The age-herald., 1900-11-17
WEEKLY REVIEW OF
 TRADE CONDITIONS
Great Improvement is Noted in
 Many Lines.
GENERAL TREND IS BETTER
Strength of Prices Is Most Manifest In Iron and Steel-Cold Weather Is Factor In Clothing and Other
 Lines of Trade.

New York, November 16-Bradstreets to- morrow will say:
 The tonic effect of seasonable cold
 weather is again testified to by reports from
 practically all markets of a brisk demand
 for winter clothing and footwear. This in
 turn, is reflected in increased orders from
 western, northwestern and southern job
 bers and a perceptble improvement In tone
 of wholesale trade at the east, which hopes
 to participate later in the results flowing
 from the existing good consumptive de-
 mand.
 The renewed advance in cotton, another
 result of cold weather has proved a stim-
 ulus to southern trade, and also made cot-
 ton goods agents and manufacturers rather
 indifferent to new business offered at old
 rates. What looked like an improvement in
 wool demand and prices seems to have
 received a temporary set back from the
 failure of a large commission house with
 weolen mill connections. Railway returns continue favorable; the demand for iron
 and steel is expanding and prices are har- dening; labor is exceptionally well em- ployed; anthracite coal mining opera tfons have been practically resumed, and ruling
 prices for that product seem assured. New
 records of export trade are presented, and
 the excess of outward trade is assuming
 phenomenal proportions.
 The market for cereals is a dragging one, with price changes few and of little im- portanee, but stock speculation, though quieter of late, is strong and confident in
 tone Reflection of the late enormous busi- ness in this line is found in unprecedented bank clearngs totals eclipsing even the large totals of the year 1S99
 The strength of prices is still most man. ifest in iron and steel, the demand for which continues large, both for crude and fn- ished materials. The action of the billet pool In advancing prices is claimed to have
 checked demand. Pig iron has also been affected by efforts to advance Bessemer pig but though not as active as last week, is very strong and higher at the west while firm and tending upward in the south. Stocks are estimated to have increased 50,- Voe tons in October. In finished material the activity Is most marked and mills are gen. erally well supplied with orders and indif- ferent to future business at present rates. l A fair business is doing in rails at the west and BPS a ton Is the price talked of. | The railways are free buyers of cars and 1 other material and structural material l tends upward, although the intention of l beam manufacturers to advance prices is l not confirmed. The awarding of the govern ment contract for armor plate at $i25 per l ton will swell the output of the steel indus 1 try by s15,00o 000 Hardware is in improved | distribution at nearly all points and tin is | higher in sympathy with another advance | at London. Among the textiles, cotton is l notable for %c advance on the week due l to killing frost having terminated further l growth. Estimates of De crop average are 1 about 10,2 e4 bales but the advance has l been are toward the close by rumors | that Ellisoa will issue a reduced estimate l or consumption. Argentine wheat crop damage has figured l largely among the supporting influences of 1 the wheat market, but liquidation by the | bulls has been a restraining influence Late 1 reports indicate damage mentioned is slight
 Cash corn, as heretofore, has continued l quite strong small stocks and good de- | mand. Cold weather has been the stimulus | to the better market and the advance in l ten days has been fully 4 per cent per 1 pound. Among the articles declining might l be mentioned flour, slack demand, cof- l fee and petroleum
 l The distribution of shoes mas been better 1 than for some time past and eastern manu- 1 facturers have advanced prices cents per l pair. Leather has been active east and 1 west and hides are firm.
 l Wheat, including four shipments for the l week aggregate 4062000 bushels against l 3,550,GG0 bushels last week; 4,540007 bushels
 nthe corresponding week of 1899; 5,679 141 1 in 1S9S 6,653 792 in 1897 and 3,997, ?33 in 1895
 From July to date this season wheat ex- | ports are 1,4H091 bushels against S1, ,779, ,S65
 last season and 8, ,299, ,257 in 1S9S-99.
 Corn exports for the week aggregate
 3,976,914 bushels against 3.2S7627 last week; | 4.693, 71S in this week year ago; 3,5S1, PA in
 1898; ,790 in 18y. and 2,975,721 in 1896.
 From July l to date this season corn e3- i ports are 64G44993 bushels against SS026,-
 965 last season and 56,S2S916 in 1S9S-99
 Failures for the week in the United
 States number 227 as against 161 last week.
 199 in this week a year ago; 299 in 1898, 235 in
 1897 and 3OS in 1896.
 Canadian failures number 27 against IT i last week, 19 In this week @ year ago, 24 in | 1898, 31 in 1897 and AT in 1S96