The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-22
HOLIDAY BUSINESS
Reported Good From All Sections in
Retail Trade-Iron and Steel Ac-

Retail Trade-iron and steel Ac-
tive.
NEW YORK, Dec. 21.-R. G. Dun S:
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade to-mor-
row will say:
Better weather conditions on the At
lantic seaboard and pronounced actlv-
ity in distribution Of all staple lines of
merchandise at southern cities have i'm
parted slightly more aggressive tone
TO general business. Distinctive holi-
day business, which ut this period of
the season means retail distribution.
has shown further improvement. and
no complaint is heard from any quarter
while the jewelry trade is much more
active than for several years past.
Unchanged conditions In the leading
manufacturing industry during the last
week before the holidays means much.
AT this time. in urdinarysyearB 1urpaSsa
close down in large numbers, and dull
ness Is general at mills and shops where
iron and steel are handled. Instead
OF reduction OF working fore" or conces-
sion in prices this year, however, re-
ports from the principal cities indicate
the existence of contracts that will take
months to fill, and new sales are made
at the former level, despite much talk
Of cheaper ore next yeac.
al Fuel Declined.
Fuel declined about % cents ton re-
Gently, but this Is as ia. as the cost of
raw material has been, reduced. 1t is
seldom possible -. SECURE prompt del!y-
cry Of partially manufactured forms or
finished products. and each week brings
more orders from abroad. while the No
yember statement OF British exports
shows another decrease, compared with
last year In these products. Tin again
dropped sharply, taking the price about
l0c below the top, and almost to the
level prevailing year ago.
Other industries exhibit the same in
difference to per cent. Instead Of hol :.
!day quiet in the wool market the figure
OF sales Mt the three eastern markets
amount to 7.23S.O00 pounds, against
G,7S5,O00 pounds in the preceding week
and 5,267,3i4 pounds two weeks ago,
en- to 1,3l2.500 pounds from an average
OF over II ,0OO,C00 pounds in the two pre-.
vious weeks.
Decline in Hides.
Prices are steady, but show no recov-
cry from the recent decline, and manu-.
facturers purchase only raw material to
Ill orders. Another decline appeared
in hides ut Chicago. taking the average
back to the level prevailing two months
ago. Leather was also easier, but the
finished product was well sustained by
shipment from Boston OF 90,S9S cases.
which Is by far the largest movement
In recent weeks. New orders are few
er In number, but shops have contracts
for months ahead. Local jobbers have
accomplished much more than was ex-
pected. Cotton Is firmly held despite
arrivals Mt southern ports far In excess
OF last year and little encouragement
received by splnncrs. Crop Indications
point to yield about equal to Mr.. Eli
sons estimate Of requirements.
Cereals Quiet.
Wheat Is quiet, receipts aggresating
4,S02,779 bushels, against 3.3OG,2S6 bush
els last year, while Atlantic exports
were 2.I0l,4 ,4l2 bushels. flour included,
against 1,53G,1G4 bushels in the same
week Of 1899. Corn advanced again to
about I cents above last years level
without important news. The move
ment Is much heavier, for three weeks
or December. receipts amounted to H.
792,257 bushels, against 9. 9.404.S6S bushels.
while Atlantic exports were 15,2A.72O
bushels. against 11.235,91S bushels in
1890. Liquidation In coffee caused n
heavy volume OF option transactions,
and largely Increased estimates OF tho
next Brazilian crop took No. Rio down
to the lowest price Of the year. which Is
three cents below the top point. Tho
present figure Is still more than IL cent
above last years weakest spot, and re-
ccipts are 100000 bags larger.
Failures for the week were 293 In the
United States against 220 last year, and
IS In Canada, against &c last year.