The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-04-06
TRADE RETARDED.
Unfortunate Weather Has Been De
pressing Factor

Unfortunate Weather Has Been a De-
pressing Factor.
New York. April 3 -IIradstrcct's tcmor.
row will say:
Speculative activity, seeking EXPRESSION In
the markets for securities, cereals. raw
Gotten mud some hog products, has rather
tended TO obscure interest In the general
distributivo trade, which has, however. been
temporarily disturbed In rctal llncX Mt
least, by widespread unfnyoranlc weather
conditions While the general tendency or
this speculation has been bullIsh, n marked
exception was that furnished by bcarlsh
movements in wheat aud corn, which have
lowered the levcl of these products for the
time only.
The general consensus is that retail East.
ern trade has been to some extent cur.
tailed by rains In the cities and hy bad
roads IN the country districts, but as above
mentioned these are only temporary phases
anu the general outlook Allie MS TO crops
and as TO spring trade as WHOLE h In a
high degree encouraging.
The textile trades continued n source Of
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT to manufacturers, but tho
strength OF raw cotton, despite some rccur.
ring weakness, shows that NJ present prleos
which are &c nhove last week, that staple
has developed some friends
Liquidation of tired holders In wheat and
a drive against the leading Chicago hull
interests In corn have brought about n low
er range OF values, but IL Is worth noting
That heavy export business has becn
done In wheat at the decline, aud both OF
these cereals close above the lowest
The statistical situation of lard Inns bcen
Instrumental IN bringing about a sh4rp
rise, sympathl5cd In by other hog producers
II Is hard Go see how Iron and steel trade
conditions could be Improved from the
standpoint of the seller Demand Is large
prices are strong and In raw and finished
lines the outlook Is regarded rs very snt
isiactory. Price advances have been large.
" confined TO finished products. the fca
tnres being an advance of 81 per ton In
plates at Chicago and OF 81 In steel hood
prices at, Plttsburg. Southern iron IS
strong and the change In this branch OF
trade Is well illustrated by the Tact that
some old export orders are being shipped
AZ price 81 per ton lower than those now
ruling Iron ore rates have not vet been
announced but contracts for Bessemer plc
are being made freely for delivery two or
three months ahead. Western bar billet
and rod manufacturers are booked so fnr
ahead that they are practically ont Of the
market, ana Eastern manufacturers are con-
5iuerlng advances. Western agricultural i'm.
plement men complain OF tardy deliveries
which Is, however, largely true. for the
trade as whole. aud some manufacturers
are buying as far ahead as December next
Eastern shoe manufacturers are hnrryiug
shipments 10 complete spring orders ANA
inc uggregate for the week Is again in
excess OF last week and year. Leather Is
firm but quiet al Boston. Al Chicago large
users have supplied their wants and sales
are small. but tanners Ara holding prices
steady Heavy leather Is rather easier at
Ibilaaelphia, In sympathy with weakness
Weather conditions. except In the North.
west have been rather unfayoraile ID
planting and ground preparation This Is
particularly true In the South, where cot.