The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-22
IRON WORKS ALL BUSY
The Wooden Industry Makes an IN
usually Good Showing.
JEwFLRY TRADE EXTREMELY ACTIVE
Cotton Firmly Held Despite Arrivals at S. uth-
ern Ports Far in Excess Of Last Year
and Little EncouragemeBtRe-
c iyed From Spinnsrs.
lBy the Associated Press.

New York. Dec. Pr. G.. Dun and
Company's weekly Review Of Trad to-
morrow viii say:
Better weather conditions on the Ats
lantic seaboard and pronounced ac-
tivity in distribution of all staple lines OF
merchandise at Southern cities have i'm
parted slightly more aggressive tone to
general business. Distinctive holiday
business, which at this period of the sea-
son means retail distribution, has shown
further Improvement and no complaint is
heard from any quarter, while the jewelry
trade is much more active than for sew
etal years past.
Unchanged conditions in the leading
manufacturing industry during the last
week before the holidays means much. At
this time in ordinary years furnaces close
down in large numbers and dizziness is
general at mills and shops where iron and
steel are handled. Instead of reduction
of working force or concessions in price
this year, however, reports from the prin-
cipal cities indicate the existence of con-
tracts that will take months to fill, and
new sales are made at the former level,
despite much talk of cheaper ore next
year Fuel declined about 25c ton re-
Gently, but this is as far as the cost Of
raw material has been reduced. It is
seldom possible to secure prompt de-
livery of partially manufactured forms or
finished products and each week brings
more orders from abroad, while the No
vember statement of British exports
shows another decrease compared with
last year in these products. Tin again
dropped sharply taking the price about
ten cents below the top and almost to the
level prevailing a year ago.
"Other industries exhibit the same in
difference to precedent. Instead of holt
day quiet in the wool market the last
weeks figures of sales at the three chief
Eastern markets amount to 1898 600
pounds against 6.785,S00 in the preceding
week and 5.267 .344 pounds two weeks ago,
while year ago the aggregate had fallen
TO 1912, 500 pounds from an average OF
over eleven million pounds in the two
previous weeks. Prices are steady but
show no recovery from the recent decline
and manufacturers purchase only raw
material to fill orders Another decline
appeared in hides at Chicago, taking the
average back to the level prevailing two
months ago. Leather was also easier, but
the finished product was we'll sustained by
shipments from Boston of 90,S08 cases
which is by far the largest movement
in recent weeks. New orders are fewer
in number. but shops have contracts for
months ahead. Local iobbers have ac-
complished much more than was expect
ed.
g Cotton is firmly held despite arrivals
at Southern ports far in excess of last
year and little encouragement received
from spinners. Crop indications point to
n yield about equal to Mr.. Ellison's esti-
mate of requirements.
Wheat is quiet, receipts aggregating
1902 79 bushels, against 3,306,2S6 last
year. while Atlantic exports were 2,701,-
412 bushels, flour included. against only
1886, 1854 in the same week of 1899 Corn
advanced again to about cents above
last years level, without important news
The movement is much heavier, for three
weeks Of December receipts amounted to
14.792,257 bushels, against 9,404, 1858 BUSH
els while Atlantic exports were Is, 244.72D
bushels. against II, 235, 918 bushels in 1899.
Liquidation in coffee caused a heavy vol
ume of option transactions ard largely -
creased estimate of the next Brazil crop
took No. z Rio down to the lowest price
OF the year, which is three cents below
the top point. The present figure is still
more than cent above last years weak
est spot and receipts are $50 900 bags
larger
Failures for the week were 293, in the
United States, against 900 last year and
IS in Canada, against 26 last year"