Evening journal., 1900-11-17
TRADE OF THE WEEK

1 ms 10 bIduSLieelb 3 commentary vi
tho trade OF the week: 1.-THE tonic ef
feet OF seasonably cold weather is
again testified to by reports from prac-
ideally all markets Of a brisk demand
for Winter clothing and footwear. This
in turn is reflected in increased re-
orders from Western, Northwestern
and Southern jobbers and a perceptible
improvement in tone of wholesale
trade at the East, which hopes to par
ticipate later in the results flowing
from the existing good consumptive
demand. The renewed advance in cct-
ton, another result of cold weather,
has proved a stimulus to Southern
trade, and also made cotton goods
agents and manufacturers rather indif-
ferent to new business offered at old
rates. What looked like an improve
ment in wool demand and prices seems
to have received a temporary setback
from the failure Of large commits
sion house with woolen mill connec-
tlons. Railway returns continue favor
able; the demand for iron and steel is
expanding and prices are hardening;
labor is exceptionally we'll Employed
anthracite coal mining operations have
been practically resumed and ruling
prices for that product seem assured.
New records of export trade are pre-
sented and the excess of outward trade
is assuming phenomenal proportions
The market for cereals is a dragging
one, with price changes few and Of lit
tie Importance, but stock speculation,
though quieter than of late, is strong
and confident in tone. Reelection OF the
late enormous business in this line is
| found in unprecedented bank clear
ings. totals eclipsing even the large
totals of the year Of 1899. October eX-
port trade returns constitute, perhaps,
the most striking chapter in the mar
velous export trade history OF this
country In recent years. Swelled by
heavily increased takings, alike in
quantity and in value of raw cotton, the
total value OF exports of merchandise
was Al per cent in excess OF those of
September, 20 per cent heavier than
in October a year ago and is per cent
heavier than the heaviest month here
ltOfOre recorded, that OF December, 1898
While cotton exports are responsible foI
much of the gain, however, increased
shipments of manufactured goods are
likewise indicated. The balance in IA.
vor of exports from this country for
the ten months is now S5OO,O0O, 900, ant
this sum bids fair to be very heavily
increased before the year closes"
r, G. Dun & Co. discuss the situation
as Follows; "Sixty railroad stocks thi
, week advanced to an average price o
!. S77.12 per share, the highest in eigh
! teen years. The top point OF septem
Der, 1899, was S76.29 per share Wal
u street is moving, as is its custom, a lit
j. tie in advance of the rest Of the coun
y try; but there is not one of the grea
industries in which contracts delaye
until after election are not being close
4 daily, with confidence that in trad
"a generally a great structure is to be bul
on the foundation laid in the last fe'
years. Prices OF commodities advanC
\ almost without exception, and all n
n changes in manufactured goods are
n the direction Of firmer. quotations. II
!. lsmallness of stocks Of goods carried
a feature Of our reports from most
- the leading centres. Scarcity Of lab
!. gives manufacturers in the Midd
States great concern. Largely on a
- count of Wall street operations, pa
e ments through the New York Clea
= ing House show a gain of p per eel
ne for the week, compared with last ye'
ID. while the gain over 1898 is 4l.6 ?
at cent For leading cities outside OF M
'rd York there is a loss Of 8 per cent fro
'ut 1893, but gain Of p per cent. oy
Try 1898 for the week. Railroad earnin
nd still show good results. all lines !
We porting for October gaining e,1 I