Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1900-03-31
Trade Report.

New York, March 24.-Bradstreet's
report for the past week:
Some of the irregularities are visible
in the general trade and industrial sit
uation, the results of the working of
counter currents in various lines, but
taken as a whole the general outlook
retains most encouraging features, not
ed for some time past in these columns.
Favorable reports as to retail distri-
button and as to collections come from
southern, western and northwestern
markets, due to better weather.
Continued good railroad returns. rec
ord-breaking merchandise exports from
New York, with signs of resumption
of heavy shipments of iron to Europe,
and good wheat and fruit crop reports,
except from the central west, are also
features. An unfavorable element is
the prediction Of a general strike of
machinists, but it is possible more than
its proper weight has been given this
threatened trouble. AS offsets to this
threatened struggle might be cited the
settlements of differences among the
lake ore handlers, vital point in the
immense business looked for the COM
ing spring and summer.
Advances in wages of soft coal min
ers, of stove moulders and of other
workers allied to the iron and steel in
dustry would seem to point to labor
conditions retaining most of the favor
able features which made them sub
jects of favorable remark on the pros
perity wave.
Foreign demand seems likely to play
most important part in the iron and
steel industries, judging from the re-
ports of advancing foreign markets
and of increasing inquiries upon man
ufacturers. Some lots of pig iron are
being negotiated for at New York and
at Birmingham, Ala, and southern iron
prices would appear to be on a parity
with those abroad.
While some slight concessions might
secure much of the business, nothing
like general easing of values is to be
reported. Bessemer pig is in fact firm
er than ever at almost the top price
reached in the present boom. Foun-
dry irons, chiefly of low grade. are
cheaper, but finished products note
little II any change. Anthracite coal
reflects the advanced season in weaker
quotations, but bituminous sorts are in
demand. The famine in coal in Eu-
rope seems to be growing more pro-
nounced, but some rumored very large
contracts for southern coal have vet
to be placed.
Copper is in good demand, and some
large sales are reported for export de-
mand, and firmer on the week, as are
also hog products on smaller receipts
and reported squeeze of shorts SUI
gar is higher, owing to the growing
strength of raw material.
Wheat and corn, among the bread
stuffs, have been weaker, rejecting an
other one Of those short skings in
prices which have been such a feature
of the former market, but also expect
ed heavy shipments from Argentine
and good estimated crop reports from
the south and west.
In the central west the wheat crop
advices are disappointing, complaint of
winter-killing more than offsetting in
creased acreage.
Wool remains one OF the soft spots
in the market, and though little more
business has been done this week than
last, concessions are easier to obtain
and prices are quotably lower. Leather,
on the other hand, retains a better DO
sition than for some time past, quota
lions for hemlock are higher and bust
ness has been larger at several mar
kets.
The boot and shoe industry notes
improvement in demand and prices for
hides remain rather dull.
Wheat (including flour) shipments
for the week aggregate 2,903,395 bush
els, against 2,727, 450 bushels last week,
3,746,761 bushels in the corresponding
week of 1899.
Business failures for the week in the
United States number 1872, as compared
with 100 last week. Business failures
in Canada numbered %, as compared
with % last week.