The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-05-15
DEMAND,
WEAKER PRICES
Iron and Steel Buyers Still
Holding IF.
SPECTATORS WAITING
Wheat Weaker on Favorable Govern
ment Report of Crop,
RETAIL TRADE REPORT NOT so VERY BAD
Relatively the Best Trade Reports Still Come
From The Pacific Coast Markets. The
Weather Conditions Tend Now
to Help Southern Markets.
(Ry the Associated Press.

New York, May 11.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
h trade situation this week may be
summed up in the phrase: Inactive de-
mand and weaker prices.
'While in many respects the industrial
situation is easier than it was; there is
an unsettled demand for building material
and weaker prices for lumber and Tor
many products used in the building in
dustry.
Iron and steel buyers are still holding
Of. most of the business done being for
| small lots for immediate consumption.
..Further declines are noted in steel
| billets and for some finished products.
while sympathetic weakness is reported
in other metals. such as copper, lead and
tin. There was a slight increase OF the
output of pig iron during the month OF
April and a small gain in furnace and
Other stocks. Steel rails and structural
material are conspicuous exceptions to
the weakness above noted, prices lor
these products being firmly maintained.
In speculative markets dullneSS mas
been tho feature. wheat. after consider
able steadiness. weakening on the favor
able government crop report. which is
/ d h6I u I " lAAt y -
loo. o0e bushels larger than a year ago,
not withstanding immense damage from
winter killing in the Central Western
States. apparently offset, however, by nigh
condition in States west of the Mississ-
ippi. Corn has been weaker than wheat,
rejecting the less active export demand
and sympathy With the lowered price OF
!, provisions. the latter due TO heavier re
ceipts Of hcgs and lessencd demand for
!, FORK and lard.
.Relatively good reports come from the
retail trade at NEST centres, notwith-
d standing the backward spring. but as yet
Ii the volume of recorder business IRON
wholesalers and jobherS has proved dis
appointing. Finished cotton ana Wooie1
products remain steady, and raw cottol
is even q shade higher. but wool is weak
CT. owing to restricted demand from man
ufacturcrs and in sympathy With the low
er Prices set for many grades at the Lon
don wool safes. Primary wool market
are higher than in the East. Print cloths
}. though uominally held firm at Fan River
. continue TO be offered below the poe
m rv:cc.
Coffee IS rather weak owing to lowe
J. quotations in European markets and 81
T gar Is also shaded owing T. receipts oN
ccedine requirements. Relatively 4 900
!. report comes from the distrihutive trad
, in shoes. bur manufacturers are hansin
- back N their purchases OF leather an
;; hides are rather weaker.
"ReIatiyely the best trade reports SIT
:. come from the Pacific coast markets. bu
- better weather conditions at the SoAt
$ have tended to brighten trade report
from that section.
Wheat. including -four. shipments fc
the week aggregate 3.43o.oI4 bushes
against 1887, o22 bushels last week. 3,2S4
lso bushels in the corresponding week
1899. 3|.6t6.-43 bushels in 1898. 2.lS3.Sl
bushels il 1891 and 1908 .22o bushels
1896.
, Since July list this season the eNpor'
} Ct wheat aggregate 16o. 3e6, 006 bushet
) against 2o3. COS. 7S4 bushels last year. Al
2o2. %. COT bushels in lS91-9S.
D Corn exports for the week aggrega
4.G3S.14o bushels. against 3.11l.ol3 bus!
els last Week. 2.76S. 694 bushels in tn
week q year ago, 6~,0.7.27o bushels
. 1898. 3.o9G. S34 bushels in 1897 and SOS
81 bushels N 1896.
!, Since July list this season corn e
! Ports aggregate 1T1.131,2l3 bushe
against / 5.27S, S01 bushels during the sal
period q year ago and 1853, 4t2,563 bushe
in 1S97-9S.
Cuisines failures in the United stat
Jew for the week number ia as compared WI
153 last week. 1863 j. this week . year as
80 IN 1898. 231 in 1897 and 20 IN 1870
.Business failures fer the week IN 7
Dominion of Canada number ~ as co
aGy pared with ~ last week u in this we
a year ago. . in 1898, 81 IN 1891 ana
o.. in 1896"