The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-15
ELSE THE LAST BALE GOES
Last Year 100000 Bales of Ameri-
can Was Consumed.
THIS YEARS CROP IS PUT AT 100000
Favorable Conditions Rule Generally in All
Lines of SeasonabIe Trade. Best Re-
poris Of Retail Trade Come From
the South and West.
the South and West.
(By the Associated Press.y

New York. Dec H. Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
Favorable conditions rule generally in
all lines OF seasonable trade. Holiday
preparations, are, of course, dominant in
retail business, and where this has hither-
TO Jagged. it has been stimulated by more
seasonable weather. Wholesale distribu-
ton is limited, as natural at this period,
but Western iobbers are in receipt of a
fair recorder business. So far the best
reports as to retail trade come from the
West and South In leading industries
the best report is still that made by
finished products of the iron and steel
industry, but other favorably situated
lines are boots and shoes and lumber.
New business in the former is rather
light at wholesale, but manufacturers
generally are busily employed and leather
is firm in sympathy. A good export de-
mand for the latter is noted. Retail ilum-
Der is rather quiet but wholesalers are
preparing for good year. Hard woods
are specially firm in price. The cereals
are lower in price. due to profit taking
on the late upward move, the larger
movement of supplies particularly of
corn, which is favored by the weather and
to less interest on the part of foreign
buyers.
THE Government cotton estimate of
10, 600 bales was larger than expected
by the trade, which looked for about
9,750000 bales. The feeling is that if TIE
yield does not exceed 10,100, 900 bales con-
sumption. which last year was II ,000, 900
bales of American. must either be heavily
curtailed or stocks will be reduced to the
vanishing point. The close of the week
finds future quotations NC. lower and
spots &c. off. The dry goods market is
quiet as natural at this period and high
cost of raw material and low cost of
finished product do not harmoniSe Early
spring trade business, however, is fairly
satisfactory. The light weight season in
mems wear wooden goods has proved dis
appointing, but womens plain dress goods
are we'll ordered. Rather more has been
done in foreign woods, chiefly Australian
this week, and Melbourne and London adj
vices are of firmer markets. Low priced
domestic wool is rather weak, however.
while business in iron and steel as a
whole is quieter than of late, there is no
apparent diminution in strength, and act
ual transactions in rails and plates COM
pare well with the best recorded. One
sale of $4,000 tons of rails, divided be-
tween Eastern and Western mills, is re-
ported, and other sales will swell the
weeks business to 100000 tons at the
much abused, but nevertheless accepted
$26 basis. Another feature is the sale
OF II 500 tons for export to Norway. The
volume of rail orders already booked for
next year is declared to exceed all rec
ords. Although steel plates have advanced
81 per ton, the demand is apparently un-
diminished, and large producers are re-
ported buying outside makes to fill con-
tracts. Here again large orders for export
are reported. AS another proof of stabil-
ity, it is reported that one of the largest
Pittsburg interests has agreed to the
present scale of wages continuing next
year. Pig iron is dull except for some new
business at Chicago. and 25c per ton has
been conceded on Bessemer at Pittsburg
Some large interests, hitherto buyers, are
now making iron themseles direct from
ores. Billets are dull but steady. Hard
ware is active, jobbers stocks are small
and manufacturers are busy on orders.
Wheat, including flour, shipments for
the week aggregate 4,785,577 bushels
against 3,432 159 bushels last week. $685.
$40 bushels in the corresponding week of
1899, 6,243, $50 bushels in 1898, 1904, 399
bushels in 1897 and 3,524,S22 bushels in
1896. From July 1st to date this season
wheat exports are 86,017 ,003 bushels.
against 81, 569,922 bushels last season and
109. 720, 1853 bushels in 1S9S-1S99.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
1858, ass bushels, against 5,371,377 bush
els last week, 4,O17.1S5 bushels in this
week year ago. 1921, 1886 bushels in 1885,
4129,S78 bushels in 1897 and 2.S14,15O in
1896. From July 1st to date this season
corn exports are S4,906,426 bushels,
against 1914 450, 1856 bushels last season and
II, 49,, 220 in 1S9S-1S99.
Business failures for the week in the