The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-05-19
REPORT OF TR AIDE.

last week says:
The trade situation last week may
be summed up in the phrase-inactive
demand and weaker prices. While in
many respects the industrial situation
i8 easier than it was, the unsettlement
in the building trades continues mark
ed, the reflex action being exhibited
in unsettled demand for building ma
terial and weaker prices for lumber
and for many products used in the
building industry. Iron and steel buy
ers are still holding off, most of the
business done being for small lots for
immediate consumption. Further de-
clines are noted in steel billets and
for some finished products, while SYM
pathetic weakness is reported in other
metals, such as "copper" lead and tin.
There was a slight increase in output
Of the pig iron during the month and
small gain in furnace and other
stocks. Steel rails and structural ma
terial are conspicuous exceptions to
the weakness above noted, prices for
these products being firmly main
tanned.
In speculative markets, dullness has
been the feature, wheat, after consid-
cradle steadiness, weakening on the
favorable government crop report,
which is taken to indicate a yield of
winter wheat 100,000,000, bushels larg-
er than year ago, notwithstanding
immense damage from winter killing
in the central western states, appar-
emily Offset, however, by a high condi-
ton in states west of the Mississippi.
Relatively good reports come from
most trade centers, Notwithstanding
the backward spring, but as yet the
volume. of recorder business from whole
salers and jobbers has proved disap-
pointing.
Finished cotton and wooden products
remain steady; wool is weaker owing
to restricted demand from manufacture
ers and in sympathy with lower prices
set at many grades at the London wool
sales. Primary wool markets are high
er than in the east. Print cloths,
though nominally held firm at Fall
River, continued to be offered below
the Liverpool price.
Coffee is rather weaker, owing to
lower quotations in European markets,
and sugar is also shaded owing to re-
ceipts exceeding requirements.
Relatively good report comes from
the distribution trade in shoes, but
manufacturers are hanging back in
their purchases of leather and hides
are rather weaker.
Relatively the best trade results
come from the Pacific coast, but wealth
er conditions in the south have tended
to brighten trade reports from that sec
ton.
Wheat Qncluding fiour) aggregate
3,3S0,574 bushels shipments for the
week, against 5,072,022 bushels last
week, 3,24S,1S2 bushels in the CORE
spending week of 1899, 3,646,000 BUSH
els in 1898, 2,5S3,S75 bushels in 1897
and 1,903,225 bushels in 1896. Since
July l, this season, the exports OF
wheat aggregate 169, 506,006 bushels,
against 20S,O5S,7S4 bushels last year
and 202,52S,OO4 bushels in 1898.
Business failures in the United
States for the week number 173, COM
pared with 1913 last week, 100 a year
ago, $50 in 1898, 251 in 1897 and 265
i'll 1896. Business failures in Canada
for the week number 10, as compared
with 10 last week, 81 last year, % in
1898, 81 in 1897 and "a in 1896.
Wheat.
Portland-Walla Walla wheat is
nominally So to SO cents, and valley
about the same, but some exporters are
Offering as low as SO cents, which is
uot far from the export value with
freights at present rates.
-Wheat-Market irregular,
and prices show decline of 1c. Blue
stem, Sac; club, sic; both for export
Metal.
San Francisco-Silver bars, 60Ho;
Mexican dollars, 481a to Acc.
London-Bar silver, q 9-16d per OF.