The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-17
SPRING TRADE LOOMS
Winter Trade Larger Than
Ever at This Season.
COTTON AND WHEAT UP
Effect of the Frick-Carnegie
Suit--LabOr Troubles.
COTTON AND WHEAT UP

New York Feb. 16-Bradstreet's tomor-
row will say: Satisfactory advices as to
expanding spring trade in dry goods and
kindred lines come from a number OF
/ markets. That the aggregate business OF
the country is of good volume otherwise
is, however, indicated by detailed reports
| q f increases in trade as compared with
Ia st year, confirmed by satisfactory rail-
ro ad earning reports. by fair gains in
bal * clearnJys and by reports of better
den and for money in commercial chan
nels A yeat' ago. it may be recalled, ex-
| trem ely stori ny weather was experienced,
and ONE eff ects, notably those on winter
sown crops, were very unfavorable. This
year o.pposia conditions have ruled and
| though some talk of snow in grain-grow-
ing regions Is heard, no widespread dam
| age from COZ d weather is yet noted. In
fact, unseasoI ably mild weather has had
an appreciaba effect on such industrlals,
notably those engaged in the manufacture
in footwear, 4 discOuraging sales of the
same, actually causing the shutdown of
some rubber manufacturers and also in
the lumber am Z ice business. The scarcity
Of snow in the northwest will unquestion-
ably affect the log-cutting season and a
firmer tone as to values is already per-
ceptible notwta lstanding talk of labor
troubles Affect ng the building trades
eHavy rains q ID floods have affected
business and t-i importation in New Eng
land and northt m New York this week.
and cotton and other mills reporting lack
Of water as ra lson for restricted OPERA
tions few wea Ks ago have been inter-
fered with this week by the extremely
high level Of tho sreams from which they
derive power.
The foreign dei 1and for iron and steel
seems likely to 1lave a most important
effect upon prices of the domestic pro-
duct. It IS conced ed that any important
recession in value would be met by a
heavy enlarged eXn ort movement. Ameri
can pig iron PRICES are steadily held. the
only weakness noeed being an anifested at
the east. Conces Eosas IN southern prices
are claimed not 10 extend beyond one
furnace. Considera to1e orders for pig iron
have been placed all full prices and north
ern coke iron par GculaTsy has moved
well in the central west. Steel rails are
well held, a fair bu.siness being reported
at the west but plates are weak in spite
of a heavy business. Spring. trade pros
poets in hardware are good, best reports
coming from the west. The placing of a
large order for copper by New England
manufacturers at Is cents is regarded as
a guarantee that the price will be main
tained Tin is higher, having reached 30
cents this week on improved demand and
increased foreign speculative interest.
The strength OF raw cottons, spots
reaching nearly cents at New York this
week. is, of course, the leading feature
! in a speculative way. Despite heavy
| realizing and some irregularity the move
ment has continued upward. The strength
of the raw product is responsible for the
unquestiopably active demand for the
! finished products noted this week at
nearly all points. Southern mills are re-
| ported sold ahead on brown cottons, and
stocks are scarce, and the same story of
small stocks comes from New England.
| Cotton yarns are especially active, and
| some large New England concerns are
seeking to fill their orders through the aid
of southern supplies.
! Wooden goods are meeting with good
| order business but raw wool is rather
! quieter, and some of the higher grades
have been shaded at the east. Quarter
blcods and lower grades constitute the
bulk of the business and these sorts re-
main as firm as ever
Some cutting of the list price for anth-
raclte coal is reported, while bituminous
grades are very firm, and leading opera
tors talk of a further advance caused by
increased cost of growing out Of advanced
wages in mine workers and also by the
! steadily growing foreign demand.
All the cereals are stronger on the
week, due to improved statistical con-
ditions, reiterated English damage re-
ports and advices that the Argentine crop
will not be as large as expected. Some
shading in raw sugar prices is to be
| noted Notwithstanding considerable bust
ness done. but 1.-THE refined grades are
firmly held and refners insist upon short
or delivery period Coffee is fractonaly
! lower also, as is lard and butter
Wheat, including -four, shipments for
the week aggregate 3S34069 bushels.
against 2.992,957 bushels last week, ASA
! II bushels in the corresponding week of
1879; 3032.7H bushels in 1898; 2.12OS96 bush
els in 1897 and S1is9I2 bushels in 1886.
Corn exports for the week aggregate s.
4a0 335 bushels against 3450919 bushels
last week, 1,56o,Si5 bushels in this week
year ago, 5056.575 bushels in 1896. SAL. 40
bushels in 1897 and > 9g5 036 bushels in 1896.
Failures for the week in the United
States number $50. as compared with go
last week. leo in this week a wear ago.
269 in 1898; SO in 1891 and 276 in 1856 Fail
ures for the week in the Dominion Of
Canada number s.. as compared with .
last year. % in this week year ago. IS