The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-02
BRADSTREETS ON THE WEEK.
Encouraging Reports From Retailers
in the south and West.

NEW YORK, Feb. Bradstreets" to-
morrow will say:
business, as a whole, has been of a
larger volume this week. Cold and
stormy weather has unquestionsbly stim-
uiated retail business in boots. shoes, rub
Der goods and clothing. and this has aided
IN Tightening the stocks carried by re-
taiiers as result OF mild winter weather
heretofore. More has been doing. too,
IN wholesale lines on spring account,
and business in this respect is classed as
fair- Reports are relatively better from
the West and South, from which sections
advices are that the total January BUSH
ness compares well with a year ago.
ie contrary is reported from leading
Eastern markets. however. and the ag-
gregdte done here has not, 80 far, equal
ed expectations. Trade collections. as a
whole. are fair, the only complaint COM
ing from sections where mild weather
mas interfered with the distribution of
heavy goods. Calfskins are in limited
supply.
Measured by the earnings of railroads.
the volume of the country's business is
certainly in excess of a year ago, while
bank clearings, though, of course. swelled
by heavy stock speculations, show i'm
mense gains. and. in fact, exceed all rec
ords for the first month of the year.
Among manufacturing industries rather
more irregularity Is to be noted. Foundry
iron is weaker, while some finished steel
products are higher. Woolens are slow
of sale, and the squeeze in raw cotton,
though temporary, has not helped con
verters, who have to pay more for their
material, but get no more for their fin
ished products.
Heavy cuts in rubber goods point to
coming sharp competition in this indus
try. Staple prices are little changed Cot
ton. pork and white pine lumber are all
higher but fractional declines are noted
In wheat, corn, flour. oats, lard and tin
Coffee, statistically considered. is weak,
out the late steady decline appears to
nave been checked for the moment
Foundry pig iron is lower at all lead
ing markets, but the late steady decline
appears to have been checked for the mo-
ment. Foundry pig iron is lower at all
leading markets but ON the other hand
Bessemer is rather frmer, while steel bill
let's actually sell for 25 cents more per
ton. and there is talk of an advance OF 81
per ton. In finished products wire and
wire nails are 50 up.
Favorable crop news and larger North
west receipts, but above all discouraged
bull speculation have weakened wheat
prices slightly. Corn is also slightly low
er on heavy increases in the visible sup
ply. partly mitigated. however, by i'm
proved foreign and domestic buying.
Special strength has been shown in
raw cotton, due however. to the specu-
lative squeeze at New Yosk by which the
price of spot cotton and the January fu-
ture was advanced cents a pound. This
high price has naturally attracted cotton
to New York. some shipments having been
made from Eastern mills, and the stock.
which was only 1000 bales at the middle
of December. is now fully 100000 bales
larger. Aside from this manifestation
cotton is rather lower on increased re-
ceipts and disposition to enlarge earlier
estimates.
Failures for the last week of January
number 23S as against PSI last week and
III in this week a year ago"