The age-herald., 1900-12-22
WEEKLY REVIEW
 OF BRADSTREET Southern Cities Give Aggressive
 Tone to Business BUT FEW FURNACES BANKED Usually at this Time of the Year Dull ness Is General In Steel and Iron, But Such Is Not True Now.
 The Future Is Bright.
BUT FEW FURNACES BANKED

New York December H-Bradstreet's s weekly review of trade tomorrow will say:
 Better weather conditions the Atlan- tic seaboard and pronounced activity in distribution of all staple lines of merchan- disc at southern cities have imparted a slightly more aggressive tone to general business. Distinctive holiday business which at this period of the season means retail distribution, has shown further improve ment and no complaint is heard from any quarter, while the jewelry trade is much more active than fer several years past.
 Unchanged conditions in the leading man. ufacturing industry during the last week before the holidays mean much. At this time in ordinary years, furnaces close down in large numbers, and dullness is general a shops where iron and steel are handled. Instead of reduction of working forces and concessions in price this year, however, re- ports from the principal cities indicate the existence of contracts that will take months to fl and new sales are made at the former level despite much talk of cheaper ore next year. Fuel declined about 25 cents a ton recently, but this is as far as the cost of raw material has been re- duced. It is seldom possible to secure prompt delivery of partially manufactured forms or finished products. and each week brings more orders from abroad while the November statement of British exports shows another decrease compared with last year in these products. Tin again dropped sharply, taking the price about 10 cents below the top and almost to the level pre- vailing year ago
 Other industries exhibit the same indif- ference to precedent. Instead of holiday quiet In the wool market, the last weeks figures of sales at the three chief western markets amount to 7.2S3 900 pounds, against E in tba nd S two weeks ago, while year ago the aggre- gate had fallen to 7,312,500 pounds from an average of over Il, ,000 000 pounds in the two previous weeks.
 Prices are steady, but show recovery from the decline, and manufacturers pur- chase only raw material to fill orders. An other decline appeared in hides at Chicago taking the average back to the level pre- vailing two months ago. Leather was also easier but the finished product was well sustained by shipments from Boston of 90,S9S cases, which is by far the largest movement in recent weeks. New orders are fewer in number, but shops have contracts for months ahead. Local iobbers have ac- compliShed much more than was expected.
 Cotton is firmly held despite arrivals at southern ports far in excess of last year, and little encouragement received from spnners. Crop indications point to a yield about equal to MT. EllisonS estimate or requirements.
 Wheat is quiet, receipts aggregating A., SO2,779 bushels against 3,3o62S6 last year, while Atlantic exports were 2701, ,412 bushels with flour included against only 1,536,16l in the same week of 1899.
 Corn advanced again 10 about cents above last years level without important news The movement is much heavier for three weeks of December receipts amount ing to IA. .792, 257 bushels against 9.4l4.s6S, while Atlantic exports were 15. 720 bushels against Il 295,91S in 1899.
 Liquidation in coffee caused very heavy