The times., 1901-03-23
BRADSTREETS ON THE WEEK.
Textiles Continue weak Spot In
the Trade situation.

I
NEW YORK March 22-Bradstreet's g
review of trade tomorrow will say:
Trade is still active. though. perhaps.
not SO buOyant as in weeks past. partly
owing to the natural subsistence of the
spring demand at wholesale and partly
to the interruption 10 demand and ship
ments by snow and rain storms in the
northern half of the country. From the
South the first distinctly unfavorable ad-
vices received for some time past come
as result OF the heavy and continued
decline in the price of cotton
Trade comparisons with earlier years
favor the present season, as may be gath
cred from the exceptionally good railway
earnings returns, and the enormous in
creases I'm ciearings, some of which are
no doubt explained by the preparations
for large financial operations and the
bullish speculation in stocks. which has
resulted in new price records for many
securities.
"It is. of course, too early to report
definitely on the crop outlook, but it
might be noted that the late heavy SHOWS.
while interruptive to traffic and TO farm
preparations, have helped the winter
wheat outlook materially, and will aid
the spring wheat producer also. South
western advices are especially cheerful,
and farmers in that section hope to re-
peat or even improve upon the good re-
suits of last year. The yields Of wheat
and barley in California will be very
heavy.
"A large acreage Is looked for In cot
ton, minimum estimates ranging above
10 per cent. although present prices and
the outlook are not nearly as attractive
as a year ago. Distribution and demand
are alike retarded at New Orleans by the
lowered prices Of cotton and the same
report comes from Memphis and Chat
tanooga.
Textiles are still the sore spot in the
trade situation Cotton is re lower on
the week, 2a4c below the top of the rise
last year. and 1ssc below year ago The
experts who predicted famine in sup
plies six months ago now witness a heavy
movement Of cotton from the South.
threatening to swamp low crop estimates
For the first time in months the South
ern trade advices are depressed
Cotton goods are depressed and price
cutting is the rule, but signs of improve
ment are TO be found in the agreement
Of Fall River mills to run half time for
the next two months, and thus keep 5O0.-
600 pieces of print cloths off of the mar
ems
Iron and steel are strong, and even
buoyant, but. as in times past, the West
ern trade displays the greatest activity
and the most strength while Eastern
markets have rather Jagged behind Chi
cago and Pittsburg display great anima-
ton, and Central Western mills are
crowded with orders. Furnaces are sold
ahead to July /, and prompt deliveries
command a premium
January net earnings were very good.
Gross receipts OF 127 roads aggregated
yS0, ,5S1 ,69l, while net returns aggregate |
$50, 1ol ,245, gain of 1917 per cent in gross |
and Of l6 per cent in net. This gain fol- !
lows an increase in January, 1900, of 2s !
per cent over 1899. The Southwestern /
lines show the heaviest increase in net. 80
per cent. followed by the trunk lines I
with A.5 per cent. the coal roads with Is /
per cent, and the Pacific roads with Ia
per cent. The smallest gains are those
reported by the Central Western roads
SO per cent. Gross earnings for the sec
ond week of March show gain of 8 per
cent over a year ago
Failures for the week number 231 as |
against 20' last week and 1872 in this week
wear ago.