The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-12
NAVAL STORES
R~RADSTREEr,s REPORT.

New York. June s.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say: New business a.
wholesale is Of a between seasons
character. but warm weather has
offered a stimulus TO retail business in
some sections. Chief activity and
most attention is, however. still con-
centrated on the prices situation. and
efforts 10 re-adjust quotations TO meet
current demand and supply conditions
go forward steadily. The only eNcep-
ton to the general downward trend OF
prices is that furnished in leading farm
products, notably cereals: but here
the moving cause is hardly a favorable
one, being she result OF less satisfac-
tory crop reports. particularly from
the northwest and il is to be noted
that advices from the central west.
where the winter wheat yield promises
to be very short, are also less favora-
BILE. The thy has had some
rains but, il is claimed. not enough
to render the situation free of danger.
Corn crop conditions remain favora-
BILE, as likewise do those OF oats. but
these grains and hog products have
sympathiZed in the upward movement
of wheat, which has at last broken
from it's lethargy and is again attract
ing speculative attention. Foreign
crop advices. it might be added, are not
fiattering. The German rye crop prom
ises to be very short: the same report
come regarding French wheat. and
English crop advices are not OF the
best.
If, as has been claimed. however.
prices for iron favor an increased con-
sumption, current developments in this
trade may be classed as favorable. be
cause concessions are being steadily
made in nearly every branch OF trade.
The price of Bessemer pig and steel
r.t LLN NnGa -.
been agreed upon, the result being a
drop OF 16 per cent. in pig iron and Of
20 per cent. in billets from the old nom
nal quotations, which, however. have
not been closely adhered to OF late
Southern iron ddviceS are OF shading
in quotations, in sympathy with SINH
lar action taken at Pfttsburg, Chicago
and other iron markets. Prices al
Birmingham are now on a parity with
those OF, Europe, freight charges con-
sidered, and here, as in the north. the
possibility of labor troubles intrudes
itself.
Little that is new comes from the
noe business. Leather is dull and
rather weaker.
Price shadings are reported the rule
in lumber, and these, coupled with
low water in northwest, will. it is hop
ed restrict new production.
Surplus visible wheat supplies are
NCSACaSil5 dPihiss tlidlb6 AlltlNSN ~
current u~nfavorable crop reports. The
decrease in American stocks, as report
ed to Bradstreet's II May, was $780,
600 bushels. aS--2st a falling off OF g.
Ok, 900 bushels in April. Supplies in
Europe. Australia and Argentina also
decreased, though to a much less
marked extent, and the result is an
aggregate worlds supply on June LIST.
OF f43, 5S3, 90 bushels, a supply of 15,611.-
900 bushels less than on May 1st. and,
comparing with a decrease in May
a year ago Of less than 1000, 900 bushels,
and two years & Of an increase OF
nearly 2,000, 900 bushels. The decrease
in American and European supplies liz
the largest reported in any month
since 1898, and y the largest reported
in May since 1895
Business failures for the week mum
Der 1S4, as compared with 135 last
week. ITS in his week a yea ago, 81
in 1898, 25s in 1897 and 234 in 1896.