The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-08
TRADE SITUATION
IS CONSERVATIVE
Leading Concerns Have Orders
Booked in Advance,
HOLIDAY TRADE is BRISK.
..snccia,ly Is This True at tho South.
Witt, Cotton Firm and Rice
Bringing Good Price.
Cereals Higher.
fnr AssocIntcd Press. !

NEW YORK. Dec 7-R. G. Dun e Com
,u.Dy's Weekly Review Of Trade to-mor-
row will say:
Business is progressing along conserva-
TIVE lines. 1t is without extreme and
without speculative activity, but with n
confident undcrtone. which is to be ex-
,,iained largely by the fact that leading
concerns in most of The great industries
have orders booked to employ their ma
chinery at nearly full capacity during
months when curtalment is usual. No
ret reduction in working force has APP
peared in the last fortnight. and read
justment of wage schedules in some
branches of the steel trade is effected
without trouble.
Prices Of commodities are generally
stendy and holiday trade is brisk at all
points. The South Is particularly cheer
tul with cotton firm and the rice crop
coming in al very full prices. Ihere Is no
cause for alarm in the small volume OF
new business at iron and steel centres
With the first sign Of higher prices there
came forward a food of contracts sufii-
Client to keep mills and furnaces at fuN
capacity Tor months.
There is less bidding for prodUcfs
Fortunately quotations were not forced
up unreasonable during the weeks of
greatest activity. and now there IS 40
sign of depression.
On the other hand bars are more firmly
held. while many idle mills have resumed
IN this department and sheet-Tnakers also
insist on better terms.
STRUCTURAL STEEL
Other forms of finished maternl are
steady and at most points pig is IN.
changed, although concessions are made
for Bessemer Pittsburg. Numerous
bridges are being erected by the railroads
and a heavy tonnage Of structural stee!
Is taken. Other railway supplies are in
active demnnd and rolling stock urgently
sought. Business in iron is particularly
brisk AT Chicago.
With slight moderation in domestic buy
ing more attention is given to exports.
Aside from a further advance in men s
kip boots and iirmnesS in grain shoes, the
market for footwear has quoted down,
but with no disposition TO recede from
the generally higher range establlshed
last week. Makers have fewer new orders,
however. anu heavy winter footwear has
been purchased for the seasons require
ments The customary holiday demand
has not appeared. though retailers have
full lines OF fancy shoes and slippers
NNool remains steady. and sales are less
than half of last years. Manufacturers
purchase carefully. and the goods market
is unusually dull for the season.
THE CEREALS.
For the first time in many weeks the
-
vance was to be expected after the active
decline. Wheat was started upward by
foreign markets, and prompt response
here compelled covering of contracts.
Nothing of Importance was learned re-
eardihE domestic conditions aside from
the heavy marketing at interior cities as
indicated by Western receipts OF o,S2o'4nz
bushels. against 1901, 76S in the previous
week, and o.23S ,Di9 a year ago.
on the other hand, exports at the At
lantic coast cities were only 2,2l4,ioS bush
els. against ;2,;se9 GI1 in 1899.
More strength was shown by corn,
which brought out receipts of 4.6o9l65
bushels. against $3.50, II2 last year, but for
eign buying was brisk, even at quotations
seven cents higher than last year Allan
tic exports for the week aggregatinG 6,S56,-
rs bushels. against >, 90, 213 in 1899.
Cotton was stubbornly held above ten
cents. MANY reports from plantations sus-
gest a crop larger than prevailing esti-
mates ana heavy port receipts also dis
courage hopes of higher prices. Traders
inpatiently await the Government report
Failures for the week, 2S1 in the United
States against 22i last year.