Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-05-09
The business situation

Bradstrest's says: 1.-THE textiles
are relatively the worst situated of all
the industries. The slowness Of de-
mand for cotton goods on domestic
account has been the cause OF re.
duotion Of print cloths of 3-16 cent.
which, following the decline OF II cent
last week makes net decline OF 5.16
cent in ten days. Curtailment of pro
duction by the mills limits stocks,
but does not help demand. Export
business, however, is better, and there
is a scarcity of brown oottons reported.
Wool Is quiet, mills buying only 10 Hi
immediate wants.. Eastern boot and
shoe factories are busy on summer
goods, and there is more doing for fall
account. Shipments are larger than
last week, and the excess in favor OF
last year is being cut down.
'The cop situation at present is
quite encouraging. Iron trade pro-
duction naturally appears to be CATCH
ing up with demand in the cruder
forms first. Bessemer pig iron is So
cents lower this week, and sales have
been made Of Southern pig 10 cents
below the asking price of eome weeks
ago, although Birmingham exports
schedules adhered to. The other metals
are quite steady, except us to tin,
which 10 slightly lower on the week.
Wheat, including flour, shipments for
the week aggregate 5.100, 763 bushels,
against 4, 262, 12B last week. From July
lst to date this season wheat reports
are 176, GIG, 23S bushels against l66, 035,-
COZ last season. Corn exports for the
week aggregate 2.37l, 1892 bushels,
against ], ;}44 .656 last week. From July
lst to date this season corn exports are
15TNl5, 436 bushels, against 1.3, 203, 0I5
last sehsoh. Failures for the week
number 1863, as compared with ga last
week, 1853 in this week year ago, 1874
in 1893 and 240 in 1898. Canadian
failures in April numbered 103, the
same number as year ago, but
liabilities aggregated only $3.50, 1856, q
decrease of 30 per cent from 1900. -
r. @. Dun & Co. q Review says:
Stability OF prices and vigorous
prosecution of work at mills indicates
the wholesome condition OF the iron
and steel market. Throughout the
dus;ry the current demand for i'm
mediate delivery exceeds all previous
records, yet makers maintain con
servatiye position. Dulness is still
reported 10 the textiles, and there 10
no Improvement In woolens, and Coates
Brothers average Of 100 quotations of
wool on May LIST was 1910 cents,
against H. 90 on April LIST. aud %. IS a
year ago. Small concessions are re-
ported in few grades of SHOES, and in
other cases manufacturers are making
slightly better goods at old figures.
Western jobbers are ordering more
freely, and shipments from Eastern
shops are larger than in the previous
week for year ago. Leather is quiet,
aside from activity in betting butts.
Further advances were secure in
the cereal market, Chicago sreculators
being forced to cover May cvrn con-
tracts at 55 cents. Attractive prices
brought more liberal receipts at in
terror cities. Wheat also attained a
high point, advancing in sympathy
with corn. There is reason to expect
heavy spring wheat crop this year. The
healthy oonditisn of husi-
ness IS best appreciated when it Is dis
that the defaults last month
we're the smallest ia 81 months, with
the exception Of May to August, 1899,
inclusive. In manufacturing lines there
we're but 1853 failures, with total in
debtedness of 81, 997, 694, against 17S
last year for e4,5l4, 003 Trading
were sos, for 50, 1853, 1928, and
banking defaults were 1929, 900. The
death rate was only three .fiftieths of l
per cent Of all firms in business and
loss averaged "a. 70-not a serious en-
10 general trade. The
proportion of unpaid bills was less
han As cents for each 81, 900 of solvent
payments through clearinghouse. y