Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-17
REVIEW OF TRADE.
CHEERFULNESS AND STRENGTH
OF VALUES APPARENTLY
JJNARATED


New York. March 16.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
Trade adviceS are as a whole cheerful
and the strength OF values is appar-
emily undated, though some soft spots
still present themselves. A prominent
feature this week has been the increase
in strength of values OF farm products,
nearly all the cereals, pork products
and cotton advancing, while materials
for manufacture and the products
thereof have generally remained steady
or unchanged.
The government report on the guam
tity or corn In farmers hands showed
a smaller than expected supply, and
quite IN outbreak OF speculative inter-
est occurred. sympathized In by wheat,
and both cereals reached the hiEhest
point touched on the crop of 1899
Liquidation in advance brought about
some reaction in prices, growing wheat
crop advices proving rather depressing
as whole, and the statistical position
remaining as bearish as pointed out
In these columns last week The close
finds quotations above those of a week
ago. 1t seems evident that the weather
and the growing crops will constitute
price making features for some time to
come.
The cotton goods market has
strengthened and n number of advances
are reported this week, but except at
Western distributing centres, the bust
ness done has been rather smaller than
for some time past. There Is Il ten
dency to believe that the high point
has been touched, and until retailers
have disposed of some OF their supplies
the outlook is for continued quiet at
second hand.
Wool is fairly steady, but manufac-
turers are out of the market and con-
cessions can be obtained though Lon
don advices are better.
Manufacturers of shoes are busy, and
weather conditions have rather favored
the retailer by enabling him to dispose
of some carried-over stocks.
Copper has been stronger in tone
Lead. after break. due to enlarged
receipts. Is firm. but slightly lower than
week ago
anthracite coal Is lower. in keeping
with the advanced stage of the season.
while bituminous grades are firm.
Though quiet. the iron and steel
situation has developed rather more
confident tone. Less is heard about
shaded quotations. though on the other
hand. the volume of new business has
not been very large. Some low grade
Dg 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. South
ern iron advces are of steady prices
and of rather more inquiry on eXport
account. Except Immediately in Chi
cago. where the idleness of MANY
thousands of men has made for dullnnss
In the machinery and kindred trades
the western iron situation seems n
slrong one. reports of coming activity
In railroad building multiply. but IL is
possible that false construction NAV
be put upon the reports that 20 O0O
miles of new road are protected. rho
heaviest mileage ever built was in 1887
when less than $4,000 miles were CON,
structed. and 1t is, of course. safe 10
say that nothing like as large n totol
will be built this year as is rcpoltcI
more particularly as now railroad
building Will be largely n matter Of
extensions of existing lines rather thar
the building of new roads Structural
material is in better request and some
very large contracts will shortly be
placed
Wheat, including -four, shipments for
the week aggregate 2.727.450 bushels.
against Apostles bushels last week
114.046 bushels in the corresponding
week OF 1900; 3,679.056 In 1898; ,62o. 43l in
1897. and 1,592,123 in 1896. Since Iulv
this season the exports OF wheat nggrc-
gate 141,306,S3 bushels. against III, o25.
- i's > S"t ''iu '-,o-V'o'V III 1870 rs.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
S,729,291 bushels. against 2,1S7,S9i last
week, 4,211,S26 in this week n year ago
3,941,S74 in 1895; 5.939.31S in 1897, and H.
So2,934 in 1896.
Since July / this season corn exports
aggregate 149,444,129 bushels, against
12l,d53,95S bushels the same period Il
year ago and 12G, 537, $50 In 1S97-'9S.
Business failures In the United States
for the week number 190 as compared
with $50 last week. 205 In this week n
year ago; 233 in 1898; 231 In 1897, and
500 in 1896
Business failures in the Dominion OF
Canada for the week number IS. rs
compared with 33 last week, 81 in this
week year ago: % in 1898; SO in 1897
and 40 in 1896.