The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-05
IRON AND STEEL STEADY
All Finished Products in the Metals
Eagerly Sought.
MARKET FOR TEXTILES FEATuRELess
The Retail Trade Is Brisk in Boois and Shoes.
Wool Has Declined. A Decline in
Whsat is Noted
(By the Associated Press

New York, ina. Ar. u. Dun and -om-
panys Weekly Review of Trade tomor-
row will say:
I'm spite of the Interruptions of the
holiday, and of the unusually naavy an
nual settlements in ali lines of brsi-
ness, the New Year opens with indica-
lions of further progress There IS 10 lack
of contracts offered i. steady prices in
the country's leading industry; and ia
some departments of cotton goods there
is better movement, though sreclla-
ton has depressed the price Of raw ma
terial. Otherwise, 4 decline III wheat is
the only noteworthy movement in stnEies.
1t is explained by a reduction in the -four
output at Minneapolis, some mills shutting
down, while the foreign demand at At
lantic seaboard cities is not brisk The
ordinary measures of business continue
to make gratifying exhibits No altera-
tiOn has yet occurred in quotations OF
iron and steel products and this industry
is on such firm foundation that most
+. large concerns have maintained wages at
the old scale. instead of making the re-
auctions anticipated. Iron ore prices are
also unchanged, and no action is now ex-
pectcd until March, although d lower rate
YVES looked for early in January. Coke
are fewer idle ovens, while the much
discussed fall in prices appears confined
to inferior quality at outside furnaces.
Pig iron sells freely for delivery up to
April, and there is no indication of weak
ness. All finished products are eagerly
sought, many large contracts having been
placed for structural material, and others
are under consideration. An American
company is the lowest bidder for the
large bridge at Sydney harbor Australia.
The purchase of seven hundred acres near
Fittsburg by leading steel company in
dcates great enlargement of its plant.
Aside from one reduction of wages at
blast furnaces in the Mahoning and
Shening Valleys the weeks news is most
encouraging in this the greatest of the
American Industries.
THE market for textiles las been feat
ureless, but holiday and stock trading
reduced business 10 limited dimensions.
Wool has again declined making the
average of 100 quotations 1928 cents,
according to Coates Brothers circular.
Sales at the three chief Eastern mar
kets amounted to only 1921 900 pounds
for the week and there is much uneasi-
ness over the statements of largest
stocks at the end of the year. while
recent failures have not tended to i'm
prove the tone. Cotton gods have not
the same difficulties to contend with, but
an abnormally high price for raw ma
terial acts as a check on this industry.
The retail trade is brisk in boots and
shoes, and many manufacturers are be-
hind with orders, yet uneven distrbu-
tun of businss has left some shops ready
to make concessions. Shipments from
Boston. for the week were SO, 443 cases,
against 1865 a year ago. Sole leather
is purchased freely, but less activity in
upper tends to weaken prices. Exports
of sole from this city were heavier in
December than in any previous month
last year, but the total for 1900 fell
30G936 sides below 1899. For the first
time in many weeks there was some re-
covery + - Chicago
TESTERS COTTON STATEMENT.
(By The Associated Prcss)
New Orleans. Jan. A-TSecretary Hes
ter's Weekly New Orleans Cotton Ex-
change statement issued today shows an
increase in the movement of cotton in
sight compared with the seven days end
ing this date last year of $4,000 bales.
decrease under the same days year be-
fore last of 1913, 900 bales
For the four days of January TIE totals
show decrease under last year OF 81. 900
bales, and for the 126 days of the season
that have elapsed the aggregate is ahead
of the 126 days of last year $50 900 bales
and behind the same days year before last
of 1,198, 900 bales.
The amount brought into sight during
the past week has been 27O,775 bales,
against 237, 4O1 bales for the seven days
ending this date last year, and 39S,S92
bales year before last.
The total movement for The 126 DAYS
of the season from September list to date
is 6.719,236 bales, against $3.50, SO2 bales
last year, and 7,197071 bales year before
last
The movement since September 1st
shows receipts at all United States ports
4,651 ,0SS bales. against 4,0S2,376 bales last
year, and 6,006053 bales year before last;
overland, across the Mississippi, Ohio and
Potomac Rivers to Northern mills and
Canada 749. $50 bales against 8349 bales
and 80S,455 bales; interior stocks in ex-
cess of those held at the close of the
commercial year ,494 bales, against
sos, 957 bales and SCI $50 bales; Southern
mill takings GOA, 604 bales, against 616,502
bales and $40, 9O3 bales year before last.
Foreign exports for the week have been
16S, $3.50 bales, against 1862 bales last
year making the total thus far for the
season 3,29S671 bales. against 1851, 569
last year.
The total takings of American mills,
North and South and Canada thus far
for the season, have been 1,7S6,713 bales,
against 2,132,281 bales last year These
include 1 ,167,374 bales by Northern spin
ners, against ,496, 435 bales.
L. -
nine leading Southern interior centres
have decreased during the week 37190