The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-05
BRADsTREET ON THE WEEK.
Decline I'm Prices Due to UnsettIe,
Labor Conditions.

Labor Conditions.
NEW YORK. May 4.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
"A further subsistence of demand and of
the level of prices is noted In several lines
this week, this process being no doubt
aided by the unsettiing OF rather more
than usually disturbed conditions in labor
circles The net result is something ap-
preaching dizziness in many channels of
distribution, increased conservatism In the
making OF ventures. and a disposition to
digest business already arranged for be-
fore making new engagements.
That the basic conditions of general
business, such as the outlook for the crops,
the export demand and the increased sur
chasing power OF the people at large, have
not been much reduced, but on the con-
trary, actually improved. seems evident
from the advices received this week Bust
ness at wholesale is relatively quieter, as
not unusual at this period, but more than
ordinarily marked attention is being con-
centrated upon the retail demand which,
OF course, is relied upon as a measure OF
the progress of actual consumption.
Decreases far outnumber increases in
staple values this week. Butter, after a
sensational drop, advanced slightly on
smaller receipts. Against this are to be
reckoned. however, lower prices for most
OF the cereals hog products. groceries,
print cloths. and hides and leather Good
crop prospects and the weakness in pro-
visions. charged partly to Increased re-
ceipts Of hogs. but also attributed to bear
operations by packers have exercised a
depressing effect upon corn and to less
extent upon wheat.
The weakness of print cloths Is con-
fined as yet to outside manufacturers
quotations, the pool price being maintained
unchanged. No effect from this source or
from the dizziness at wholesale in cotton
goods is yet reflected in the market for
the raw material. which remains strong,
owing partly to the reduced movement: OF
the crop, the April movement being a
per cent smaller than a year ago, and
partly to the expected small surplus to
be carried over to next season.
Following excessive rains in some sec
tons Of the South has come period OF
good growing weather, which tends to
mitigate the damage earlier reported, due
to flooding of low lying cotton fields.
The shoe and leather trade at the East
is notably quiet. Restricted supplies of
raw sugar have induced a slight marking
up Of quotations this week, but no change
of refined prices is reported.
THE situation in iron and steel is still
mixed one. No diminution Of strength
of pig irof is reported at such centres as
Birmingham and Pittsburg and predic-
lions are that the ruling price for Bes-
se.ner pig will not be shaded during the
last half Of the year. In finished ma
terial less confidence is expressed.
The first week in May was more than
ordinarily prolific in strikes, most of
which, however, were confined to the
building trades, and reports to Brad
streets would indicate hat, including
those idle. voluntarily or otherwise as a
result of the great Chicago building trades
tie-up, the number of men on strike dur
ing the week was little below 10000.
For the week failures number 1853, as
compared with 1872 last week, 1874 in this
week year ago. 24O in 1898, 22s in 1891
and 267 in 1896"