The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-05-15
BRADSTREETS REPORT.

| New York, May 11.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: The trade situation
this week may be summed up in the
phrase: Inactive demand and weaker
iprices.
| While in many respects the indus
trial situation is easier than il was,
the unsettlement in the business trades
continues marked, the reflex action be-
ling exhibited in unsettled demand for
building material and weaker prices
for lumber and for many products used
in the building industry.
Iron and steel buyers are still hold
ling off, most of the business done being
for small lots for immediate consump-
Ition.
| Further declines are noted in steel
Ibillets and for some finished products,
while sympathetic weakness is re-
Iported in other metals, such as copper,
lead and tin. There was a slight in
lcrease of the output of pig iron during
the month of April and a small gain
in furnace and other stocks. Steel rails
and structural material are conspic-
Iuous exceptions to the weakness above
noted, prices for these products being
firmly maintained.
In speculative markets dullness has
Ibeen the feature, wheat, after consid-
lerable steadiness, weakening on the
favorable government crop report,
which is taken to Indicate q. yield of
winter wheat 100, ,O00, 900 bushels larger
than year ago, Notwithstanding i'm
Imense damage from winter killing in
tine central western states, apparent
lly offset, however. by high conditions
In states west @ tde Mississippi. Corn
has been -Aker than wheat, reflect
ling the less active export demand and
sympathy with the lowered price of
provisions, the latter due to heavier
receipts of hogs and lessened demand
flor pork and lard.
Relatively good reports come from
the retail trade at most centers, not
lwithstanding the backward spring
but, as yet, the volume of recorder
business from wholesalers and tobbers
has proved disappointing.
Finished cotton and wooden products
lremain steady, and raw cotton Is even
la shade higher, but wool is weaker,
lowing to restricted demand from man
lufacturers and in sympathy with the
lower prices set for many grades at
1.-THE London wool sales. Primary wool
markets are higher than in the east
lPrintcloths, though nominally held
firm at Fall River, continue to be Of
Ifered below the pool price.
Relatively, a good report comes
from the distributing trade in shoes.
but manufacturers are hanging back
in their purchases OF leather and hides
are rather weaker.
Relatively the best trade reports
lstill come from the Pacific coast mar
kets, but better weather conditions at
tine south have tended to brighten
trade reports from that section.
Wheat. including -four shipments for
lthe week aggregate 3,480,574 bushels.
against 4,537.022 last week, 3.284,Is2
lDnsnels In the corresponding week Of
1899. Since July 1st this season the ex-
Iports OF wheat aggregate 169, SOC, ,00S
bushels. against 203, ,05S, 7S4 bushels last
year.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
I4.6S3,140 bushels. against 3,4Il,0i5 bush
Iels last week and 276S, ,694 In this week
"a year ago. Since July 1st. this season.
corn exports aggregate 177.751, ,2l5 bush
Iels against 145, ,27s, ,so7 during the same
period a year ago.
Business failures In the United
States for the week number ia as
Icompared with 153 last week, and 1ss
in this week year ago.