The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-18
VOLUME OF TRADE FAIR
The Industries All Seem Active and
Promising.
FOREIGN TRADE IS STILL IN OUR FAVOR
Railway Earnings Continus Good. Cotton Goods
in Fair Recorder Demand. Print Cloths
Situation Unsatisfactory. Curtail-
ment Accomplished Little.
ment Accomplished Little.
(By the Associated Press. ]

4ApDNNAN~NSN'
New York, May 17.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
aside from a quite perceptible in
crease of the spirit of nrest in labor
circles, there are few new changes to
record in the general trade or industrial
situation. Business at present the coun-
try over is of a seasonable character with
wholesalers in dry goods, clothing and
similar lines, but the volume of business
in fair for the season, and collections are
reported likewise The basic facts un-
derlyng the situation continue largely
of favorable character. Notable in this
respect is the crop situation, particularly
for the cereals which is in high degree
promising. The backward spring and
lack of rains in some sections has mill
tated against the growth of cotton, but
improvement is noted even in this re-
spect.
"The industries are active. Iron and
steel are strong, but quiet as regards
new demand for the cruder FORMS but
the finished products have been heavily
ordered and the mills have sufficient bus
mess to keep them busy for one to three
months, while large additional bust
ness is reported in sight. The demand OF
the machinists, is regarded as a possibly
disturbing feature, but it is claimed that
ne-fourth of the men involved have al
ready succeeded in their demands and the
feeling is that this matter will be ad-
justed with less than earlier expected
friction.
Foreign trade continues largely to fa-
vor this country and the demand for
wheat to replace possible smaller yields
in European countries has swelled the
volume of export trade which might
otherwise have fallen off from April a
year ago because of smaller shipments
of cotton and of manufactured goods. Des-
pite the talk of rate cutting and of eX-
pectations of a smaller movement of
goods as the spring advances, railway
earnings continue exceptionally favorable,
some great systems reporting maximum
weekly earnings.
Cotton goods are in fair recorder de-
mand from interior and eastern jobbers
and retail business is apparently pro-
ceeding at a good rate. In first hands,
however, business is decidedly dull The
print cloths situation is unsatisfactory,
owing to the breakdown of the selling
committee plan of disposal of the product.
complished its purpose and the Fall River
manufacturers are expected to take some
action shortly, one feature of which may
be a reduction in wages. Raw cotton is
lower, partly on better crop advices, but
mainly because of continued heavy re-
ceipts
Failures for the week number 1872 as
against 1913 last week 155 in this week
a year ago, 16S in 1899, 211 in 1898 and 245
in 1897. Canadian failures for the week
number "a, against 26 last week "a in
this week a year ago, IS in 1899 and 36
in 1896.
HESTER'S COTTON STATEMENT.
New Orleans, La, May 17.-Secretary
Hesters statement of the worlds visible
supply of cotton shows the total visible
supply to be 3,45812S bales, against g.
,O71 bales last week, and 1858, ,909 bales
last year.
OF this the total of American cotton
is 2,374,1 12S bales, against 2,402,071 bales
last week and 1925, ,029 bales last year;
and of all other kinds, including Egypt,
India, Brazil, ETC., 1,084 900 bales against
1,064 900 bales last week and $4,000 bales
last year
OF the worlds vihible supply there is