

NEW YORK, Jan. 12.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will says: Quietness as to demand
but marked steadiness to prices, is still
the leading feature in trade lines, a condi-
ton, it might be remarked, not uncommon
at this stage of the year, which is a sort
of middle ground between stock taking and
inventory time and the actual opening of
the spring season. Aggressive strength i'm
prices is confined to few staples, such as
pork products, which are firmly held on
rather tardy recognition of the fact that
supplies. both of live hogs and of dead
meats, are far from burdensome. Tallow
cotton-seed oil and similar products are
sympathetically strong. Raw and refined
sugars have both been advanced this week.
not apparently because of the war between
the refiners being settled, but really because
supplies of raws are limited. Quite furry
in coffee occurred as result of reports of
an outbreak of the plague at Rio.
The bearish pressure on cotton has not
been relaxed this week, but the dispropor-
ton between the decline in spot and op-
tons would seem to point to the bear cam
paign having been less profitable than
hoped for. Statistically, the position of cot
checked British cotton manufacturing and
discouraged foreign buying. Domestic cot
ton manufacturing is apparently highly
prosperous, Southern mills being especially
well employed while low water in the
streams affects New England production
What few lines of next seasons wooden
goods have been opened are at advances
ranging from Is to So per cent. and much
interest attaches to the reception that will
be given these increased quotations Pend
ing the settlement of this raw wool is dull
but firm, and speculation is naturally light.
Iron and steel are extremely quiet, but
signs of weakness are not numerous the
shading in pig iron being confined to a few
grades and markets. Production in Deem
Der was below expectations, being affected
by holiday shutdowns but there is little
doubt that the aggregate production for
1899 will not be much below Is, 200 600 tons
production surprising all previous rec
ords, and having counterpart in the un-
exampled output OF coke also reported for
last year. Stocks of ore on Lake Erie are
reported little in excess OF a year ago, not
withstandng the greatest production on
record. The quiet in pig iron extends prac-
tically to all the finished branches of trade
and hardware is also quiet. but none the
less firm, as evidenced by the reports of
further advances by Western jobbers Tin
is speculatively higher this week, but cop
per has sagged off.
The immediate demand for lumber is nat
urally seasonably light. but the strength
of supplies is notable as evidenced by the
fact that pine stocks are % per cent.
smaller than a year ago. The mild weather
and lack of snow in the Northwest IL
long continued. may affect the cut this
winter. The large yellow pine order for
10 600. 600 feet for the Pan-American Expo
sition at Buffalo, enormously printed 10 600, =
coo 600 feet last week, Is still unplaced.
Cereals have been almost hopelessly dull
this week on "hand-to-mouth' demand.
Stocks are large and crop reports are in
The main favorable, but short sellers are