The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-22
BUSINESS IS GOOD
Dun'S Report Makes a Flatter-
ing Showing.
FAILURES ARE LIGHT
Money Matters Easy and
Holiday Trade Excellent.

New York. Dec, 1-R. G. Dun & Co
weekly review OF trade tomorrow viii
say: Better weather conditions on the
Atlantic seaboard and pronounced activ-
ity in distribution OF all staple lines Of
merchandise at southern cities have in
parted a slightly more aggressive tone
to general business. Distinctive holiday
business. which at this season Of the
year means retail distribution. has shown
further Improvement, and no complaint
heard from any quarter. while the jew
elry trade Is much more active than for
several years past
Unchanged conditions IN the leading
manufacturing industries during the last
week before the holidays means much
At this time in ordinary years furnaces
close down in large numbers, and dull
ness IS general at mills and shops where
iron and steel are handled. Instead of
reduction Of working force or concessions
in price this year. however. reports from
the principal cities indicate the existence
Of contracts that VIII take months TO III
and new sales are made at the former
level, despite much talk of cheaper ore
next year. Fuel declined about . cents
a ton recently. but this is as far as the
cost of raw faterial has been reduced.
1t is seldom possible TO secure prompt
delivery Of partially manufactured forms
OF finished products, and each week
brings more orders from abroad, while
the November statement OF British eX-
ports shows another decrease compared
with last year In these products. Tin
again dropped sharply, taking the price
about 10 cents below the top and almost
to the leve prevailing year ago.
Other Industries exhibit the same in
difference to precedent. Instead Of holi-
day quiet in the wool market the last
weeks figures of sales at the three chief
estern markets amount TO 7,33s, 900
pounds. against e.7S5,s00 pounds IN the
preceding week and 5,267344 pounds two
weeks ago. while year ago the aggre-
gate had fallen to 1880 pounds from
an average Of over eleven million pounds
in the TWO previous weeks. Prices are
steady but show no recovery from the
recent decline and manufacturers pur-
chase only raw material to fill orders.
Another decline appeared in hides at
Chicago, taking the average back to the
level prevailing two months ago. Leather
was also easier but the finished product
was well sustained by shipments from
Boston to 9o8s8 cases, which is by far
the largest movement in recent weeks.
New orders are fewer in number but
shops have contracts for months ahead.
Local iobbers have accomplished much
more than was expected.
Cotton is firmly held despite arrivals
at southern ports far in excess Of last
year and little announcement received
from spinners. Crop indications point 10
yield about equal to Mr. Ellison
estimate Of requirements
Wheat is quiet, receipts aggregat ting
4. S02.779 bushels against 3.3O6.2S last year.
while Atlantic exports were 2.7ol4l2
bushels. -four included, against only
/ .536, 164 bushels in the same week or 1899.
Corn advanced again to about Z cents
above last years level without import
ant news. The movement is much heav-
Ter for three weeks Of December receipts
amounted to 147s2557 bushels. against
&. 404 SIS bushels, while Atlantic exports
were 15.2H.720 bushels. against 1,225,sls
bushels In 1899
Liquidation in coffee caused a heavy
volume Of option transactions and large
~ increased estimates Of the next Brazil
crop took Rio No down 10 the lowest
price Of the year. which Is cents below
the top point The present figure is stiu
more than a cent above last yearH weak
est spot, and receipts are 10000 bags
larger
Failures for the week were 293 81 the
Uni,ed States. against ~ last year. and
is in Canada. against Is last year.