The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-17
A FEW SOFT SPOTS,


NEW YORK. March l6.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: Trade advices are. as
whole. cheerful and the strength of values
is apparently undated. though some soft
spots present themselves. A prominent
feature this week has been the increase in
strength of values of farm products, near
~ all the cereals, pork products and cotton
advancing, while materials for manufsc-
ture and the products thereof have gener-
ally remained steady or unchanged. Tho
government report on the quantity OF corn
in farmers hands showed a smaller supply
than expected, and quite an outbreak OF
speculative interest occurred. sympathized
I'm by wheat. and both cereals reached the
highest point touched on the crop Of 1899.
Liquidation on the advance brought about
some reduction in prices. growing wheat
crop advices proving rather depressing as
a whole, and the statistical position re-
naming as bearish as pointed out In these
columns last week. The close finds quota
tons above those of a week ago
The cotton-goods market has strengthened
and a number of advances are reported
this week. but, except at Western distr1b-
uting centers the business done has been
rather smaller than for some time past
Though quiet. the iron and steel situation
has developed rather more connuent tope.
Less Is heard about shaded quotations.
though on the other hand. the volume OF
new 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 advices are OF steady prices
and rather more inquiry on export account.
Except Immediately in Chicago. where the
idleness of many thousands Of men has
made business dull in the machinery and
kindred trades, the western iron situation
seems a strong one.
Reports of coming activity in railroad
building multiply, but IL Is possible that
false construction may be put upon the re-
ports that $4,000 miles of new road are pro.
jected. The heaviest mileage ever built
was i'm 1857. when less than 1000 miles
were constructed, and IL is Of course safe
TO say that nothing like as large total
Will be built this year as Is reported pro-
jected. more particularly as new railroad
extensions of existing lines rather than
the building of new roads.
Wheat Gncluding four shipments for
the week aggregate 2.7Z.450 bu. against
4,20s. 75s last week 4.ll4046 In the CORE
spending week OF 1899. ass. 05s i'm 1855. lf,9.-
434 in 1897, and 1892 123 I'm 1886. Since July
the exports of wheat aggregate IA. 3oS.s S5
bu, against 175, 225,H1 last year. and 172.630.-
$40 in 1898. Corn exports for the week
aggregate ATS. 2s1 bu. against 2ia.s24 last
week 4211. 326 in this week a year ago,
394l, S74 In 1898. 5.939,31s in 1897. and sA
In 1896. Since July l corn exports aggre-
gate 49, ,129 bu. against II. ass. $50 during
the same period a year ago, and l26,557CG3
I'm 1S97-9s.
Business failures in the United States for
the week number 100. as compared with 10
last week 205 in this week a year ago. 20
in 1898, and 2Sl in 1897.