The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-18
SITUATION DISTINCTLY BETTER.
Lower Prices Add Materially TO the
General Demand.

NEW YORK. Jan. 1L-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
The usual "thaw" in prices arrived this
week. and securities. food products. par
ticularly the cereals. pork and dairy prod
ucts, coffee and sugar among the groceries.
and copper among the metals have all
weakened and closed lower on the week
The causes for this. movement have been
in many cases technical, and the general
trade situation has not, on the whole. been
weakened. II anything. in fact, improve
ment may be expected 10 follow, a striking
example Of this being In the cereals. High
prices had killed of export trade, but this
seems to have revived this week on the
decline. In distributiVe trade the situation
certainly has improved. A larger spring
business has been done in cotton and wool
en- goods. Advices from the West are or
an enlarged spring Jobbing business, and
collections remain satisfactory Northwest
ern advices are particularly good, agrfcul-
tural implements and dry goods being or
dered and shipped in laTge June Trade
but the lack OF needed moisture for the
winter wheat crop is a disturbing element
be noted also that rain is needed In the
wheat-growing sections of California
Among the industries iron and steel Is
still easily first in the volume Of new busi-
shortage is shown TO have materially re-
duced the December output OF pig iron.
Sales of the latter this week have been
Very nGakAs l4llg AVlsN|V ANAAr h4hAD5 gttAA
taken, most Of IL at Pittsburg. n the
bulk Of il for delivery I'm the latter part
of the year. Prompt deliveries a
premium, and the same is true Of steel
billets. Conservatism in the matter OF adj
vancing pig iron prices is still noted,
Southern producers announce that they
will discourage any advance beyond SZ
for No. 2 at Birmingham. Conservative
plans may. however. be disarranged IL the
scarcity becomes more acute. Predictions
Of advances In foundry and charcoal grades
are confirmed by price changes this week
Finished products tend higher. Copper has
been cut TO the bone this week and lie Is
the nominal price. but claims are made OF
sales as low as l0Ikc without any particular
Improvement in demand reported. although
exports are large.
The boot and shoe industry looks forward
confidently 10 an active spring business.
Although the question is not settled. IL
is generally expected that prices VIII go
higher.
The cereals have been active and ex-
cited. Liquidation by disappointed longs
was a feature early, and prices crumbled,
aided by the suspension OF a prominent
Western operator and bear rumors Of fur
Their troubles. Wheat, including flour, eK-
ports for the week aggregate 2,490,22 bu.
against 1867. no last week and 3.336.054 in
this week last year. Wheat exports from
July 10 date. aggregate 15S,004.473 bu.
against loo, 49,. 694 last season. Corn eX-
ports aggregate 29S.O bu. against 136.S73
last week and 5.1S4.550 last year. From
July l 10 date corn exports are PIP az bu.
against 107, 40. 760 last season.
Business failures in the United States
for the week number 2gl, against 35 last
week, 80 I'm this week LAST year and IS In
1900.