The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-27
ALL REI:POR|T SGOOD;
TRADING POOR
The Stock Market Does Not Respond
TO Bradstreet's aid Dun.
YESTERDAYS BANK STATEMENT.
Was More Favorable in Some Respects Than
Was Expected, but the Reserves
Show Small De.
crease.
YESTERDAYS BANK STATEMENT

Reports sent out yesterday by Brad
streets and Dun show that TRACE condi-
tons throughout the whole country are
most satisfactory. The weather condi-
lions have been favorable to cror gather
ing and to retail trade, and activity is re-
ported from all quarters. Especially is
this true of the iron industry, and If re-
ports are to be reiiet: upon practically all
the iron and steel works in the country
have contracts ahead that will keep them
busy for the next twelve months and it
is even said that some of the largest es-
adjustments are thinking about abau-
doninS their foreign contracts. as they
will be kept busy enough supplying the
home demand.
RAILROAD EARNINGS.
1t was confidently predicted a while
back that the October earnings OF rail-
roads would show a falling off. but
the contrary, in nearly every instance. an
increase is shown over the corresponding
period last year, and this is notably true
of the southern roads. Substantial gains
for the third week in October have al
ready been reported by the Chesapeake
and Ohio and the Seaboard in this de-
rartment, and now come the Southern
Railway with increased earnings of s2O,-
7S5 for that week, the Central of Georgia
with an increase of s13,6G5, and the Nor
folk and Western with an increase Of
$53,2l1. This is simply marvellous, and
nothing could better reflect the general
prosperity of the South. Indeed. - is sad
that. The earnings of these roads are now
only limited by their car capacity. 1t is
said that the Southern Railway has about
2.700 more freight cars in service this
year than it had last year. yet there is
is with difficulty that enough cars can be
had in Richmond to do the local bust
ness.
But all these reports have little or no
influence in Wall Street, and the stock
market continues to be dull and is almost
entirely in the hands of the room traders.
The tone of the market yesterday was
firm. but there was little activity. y
local broker telegraphed his louise from
New York that he Gid not expect to see
anything like bull market until the
money situation cleared.
MONEY CONDITIONS
The bank statement yesterday was so
much better than expected although there
was an increase o. ,g,oJO, 500 in loans. and
although there was a gain in cash of
about $1.609GO0, the reserves show a de-
crease of s.3260O. The bank statement, in
detail, will pc found elsewhere in to-days
paper The banks are in a very much
stronger condition than they were a year
ago, but it is believed that much money
will yet be needed from the interior be-
fore the crop movement is 4 an END. and
there is now prospect of gold imports
in the near future. 1t is fortunate for
the country that there has been no heavy
speculation up to this time otherwise
there must have been Il money squeeze.
The bankers are not supposed to encour-
age speculation for that reason. and hence
the prediction that there will be no great
activity in the market until the demands
from the interior have been supplied and
money begins to return to New York. We
are still increasing our gold supply, which
after all lies at the foundation of the
nations wealth, and, so far conditions
in this country go. they are excellent
me only thing to be apprehenGed is the
depression abroad. which, if continued.
must eventually have more or less effect
on the trade of the United States.
/ he rrcduCc market.
One of the most noticeable features OF
the produce market at this time IS he
growing scarcity Of good apples among
!, the retail dealers. Spectators are by
ing up all Of the good ones as fast rs
they appear, and are putting them on
cold storage for future reference. Only
the softer grades, which are not likely
to Keep WELL are in any considerable cir
cuation. Commission merchants report
lnlC most OIL tlle dppiSS WHICH Solip> -
them in any great quantities go in this
way Only occasionally do they sell
berrel or two to the hucllsters. These are
selling at s. TO S..
Onions are selling at 50 to 50 per bar
rel.
Dried fruits are selling as follows:
Peaches, s to S1a cents per pound; cher
ries. 10 cents per pound; blackberries,
to AZ cents. raspberries, 1212 to 10 cents;
whotleberres. 10 to IL cents per pound;
apples, ~. to cents.
Chickens are worth Il to 12l. cents per
pound.
Eggs keep ranging around IS cents rcr
dozen for the good ones.
Butter is worth from 10 to Is cents per
pound.