The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-07
BRADrREErs REPORT OF BUSINESS.
Business Generally Dull at This Season
Present Year No Exception.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
New York. July 6.--Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say;
Business is usually dull at this season,
and this year no exception 10 the general
rule is to be remarked. review of the
past six months, however, gives little
comfort to pessimists. Bank clearings, it
is true, are smaller by about II per cent.
than they were in the first half of 1899,
but railway earnings are about 10 per
cent larger and business failures, as
reported to Braiistreets, are the fewest
reported for eighteen years back, with
liabilities of failing traders the small
est with one exception and that last
year, since 1894. Winter wheat has about
been all harvested in the Southwest,
and the yield there has been very large.
''Copious rains in the Northwest. too,
have apparently worked some improve
ment, judging from the more cheerful tone
of advices received thence this week
Raw cotton has been rather Irregular TINS
week. Some Improvement in crop advices
is to be noted. But the main interest
centers in the efforts of the oVerSro"n
shortage to cover on the CID crop re
liveries.
I'm manufacturing lines dulineSS ana
weakness are most marked in products
of iron and steel. Talk of an effort by
the great combinations to control prices
in TIE latter industry Isl heard. The
basic material pig iron, weakens steadily,
with some authorities predicting %
per cent reduction from present purely
nominal price, which are not attracting
buyers. The settlement of labor troubles
is reflected in the better demand for build
ing materials at affected conters while
rains in the Northwest have allowed
white pine manufacturers to open their
works and give employment to many
thousands of men, Southern pine prices
are weak and the market for that ma
terial is very dull.
cuisines failures in the United States
for the week number lac. as compared
with 1S5 last year; 1856 in this week a
year ago; 241 in 1898; 213 in 1897, and 219
in 1895.
Business failures in the dominion of
Canada number % as compared with IS
last week; % in this week a year ago;
16 in 1898; 81 in 1897, and 80 in 1896
HEsTER's COTTON STATEMENT.
New Orleans, La, July 6.-Secretary
Hester S statement OF the WplIu NlSlDle
supply of cotton shows the total visible
for the week 1,722,943 bales, against i
S64 JIG bales last week; of this the total
of American cotton is 1.126,943 bales.
against 1,264,119 bales last week, and
2.67S,3 1929 bales last year, and of all other
kinds, including Egypt, Brazil, India, etc,
500, 900 bales, against 100000 bales and
942, 900 bales. OF the worlds visible sup
ply there is now afloat and held in Great
Britain and continental Europe 1,077,0GD
bales. against 2194 900 bales last year; in
Egypt. 900 bales against 100000 bales;
in India 100000 bales, against $4,000
bales, and in the United States. $4,000
bales, against 100000 bales.
TOTAL BANK CLEARINGS.
New York, July 6.-The total bank
clearings at the principal cities Of the
United States for the week ending July
9th, 1900, were 81, 599, 912, 705; decrease
80 per cent.
Compared with the same period last
year, outside of New York, $64S, 656, 0S6;
increase, 3.3 per cent.