The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-22
Bradstreet's Review.


seasonsble conditions rule in trade at present.
Holiday trade activity is widespread and com
parsons with previous years favorable at most
markets, with the possible exception OF parts
OF the Northwest where the spring wheat shortage
and unreasonable weather have checked distripu-
tions.
Notably cheerful reports come too. from wes,cr,
jobhers. who have been called on for reassorting
orders. and who report collections good Quiet
ness IN Wholesale lines Is usual st this period but
II is to be noted that specially good advices come
from the iron and steel. hardware groceries, fancy
goods. toys and confectionery trades while q dis
tincty cheerful tone is found in shoes, leather and
lumber. although Eastern shipments Of the first
named are still considerably smaller than last
year. Industrial lines fairly well employed.
and strikes are few and far between Prices show
few changes, most staples being steady, but II
might be noted that most farm products are slightly
higher than last week and weil above 1899.
New business in pig iron is small, but values are
steady. which indicates confidence in the future
outlook, in spite Of reiterated stories of large
in ore prices next season. the probability Of which
is being denied. Bessemer pig and steel hillets
are firm and the latter market is reported well
under control Here production Is increasing,
but stocks are smaller Finished products
a trfle auieter. but much more active than usual
at this time Of the year Plates active and
hold all the late advance Business in hardware
is very active and st leading Western points the
seasons business is reported The best on record
In structural material immense amount Of bust
ness is still being placed and specifications ara
coming forward freely Export trade Is quieter.
Scotch iron producers The other metals are
steady. except tin. which is weak reports Of
larger shipments from the far East
Speculation in the cereals has been narrow. dull
and featureless. but prices have been aided by
shorts covering Argentine crop reports, advices
Of an exportable surplus from that country OF only
100000 bushels and the poor grades OF receipts
at the Northwest
Corn receipts are large. but little Of it grades to
contract, while the export business holds the
price Of the cash article Cotton. following the
reasoning as to large supply being needed to
satisfy even much reduced consumption signs
Of which are yet presented and favored by smaller
receipts. is slightly higher the week. and quota
tons now about where they were before the
late break Wool is fairly active, mostly for terri
tory grades. but the wooden goods situation Is still
unchanged. Lumber is dull at retail, but firmly
held by wholesalers who look for good trade
tons in the Northwest Eastern shoe manufacture
well supplied with orders, and leather is
firm, but hides are generally reported duh and
easier
Wheat tlncluding flour, shipments for the week
aggregate LIS $50 bushels. against ASST bushels
last week, 2si37li bushels in the corresponding
week Of 1893 55s23 bushels in 1893 4757, $50 bush
els in 1897. and 2.oil.7o3 bushels in 1886 From
July to date this wheat exports % no..
$50 bushels against 100 3s3 SIS bushels last
and lis. ga bushels In ls9s-as.
business failures in the United States for the
week number 20. against aI last week. al In
this week year ago. 22 in 1898 and 10 in 1877
Canadian failures for the week number .. against
IS last week - in this week year ago. ~ In 1883
and 80 in 1897.
Bradstreet's Financfal Review.
Bradstrect's financial review tomorrow will say:
Last Saturdays bank statement taken by
specsilators as signal Tor renewal Of buishness
and for a general buying movement. In spite Of
the influence of the deals, actual and prospective.
In connection with the hard coal situation, the
possibility that the money market might be strin-
restraining influences last week. II minated
last Saturday morning that the bank statement
might not be very favorable one. but the street
was hardly prepared for the increase Of 500 900 IN
the surplus which the bank showed
When the statement out the street promptly
jumped at the conclusion that while firm money
ma Yket Was DrObahle might than
8 per cent. and positive strneency need not be
feared. Leading interests IN the financial and
railroad world seemed exert themselves TO help
the bulish movement. and the public shared in the
feeling OF confidence.
buying ORDERS and the transactions once more ran
up in the neighborhood Of 10000 shares each
day. and once nearly 1000 900 shares The invest
ment demand for bonds and stocks is notably strong.
and the fact that the January income disbnrse-
nents were Of a recordhresking magnitude induces
more or less buying Of sntiepatory character.
This demand is not confined 10 bonds bu, extends
to all dividend paying stocks, both the old c~tab-
hshsd factories and the newer class OF dividend
stocks.
| The banking interests which are in charge Of
the more prominent ~ the latter class nf securities.
have no difficulty In interesting large and
thnsiastio following in the huh campaign in
progress in various stocks. Another circumstance
which added TO them and powerfully affected the
whole market, that In London and Berlin
The recent rise In this market had induced heavy
and persistent short selling q Americans by foreign
professional spceiAtesS TINS vas par'acaiaf a,
| a. Northern Pacific aud some of the other issues
which have 10 the front IN the recent more
meat Of the market The rapid aud sustained rise
| ia these values seemed al the beginning It tbs
| week to throw the European bears into sea Of
panic sosne Of the stocks Of which they are short
are reported 70 be in scsut supply IN London. aud
| the urgent buying which resultsd both advanced
| Americans IN London and brought very lsFse ar
| httage buying for foreign account on this side,
while considerable amounts have BEEN shipped ~
| steamers leaving this week
weekly Hank Statement.
The following table. complied hy Bradsreet. shows