The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-18
Bradstreet' $ Review
of Trade for the Week.
Backward Spring Weather
Retarded Distribution.

Retarded Distribution.
New York, & pril 13 --Bradstreet's
tomorrow will say : Backward spring
weather conditions have figured con.
siderably in djstributive trade reports
this week, and, in connection with
some weakness in prices of leading
staples, have impaired an appear
ance of irregularity to the general
situation Another one of those
downward swings in the prices of
agricultural staples is exhibited this
week in slightly lowered prices for
the cereals. partly because of the
bearish position of immediate sup
plies aud partly because of the better
than expected government crop re.
port, which is taken to indicate a
possible winter wheat yield in excess
of all records The crop outlook as
a whole favore the expectation of
large yields Of wheat, corn and cot
ton. Corn and oats have sympathized
with the reaction in pork products,
which reaction, however, has not
been universal, as shown by the fact
that lard is at the highest point
reached on the present boom. Cotton
exports in March were three times
those of a year ago in value and for
seven months are per cent greater
in value, while % per cent smaller in
quantity.
Evidences accumulate that active
missionary work in favor of lower
prices for iron and steel is at last
bearing fruit. Pig iron is no lower
aud stocks as whole are claimed to
be no larger than month ago, but
steel products have weakened notice
ably during the week, bilets noting
the sharpest decline, with correspond.
ing decreases in some other products.
The other metals show little change
on the week, copper being in con-
tinued good demand and firm, while
tin is speculativeIy weaker and lead
is strong at previous prices The
hardware trade returns good reports
as a whole. relatively best advices
coming from western distributive
centres
A slight upward swing in cotton is
to be noted this week and southern
mills have officially advanced prices.
On the other hand, while the mills
are active on old orders new bust
ness ;s reported Of smaller volume
Some more inquiry is noted in raw
wool, without, however, affecting
values appreciably. The strength of
raw sugar is reflection chiefly of
the fact that considerable shortage
is looked for in the supplies of cane
sugar, not only in Cuba. but in the
far east. The margin between raw
and refined allows of no profit at
present quotations. Anthracite coal
is rather weak at the decline shown
from the winter list price, but btu
miuous is strong and active, particu-
larly on foreign account
Wheat, including -four, shipments
for the week aggregate 1886 653
bushels, against .836,963 bushels
last week, l,983.6l9 bushels in the
corresponding week of 1899; !; 1926,
3O2 bushels in 1898 1.344 ,012
bushels in 1897 and 2.0l7,579 BUSH
els in 1896 Since July l this sea
son the exports of wheat aggregate
l53 900. .296 bushels against 100, ,329,
| 159 bushels last year ard 188. 8.271, $50
bushels in lS97-98 Corn exports
for the week aggregated 2,799,443
bushels against 4.361,59l bushels
last week, 2,666,125 bushels in this
week a year ago. 66l, 1874
bushels in 1893 2,32S,4S5 bushels
in 1897 aud l,O74,542 bushels in
1896. Since July l this season corn
exports aggregate 1872 ,922, ,649 bush
els against l33, 955. .So4 bushels dur
ing the same period year ago and
143, 100. S43 bushels in 1S97-98
Business failures for the week
number l52 as compared with 1872 in
the United States last week. 243 in
this week a year ago and 2l5 in
1898 1876 in 1897 and 244 in 1896.
Failures in the Diminion Of Canada
for the week. number IS as compared
with 25 last week and in this week a
year ago, 27 in 1898, SO in 1897 and
"a in 1896.