The times., 1901-03-30
DUN'S REVIEW OF TRADE.
Cotton Goods StiII Weak Point In
General business

NEW YORK, March 29-Dun's weekly
review of trade tomorrow will say:
The condition Of general business "a
i'm most respects satisfactory. The dry
goods trade. and particularly the cotton
division, is gloomy, with further reduc-
tions in prices of staple goods, this week.
and demand failing to increase with the
shading of quotations: but from every
other department OF business reports are
cheerful, and the outlook for good spring
retail turnover is encouraging
''rfcro II little diHiCuItS- over collections
in any direction, and the mercantile de-
mand for money from numerous quarters
is proof of the confidence felt among
manufacturers and jobbers The labor
situation is more tranquil. Mining differ
ences in the soft coal region are settled
and sober counsels seem to have prevailed
among anthracite miners.
Railroad earnings in three weeks Of
March show an increase OF 10.2 per cent
over last year and 1913 per cent over 1899
Bank clearings for the week at New York
gained 40i per cent over 1900 and % per
cent over 1899. while at leading cities out
side New York the gain Is 20.9 per cent
over last year and 1877 per cent over 1899.
aside from the expected advance in
structural shapes there is comparative
steadiness in iron and steel The rise of
about 81 per ton in angles. beams, and
other similar forms viii not materially
affect the cost to large consumers. as con-
tracts for much OF the years tonnage had
been placed in anticipation Of the new
rate. After more or less ADVANCE every
week for two months 1t is gratifying TO
find that Bessemer pig remained seven
days without alteration. The tone is firm.
Prices of boots and shoes are well sus-
tained without any quotable changes Chi
CagO hides again average lower, the weak
ness being partly attributable to the ex-
tremely poor quality of offerings.
That bottom prices for wool has been
reached at last is evidenced by the grow
ing unwillingness of holders TO make con-
cessiops. the greater activity of dealers
ana indications that purchases Tor Specu-
lattOn are of considerable volume. Trans
actions show material gain at the lead
ing markets. while shipments from Bos-
ton exceed those of preceding weeks Eff
forts to secure even fractional advances
in quotations, however end negotiations
and steadness is the best that can be
said of this staple.
1T was not possible To maintain the
small recovery late last week in raw cot
ton, and subsequent reaction established
a new low record for the crop year. While
the decline has been severe. mills are not
ing for the month is far below last years
Efforts will be made to prevent the
enormous acreage meditated. but unparaI-
leled sales of fertilizers have already nc-
Cured Even granting o large yield how
ever. there is good reason 10 hope that the
weakness will soon be checked by the bet
ter demand which should result from the
attractive terms at which spinners can
now secure raw material
Wheat did not respond to rumOrs Of
damage, but found reason for strength in
Atlantic exports. including -four, in four
weeks, of II 432 9i7 bushels. against 6.OTs762
in 1890 Stock speculation this week was
very active, aud the market had healthy
Exchange was stronger and Il smaller
amount of gold was shipped TO Europe on
q special operation. Foreign commerce at
the port Of New York continues unsatis-
factory. In three weeks exports of mer-
chandse show a loss of 81. .537 COB. COM
pared with the same time last year, while
imports Increased S159, ,9l6.
Failures for the week numbered POS in /
the United States, against 203 last year, I
and % In Canada. against % last year