The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-17
TRADE ADVICE [. J | I
ARE CHEERFUL
All Farm Products Have Increased in
MANUFACTURES ARE STEADY D.
Iron aud Steel Situation Has Developed
a More Confident Tone-Exagsera-
lions of the Amount OF Rail-
roads Being Built.

NE1W YORK, Marcn lb.-brduStTeetS
tomorrow will say:
Trade advices are, as whole cheerful
and the strength Of values is apparently
undated though some soft spots still
present themselves. a prominent feature
this week has been the increase In
strength of values of farm products, near
ly all the cereals, pork products, and cot
ton advancing, while materials for manu-
facture and the products thereof have
generally remained steady or unchanged.
The government report of quantity Of
corn in farmers hands, shows smaller
than expected supply and quite an out
break of speculative interest occurred,
sympa thized in by wheat, and both cereals
reached the highest point touched on the
crop of 1899. Liquidation in advance
brought about some reaction in prices.
growing wheat crop advices proving rather
depressing as a whole and the statistical
position remaining as bearish as pointed
out in these columns last week.
The close finds quotations above those
Of a week ago. 1t seems evident that the
weather and the growing crops will consti-
tute }price-making features for some time
to come.
The cotton goods market has strength
cned and a number OF advances are re-
ported this week, but except at western
distributing centres, the business done has
past There is tendency to believe that
the high point has been touched and until
retailers have disposed Of some Of their
supplies the outlook is for continued quiet
at second hand.
Wool is fairly steady, but manufacturers
are out Of the market and concessions can
be obtained, though London advices are
better
Manufacturers of shoes are busy and
ha a favored
the retailer by enabling him to dispose of
some carried over Stacks.
Conner has been stronger in tone. Lead,
after a break, due to enlarged receipts, is
firm. but slightly lower than week ago.
Anthracite coal is lower in keeping with
the advanced stage of the season, While
bitun1inous grades are firm.
Though quiet the iron and steel stu
alton has developed rather more con-
fdent tone. Less is heard about shaded
quotations. though on the other hand the
volume of business has not been very
large. Some low grade pig iron has been
moved at concessions. By the taking OF
orders for Bessemer pig at Pittsburg
this week, the entire production for the
first half of the year in that district
has been placed. Southern iron ad-
vices are of steady prices and OF rather
more inquiry on export account Except
ness of many thousands of men has
made dullness in the machinery and
kindred trades, the western iron situa-
ton seems strong one.
Reports of coming activity in rail-
road building multiply, but 1t is thought
that a false construction may be put
upon the report that 5000 miles OF new
read arc projected. The heaviest mile
age ever built was in 1887, when less
trl1rf tod an
if is safe to say that nothing like as
large a total will be built this year as
is reported, more particularly as new
railroad building will be largely a mat
ter of extensions Of existing lines rather
than the building of new ROADS.
Structural material is in better request,
and some very large contracts will short
ly be placed.
Wheat, including flour. shipments for
the week aggregate 2.I2I,4oo Dushels'
against 4.2OS, 1855 bushels last week, 4114,-
O4S bushels in the corresponding week of
1889; 3,679,056 in 1895; l,629,l34 III 1885, anu
]. 5s2 l23 in 1896.
Since July 1st this season the eXao~ts
of wheat aggregate 141 ,So6,S36 bushels
against 177.225,741 last year, and 1i2,S2o'-
$40 in 1S97-'9S.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
3.T29. 291 bushels, against 2.1SI,s2i last
week: 4,211,326 in this week a year ago;
s.el1.S74 in 1898: ,939.31s in 1895. and 1872
1874 in 1896.
Since July 1st this season corn ex-
ports aggregate 149444.129 bushels, against
121. AS, 1858 bushels the same period year
ago, and 12G. 537, 669 in 1878
Business failures in the United States
number 1ao as compared with 1s9 last
week: 2o5 in this week a year ago; 23S
in 1898; 241 in 1897. and 300 in 1896
Business failures in the Dominion OIL
Canada number IS, as compared with %
last week; q in this. week year ago.
% in 1895; sc in 1897. and 40 in 1886.