The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-03
MARKETS GAINING STRENGTH.
,ruER INFLUENCES HAVE HAD
A GREAT EFFECT.

"
Materially Aided by the Weather.
c,+ton Pushed Ahead by Better
Foreign Buying-IrOn and Steel
continue to Hold Their Own.
NooIen and Cotton Goods Also
strong.
Nsw York, Feb. 2,-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
weather influences have played no
email mart in the general trade situation
his week, and yet some of the unques-
,ionabe improvement in tone can hardly
h. charged to the more seasonable wealth
.r experienced.
Whatever the causes, however, and
those have been diverse, the fact remains
,,s+ a number of staples, no less than
sps.1Iative supplies, have hardened in
,aue during the week. One industry, that
~ anthracite coal, prices m which have
bsetn to droop because of the open win
Ter. has been perceptibly braced. The in
euen.e of colder weather, too, is percep-
.3hla i'm the wheat market. Much of the
winter sown crop is unprotected by snow
and other influences Of strength in this
market nave bO0il tilS ItPOA - do " iOi-
eign crops the Argentine plague and con
ssouent strength of European advices.
why Cotton Is Stronger.
Among products not affected by current
weather conditions, however might be
mentioned the South's great stape, cot
ton which, owing largely to the better
foreign buying and the reported abandon
-. L, al,
mates. has reached the highest point for
a number of years.
There is little comfort to the hopes for
lower prices in the reports from the iron
trade this week. 1t is true that some con-
cessions have been made from the high
points reached on a number of products,
but the concessions in pig iron are claim
ed to have been few, and mostly on the
nroiuct of furnaces recently put in blast,
whose output had not been contracted Cor.
Inquiry at the leading iron markets of the
country falls to indicate any widespi cad
Weakening as the concessions are claimed
TO have been readily in THE nature of re-
adjustments.
The steel situation is not over clear and
some business is reported possible at con-
cessons of 81 10 81 a ton where the prod
uet has not yet been contracted ahead.
Some export business in rails to Norway
is reported this week, while from Birming
ham come reports of good sales of pig
iron. with further export business check
ed by advancing freight rates. The pro
duction of leading Southern interests Is
reported sold up 10 July
Iron trade authorities are slow to pre-
diet beyond that date but the strength
Of foreign markets is regarded as a guar
aniee against any possible perpendicular
drop in domestic quotations.
In distrbulive trade the reports for the
month of January vary with the branches
Of trade concerned. Retail distribution
was undoubtedly uufavorably affected by
mild weather, and stocks of retailers In
some sections of the country are reported
large. on spring account. however, the
January business appears to have been in
high degree satisfactory, shipments from
leading ceGters being much heavier than
n January a year ago, whatever COM
plants we're received of backward bust
ness being attributed to earlier buying
having anticipated the regular season.
WOODEN and Cotton Goods.
Wooden goods are holding the advances
recently asked and raw wool is firm
though sales are smaller than for some
we ks past owing, it is claimed to do
nestle statistics of desirable wool being
small. London auction sales witnessed
good prices obtained for good lots, but
considerable quantities were carried over
undisposed of.
The cotton goods situation remains ap-
1arently strong one. Backward deliver
ies are still complained of by converters,
and the bling business in spring cottOns
is a good one. The current demand for
shoes remains quiet. Weather conditions
lave been against large distribution Of
winter footwear. but Eastern manufac-
turers are reported busy on new goods.
Leather is dull, but hides are no weak
er The strength of sugar and coffee
among groceries is no less pronounced
than of late. Jaw and refined grades of the
former having again been marked up and
small crop reports being made the basis
of further strength in coffee.
Wheat and Corn Exports.
Wheat, including flour shipments, for
the week aggregate 2724. 937 bushels
against 35S1 1871 bushels last week, 65S5,4lS
hd-he.s i'm the corresponding week last year
ami 3635035 bushels in 1898.
nee July l this season the exports of
WAeat aggregate 1901 1865 bushels, against
i"AN6J9 bushels last year and 15023O ,033
bushels in 1898.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
5"N9i2 bushels, against 3,526,S34 bushels
Iast week, 3.69S, 731 bushels in this week a
year ago and 4104,9S1 bushels in 1898,
since July 1, this season, corn exports
aHSfcgate 129 l55, $50 bushels, against 90
1'' o3l bushels during the same period a
}rtr ago and 1OO99S $50 bushels in 1898.
BUSINESS failures for the week in the
,Hi'ed states. only III, as compared with
W. W. .Ast week POI in this week year ago,
ln lS9S 305 IN 1897 and 1888 in 1896.
''r the week, Canadian failures mum
'f'i only 81, as compared with 80 last
WEEK. and 36 in this week a year ago
-S-as-s-