The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-20

average es7 per cent higher than year ago. and
cent. higher as' Belief in short crop has helped
the goods market and still sustains it. though cot
ton Is little lower than It was two months ago
old orders continue larger than In any previous
year. 2o 25s in three weeks, over 20 per cent
larger than last year and 38 per cent larger than
in 1898. But new business does not amount to
quarter Of the current production it is said and in
ders buying. The market for breadstuffs Is not
active nor have changes in prices Of elevator wheat
shows sharp decline Atlantic exports continue
ss;a.s Tss.. last s.,s yer. "a sis
1894 last year. Western receipts were in three
weeks only sss2ls2. against isoo5 49, last year
States. against 2is last year. and 40 in Canada,
against 80 last year
Bradstreet's Review.
Bradstreets tomorrow will say:
General trade and prices. as whole, maintain
the balance which has been the leading fea-
ture for some time past and it will require the ad
vent of distinctly new features to affect any basic
changes General demand is large for this sea-
Of the year. but speculation is quiet to the
treme OF dullness in some lines. and especially in
those branches Of speculation which go to radically
affect financial affairs and therefore. the volume
Of bank clearings: Close examination Of leading
features 1t is true that retail trade in seasonable
goods has been and is being affected by phenome-
nally mild winter weather. but wherever spring
oped. 1t has been in such volume and accompanied
with such readiness of acceptances of advanced
prices as to point to undiminished confidence on
the part OF the trade world as to the outlook for
spring business.
The iron and steel industry Justly regarded as q
trustworthy index of general trade Is still active
ly employed on old orders and new business is
limited. for unnecessary to recaptulate II
is evident the few reactions in prices shown in such
ordinarily dull period this have strengthened,
rather than lessened confidence in the future,
shown in the reported active inquiry for steel
rails at the West, recent sales at Chicago aggre-
eating $4,000 TONS some Of which for Northwest
railroads, and some for export. Production is
as evidently hard pushed as ever and the question
Of fuel supplies. rather than Of new orders. en-
crosses manufacturer attention. Some conces-
sons in foundry iron noted. but aside from
this price changes within very narrow limits.
The other metals are rather stronger. copper and
tin being weak the latter in sympathy with ad-
yanccs abroad. Spring trade in hardware is open
ing. well and advances in prices are generally 70
ported.
Cereals dull in nearly all directions and tie
pressure Of enlarged stocks particularly abroad has
action in prices Corn and oats. however, are rather
frmer on foreign buying, though alphabetically af-
feeted by the decline in the leading cereals.
Coffee Is active, speculation being influenced by
higher European advances and advance Of large
domestic do consumption G Apparently improved Brit
reason for the better buying Of cotton, resulting in
fractional advance this week The crop move
ment still continues much smaller than expected
demand on spring account Concessions at second
hands are reported. owing mainly to backward de-
Rather more inquiry is noted for wool particular.
ly at Boston, and mems sales for next fall
meet good patronage. notwithstanding the ad-
vances demanded. Fine woods are at about the
highest point reached in twenty years.
Lumber !. strong particularly white pine grades
smaller cut in the Northwest. as result OF lack
OF snow and partly because Of a hopeful feeling as
to the building outlook for the coming spring
Wheat, including -four shipments. for the week az
gregate 30el,o8 bushels. against s,2is.92s bushels
last week, 9s.s1 bushels in the corresponding
week Of 1899: s72s.oei bushels in 1898 and 2ss7os
bushels in 1897.
Since July this season the exports Of wheat sg-
gregate l3s03s3l bushels against l39 us bushels
last year.
Business failures in the United States are fewer
with 28 last week
Business failures In the Dominion Of Canada for