Omaha daily bee., 1901-03-09
LITTLE CHANGE IN BUSINESS
Ground Recently Gained BY Merchants
Held Without Difficulty,
GREAT DOMESTIC DEMAND FOR IRON
Footwear steady mt Former Prices
Textile Fabrics Exhibit Animation
cotton Declines stiii Further
with option Market Active.

NEW YORK March S.--R. G. Dun 4 co.
Weekly Review OF Trade tomorrow VIII say
Little change was developed TINS week
in the condition of general business; ;
Ground recently gained seemed TO pc nero
without difficulty, with good distrlp,Mtluu
OF merchandise by jobbers In most ulreC-
tions aud with entire absence OF mere spec- PEE
uative activity. There has been tur
ther decline I'm cotton, which does not helP
the goods market, still the most backward
and disappointing of all the great lnuus- lus
tries. but In mechanical lines the progress
being made Is noteworthy. Building ma
teriais, including lumber, are In especially
urgent demand and dealers VINO snr,,ring can nv
advanced prices. In this, unlike most ntner
lines of business the east leads the coun-
try. and Just at this season IT Is OF par
ported good all through the west ana are
better than usual at the south. -
Conditions in iron and steel begin 10 as
sumo an appearance similar to that of 1899
Prices have moved upward rapidly since
the turn was made, and bids az cur cutre.,. ~.
rates for distant delivery are often re
fused Manufacturers are unanimous III re-
porting a great demand for domestic CON
sumption. while export clearances Tor IN, IN,
ished goods are still taken In competition
with the declining foreign markets: IL is
at such time. when the outlook is Drlgrt
est and quotations advancing SHARPLY; ~, t"as az
the fact that there is always danger OF
initiation when optimism goes beyond
bounds Granting that there Is not cloud
on the horizon, II Is well to remember that
exports of iron and steel have been, smaller
OF late, and yet the present production IL
far I'm excess of domestic consumption. oven
allowing n moderate increase over previous
years. Production of coke expands ana
shipments are only limited by car shortage;
Footwear is steady at former prices, ana
while sales have decreased somewhat rae
tories are assured of activity for a month
or more There Is good demand for low
priced heavy goods from southern jobbers,
but many western buyers have not placed
their usual contracts as yet; the local
iobbing trade has improved and city whole
salers have liberal orders from our re.
taiers. Large contracts have been placed
with western manufacturers, who report
conditions satisfactory. The slight de-
crease In shipments from Boston for the
week Is not surprising, but the loss of over
100000 cases for the year thus far indis
this industry In the west and south has has
reduced New England business. The
growth of domestic trade and expectation
has been so great. however. that. with the
exception of last year and 1898. tho current
years shipments to date exceed any other
on record by over 10000 cases.
Textile fabrics exhibit little animation.
although the markets are still far from a
satisfactory position. Knit goods receive
articles for summer outing are taken lree;y
merCeriZed goods of expensive qualities
enjoy a brisk demand and cheaper cottons
are exported In considerable quantities
Some lines of silks find buyers without
further cut. and labor troubles at the mills
are less disturbing. Two large failures In
concerns were forced to suspend. Sales OF
wool at the three chief eastern markets
decreased nearly 100000 lbs, compared
with the previous weeks business. hut this
Is a favorable symptom, as excessive opera
| tions of late were due to forced sales al
| lower prices.
Cotton declined still further. with option
business active. Idle mills, estimates OF
liberal receipts and indications that planl-
ors will cultivate an enormous acreage this
season resulted In the lowest price of tn.
| season. with the exception OF "a weak
! spot early last June the quotation has not
been as low for over "A year, but the pres.
! cnt price is over 67 per cent above the bot.
| tom record of 1893.
| Wheat il In abundant supply. with quota.
| iions well above last years, owing 10 re.
| ports that the Iiessan fly promises to bt
| unusually troublesome, while weather con,
| ditions arc also threa tening Atlantic cX
| ports of wheat. -four included, were 2,437 90
| bu. for the week, against ,s95 a year
| ago, while corn exports were 1851 t33 bu.
against c,1S32lS in 1900 Heavy supplies oi
coffee at last prevailed over manipulation
| and prices declined.
Failures for the week were POS in the
| United States, against 205 last year, anc
Is In Canada, against 80 last year.