The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-16
BRADSTREETs ON THE WEEK.
Little Change Noted In the General
Trade situation.

NEW YORk, March 15.-Bradstreet's
tomorrow will say:
THE general situation is without I'M
portant change, the events of the week
appearing to accentuate heretofore pre-
vailing conditions. Distributive trade and
speculation in securities continue large in
volume. with prices rising in the more
favored industries or dropping in those
suffering from depression.
Iron and cotton goods industries are
pre-eminent and those two seem like cp-
posite poles, so marked is the difference
in trade feeling and conditions In most
other Industries the reports are quite
favorable, notable in this direction being
the lumber. leather, and hardware and
implements trades.
western and Southern distributive
trade reports are quite favorable and the
reports of active demands for dry goods
and clothing at the West contrast sharply
with the reports of dull business and the
receding prices of print cloths. bleached
cottons, and other fabrics at first hands.
Railway returns continue highly favor
able. confirming reports heretofore pub
lished of activity in general shipping, and
reports of a shortage of cars, strange
one at this time of year. come from Chi
cago and other large centres. Clearings
are of heavy volume and in this, as in
nearly all other measures of trade i'm
provement, present records surDass all
previously recorded for this season of the
year.
Conditions in the domestic iron and
steel demand recall the boom of 1899. and
it becomes more and more evident that
an enormous consumptive demand, dis
couraged by the high prices of year
ago, is now coming freely into the mar
ket. In no other way can the present
enormous output, within few thousand
tons of the maximum in pig iron, be ex-
planned. Prices rise as furnace stocks
fall, and there are some who fear an
other runaway market. Foreign reports
are as blue as domestic reports are bright,
but 1t is worth noting that an enormous
order for pipes is reported captured by
Americans, despite strenuous efforts by
foreigners.
Cotton goods are dull and droopy at
first hands, partly because of the steady
decline In raw cotton, 1-Sc on spot for
the week. and elise from the highest
still / lie on the low price of 1900 and &c
above the low price of 1893, previous to
that years rise. Print cloths are 1-Sc off
for the week and 5-Sc off from a year ago,
and talk of curtailment grows louder.
Low prices are. however, stimulating ex-
port enquiry, and some business is being
done for China.
Gross railway returns for the month
of February aggregated s52.sl ,365 on 10i
roads, a gain of &c per cent over year
ago, comparing with gain in January
of 81 per cent and a gain in February,
1900 over 1893 of 1875 per cent.
THE Southernwestern roads show the
largest gains, 2 per cent, followed by the
Southern roads, with an increase of los
per cent. The other roads report more
moderate gains. but all American groups
show increases
Bank clearings for the week aggregate
s.. 105. 217 139, a decrease of per cent from
last week, but a gain of 81 per cent over
this week a year ago. Outside of New
York the decrease is 10 per cent from last
week, but there is a gain of q per cent I
over a year ago.
Business failures for the week number /
217. as against 20S last week. 1870 in this |
week a year ago. 2o5 in 1899, 233 in 1898, |
and 81 in 1897"