The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-04-03
QUIET WEEK IN
TRADE CIRCLES
Especially So in the Dry
Goods Business.
A RISE IN PROVISIONS
Threats of International Complication
Have Lifted Wheat Slightly.
COTTON WEAKENED A LITTLE ON WEEK
A RISE IN PROVISIONS
COTTON WEAKENED A Ll|Ilt ON "ttk
This Because Some Spectators Have Grown
Tired of Holding There is no Impair.
ment of the Statistical Situation.
Nothing New in Iron.
(Bv the Associated Press.

New York, March 3o.-Bradstreet's to
morrow will say:
1T has been a quiet week in distribu-
tive trade, except at some few western
this being especially true of the
dry goods business. Wholesale trade IN
this line has been generally completed
pending the effect If spring demand
upon the retail trade the markets are in
has been the strength manifested by
agricultural products and provisions. The
advances in the latter, in fact, are re-
garded as foreshadowirg an upward
in hog products, long predicted
but only partially realized. Numerous
in wages have still further ad-
vanced the purchasing power OF the COM
Disquieting advices as to inter
national complications and less favorable
crop reports have furnished the
basis for a slight upward movement in
wheat. Winter wheat crop advices have
been on the whole, good, and have acted
as a balance to the stories Of French
damage. Corn has been strong in SYM
pathy with wheat and some renewal of
foreign buying aided by unsatisfactory
advices as to the quality OF new arrivals.
;tAlone of the agricultural staples, cot
ton has weakened during the week, not
because Of any impairment Of the Stats
teal position, which, indeed, remains
very strong, but really because some
speculative holders have gotten tired, and
have given ear to reports of dullness in
the cotton goods demand. New business
in this latter line is undoubtedly quiet,
but most of the mills are heavily sold
ahead and finished products have not adj
vanceu proportionately as much as the
cruder forms. Wool has been more ac-
tive. but considerable business has been
lone at concessions. The Generalization
in the sugar business is clearly confined
to the refining branch, because, lille
quotations Of the finished product have
been lowered, the heavy refiners have
been large buyers and raw sugar has ac-
tually advanced, the result being a still
further shrinkage in the margin of profit
in refining.
Little that is new is observable in the
iron and steel trade. New business is OF
a hand to mouth character and this might
be regarded as a depressing feature We're
it not for the fact that producers are so
heavily sold ahead. Bessemer pig iron
is still as strong as the foundry grades
are weak, but the increase in furnaces
stocks of the latter is claimed to be
balanced by the reduction of manufactur
ers supplies.
The recent advance in leather has
tended to restrict new business, but ad-
vices from the boot and shoe industry are
on the whole favorable. There has been
some accumulation of stocks of lumber
and talk of Oy~erproductiOn in some States
Of the South, but price weakness is not
as yet notable. Manufacturers and job
bers in carpets and upholstery report a
heavy seasons business booked.
Wheat, including -four shipments for
the week aggregate 1852 .349 bushels.
against 2,903, 495 bushels last week; g.
9SS, 238 bushels in the corresponding week
IN 1899: $3.50, 664 bushels in 1898; 2,464,-
645 bushels in 1897, and 1853, 927 bushels
in 1895; since July 1st, this season, the
exports of wheat aggregate 147,17 y, $50
bushels, against 1S4, $50, 40 bushels last
year, and 1S0, 067 ,552 bushels in 1S97-9S.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
last week; 2,411,443 bushels in this weel
a year ago; 4,5O7, 1872 bushels in 1898
4,970,127 bushels in 1897. and 2.199, So
bushels in 1896. Since July 1st this sea.
son corn exports aggregate 155, 761 81:
bushels, against 127, 565, OPS bushels during
the same period a year ago. and 135, sol,
649 bushels in 1S97-9S.
Business failures in the United State.
for the week number 11S, as compared
with 1872 last week; 100 in this week
unor oun. OOR in 1S0S. 90 in 1907 n
236 in 1896. Business failures in tn.
Dominion of Canada for the week numbe.
%, as against % last week; 80 in thit
and 43 in 1896"
HESTER'S COTTON STATEMENT.
New Orleans, La, March 3O.-Secretar,
Hester's weekly cotton exchange state
ment shows a decrease in the movemen
into sight compared with the seven day
ending this date last year of 4S, 900 bales
a decrease under the same time year be
fore last Of 20, 900 bales.
The amount brought into sight durini
the past week has been 80, 4O7 bales
against 137.S4S bales for the seven dav
ending this date last year, and for tn
thirty days of March it has been 1899
bales, against $50 1877 bales last year.
The total movement for the 213 day
from September 1st to date is S.212.9 "a
bales, against 10, 044. 329 bales last yea,
and 10,243, 1914 bales year before last.
The movement since September Is
shows receipts at all United States port
6,O41. 27S bales, against 7,642, 73O. bales las
year; overland across the Mississipp
Ohio and Potomac Rivers to Norther
mills and Canada, /. 100. $50 bales. apains
l,lbO,9o3 bales last year; interior stock
IN excess OF those held at the close of III
commercial year 80, 202 bales. agains
o5o,632 bales last year, and Southern mi
taklngs were 9sS,S1 bales, against 9O4 OF
bales last year.
forelgn exports for the week have bee