The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-12
BRADsTREEr,s REVIEW.
Outlook Is Bright, with Collections
Reported Improving.


NEW YORK. Jan u.-Bradstreet to-
morrow will say: Business is Still in Il
between season character in most lines,
but Il lvcning up of interests in several
trades has been noted this week. Rela-
lively best reports come from the iron
and steel, lumber, leather and drug
trades, hat there. has been some enlarge
ment Of wholesale distributive trade on
spring account in the South and Cent; al
West. Spring trade in dry goods is Open.
ing up, end it is noted that a heavy
spring movement On orders Is now pro-
ceeding in the West. Some gain in wool
sales is noted at Eastern markets, but
weather conditions have not been favor
able at the East to business as a While
except as stimulating the retail. trade in
shoes and rubber goods. A special fea-
ture is the generally good tenor CT re-
ports as to collections from all Western
and Southern points,, from which, it IS
inferred, that trade returns to retailers
must have been quite good. Summed up
briefly, the situation is one of wide
spread confidence in the general bust
ness outlook
Cereals have given a further exhibition
of life this week, partly on light North
west receipts and advices that -Argen-
tine shipments will not exceed 100000
bushels, or about half those of a year
ago, but also largely on the unques-
money seeking an outlet in the grain
market. Fluctuations have hsen wider,
and it has been essentially a traders
market, with net changes for the week
small. Corn is slightly higher, in SYM
pathy with wheat, and small receipts Of
contract.
Inquiry, rather than active demand. is
a leading feature in iron and steel, but
quite an increase of activity is noted in
Bessemer pig iron and billets at Pitts
burg and in plates at Chicago No
change in billets or plates has been
agreed as yet. Iron production is. IN
creasing, but has not yet overtaken
consumption, and stocks are reported
smaller than a month ago. There a:e
only two idle furnaces in the Chicago
district.
Cotton has weakened on discouraged
hull liquidation, due to larger receipts,
while cotton goods have been quite on
the advices OF. a backward spring traie
at the East Wool has been in rather
better demand than of late, due to bet
ter buying by manufacturers. a fair
business has been booked in overcoatings
on next fall account at lower prices, but
the regular heavyweight season has, not
yet opened. Plain dress goods are being
ordered quite freely, but fanc;es are
neglected. Jobbing business in shoes is
Guieter, but is quite good at retail.
Travellers are now going cut with fall
styles of shoes, which will sell slightly
lower than last year.
Wheat, including flour shipments for
the week, aggregate 1851, OS5 hrIshels,
against 3,914311 last week, 4,24S,926 in the
corresponding week of 1860, 5,647,C?l in
1889, 5,299,517 in 1898, and 3,94S, 1874 bushels
in 1897. From July 1 to date, this sea-
son, wheat exports are lO4,026,S 51 bushels,
against 10, 752,S0 last season, and 1874.
o36,04S in 1889. Corn exports for the
week aggregate 4,S97,345 bushels, against
4,47O,5e1 last week, 3,6l4,57 in this week a
year ago, ,O72 in 1899, 4,641, 75e in 1895,
and 3,157,2S1 in 1881. from July l to date,
this season, corn exports are 103, COS 035,
against 11S,920, ISL last season, and S9.O9l,-
1893 bushels in 1859