The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-06
WHAT BRADSTREET SAYS
SPECULATION TENDS TO OBSCURE
THE MARKETS.

General Outlook as to Spring Trade
Encouraging Textiles still "A
source of DiscOura cement, But
Cotton Has "A Few Friends Left.
Iron and Steel Trade in Fine Con-
dition-Weather Conditions Unfav-
orabIc in the south.
New York, April 5-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
Speculative activity, seeking expression
in the markets for securities, cereals,
raw cotton and some hog products, has
rather tended to obscure interest in gen.
eral distributive trade, which has, how
ever, been temporarily disturbed in retail
lines at least by widespread unfavorable
weather conditions While the general
tendency of this speculation has been
bullish, a marked exception was that fur
nished by bearish movements in wheat
ana corn, which has lowered the level
of these products for the time being. The
general concensus is that retail Easter
trade has been to some extent curtailed
by rains in the cities and by bad roads
in the country districts, but as
above noted these are really
only temporary restrictions, and the
general outlook as to crops and as to
degree encouraging. The textile trades
continue a source of encouragement to
manufacturers, but the strength of raw
cotton, despite some recurring weakness,
shows that at present prices, which are
NC above last week, that staple has de-
veloped some friends, Liquidation of tired
holders in wheat and a drive against
the leading Chicago bull interests in corn
have brought about a lower range of
values, but it is worth noting that a
heavy export of business has been done
in wheat at the decline, and both of these
cereals close above the lowest. The sta
tistical situation of lard has been instru-
mental in bringing about a sharp rise,
sympa thized in by other hog products.
1t is hard to see how iron and steel
trade conditions could be improved from
the standpoint of the seller. Demand is
large, prices are strong, and in raw and
finished lines the outlook is regarded as
very satisfactory. Price advances have
been largely confined to finished products,
the features being an advance of 81 per
ton in plates at Chicago and of 81 in steel
hoop prices at Pittsburg Southern iron
! is strong, and the change in this branch
of trade is we'll illustrated by the fact that
some old export orders are being shipped
at a price 81 per ton lower than those
now ruling. Iron ore rates have not yet
been announced but contracts for Bes-
semer pig are being made freely for de-
livery two or three months ahead.
Western bar, billet and rod manufac-
turers are booked so far ahead that they
are practically out of the market anc
Eastern manufacturers are considering
advances. Western agricultural nipple
ment men complain of tardy deliveries
which is, however, largely true of the
trade as a whole, and some manufactur.
! ers are buying as far ahead as Deem
Der next
| Weather conditions, except in the
! Northwest have been rather unfavora BILE
| to planting and ground preparation. This
is particularly true in the South, where
| cotton planting is retarded. Heavy fertil
| izer shipments point to large increase
| in acreage in the South Atlantic states
| On the other hand. heavy SHOWS in Ne
! braska and no less heavy rains in the
| Central West have benefited winter whea
| prospects, which in Kansas, Nebraska
| and Missouri are reported excellent
| Ohio's wheat condition shows marked i'm
| provement over last year. In California
weather conditions have not been favora
! BILE, and deciduous fruits have been hun
! by frosts.
Business failures in the United States
for the week numbered 1888, against 49,
! lest week. and 1872 this week a year ago
| Business failures in the Dominion Of Can
ada number 20. against 2S last week anC
25 year ago.