Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1900-12-26
TRADE REPORT.

as follows:
Seasonable conditions rule in trade
at present. Holiday trade activity is
wider and comparisons with previous
years are favorable at most markets.
with the possible exception of some
parts of the northwest, where the
spring wheat shortage and unseasona-
hle weather have checked distribution
Notably cheerful reports come. too
from western jobbers, who have been
called on for reassorting orders, and
who report collections good. Quietness
in wholesale lines is usual at this Pc
riod, but 1t is to be noted that specially
good advices come from the iron and
steel, hardware, grocery, fancy goods
toys and confectionery trade. while a
distinctly cheerful tone is found In
shoes, leather and lumber, although
eastern shipments of the first named
are still considerably smaller than last
year. Industrial lines are fairly well
employed and strikes are few and far
between. Prices show few changes,
most staples being steady. but 1t might
be noted that most farm products are
slightly higher than last week and well
above 1899.
New business in pig iron is small,
but values are steady, which indicates
confidence In the future outlook in
spite OF reiterated stories Of large cut
in ore prices next season, the proba-
bility Of which is being denied. Besse-
mer pig and steel billets are firm and
the latter market Is reported we'll un-
der control. Here production is in
creasing but stocks are smaller. Fin
ished products are a trif1e quieter, but
much more active than usual at this
time Of the year. Plates are active and
hold all the late advances.
Business in hardware Is very active
and at leading western points the sea-
sons business Is reported the best on
record. In structural material an i'm
mense amount of business is still be-
ing placed, and specifications are COM
ing forward freely Export trade is
quieter and there are cabled reports Of
shutdowns of Scotch iron producers.
The other metals are steady except in
shipments from the far east.
Speculation in the cereals has been
narrow, dull and featureless, but prices
have been aided by short covering on
Argentine crop reports, advices Of an
exportable surplus from that country
| of only 10000. 900 bushels and the poor
grade Of receipts at the northwest,
Corn receipts are large, but little Of 1t
grades to contract, while the export
business holds up the price Of the cash
article. Cotton, following the reason
ing as to large supply being needed
to satisfy even a much reduced con
sumption, signs Of which are yet pre-
sented, and favored by smaller receipts,
is slightly higher on the week and quo
tations are now about where they were
| before the late break.
Wool is fairly active, mostly for ter
ritory grades, but the woolen goods sit.
uation is still unchanged. Lumber Is
dull at retail. but firmly held by whole
| salers, who look for a good trade next
year. Bad weather restricts logging
operations In the northwest. Eastern
shoe manufacturers are well supplied
with orders and leather firm, but hides
are generally reported dull and easier.
Wheat (including four shipments
for the week aggregate 4,123,350 bush
els, against 4.7S5,577 bushels last week,
2,813,7l4 bushels In the corresponding
week of 1899. 5.513,231 in 1898. 4,757.-
$50 bushels In 1897 and 2,011 .703 bush
els in 1896. From July to date this
season wheat exports are 90.140.353
bushels against 100, 1885 bushels last
season and 117.32O0 084 bushels in 1898
1899.
Business failures in the United
States for the week number 260 as
against 247 last week, 211 In this week
year ago, 212 in 1898 and $50 in 1897.
Canadian failures for the week num-
ber 28 agaist 1S last week, 20 in this
week year ago. "a in 1898 and 80 in
1897.