New-York tribune., 1902-05-05

than appeared in March, although exports from
the port of New-York for the last two weeks
were not up to the movement earlier in the
month. Consumption of foreign goods has not
diminished and imports are fully maintained.
Offerings Of commercial bills in the exchange
market have been of moderate volume, although
sufficient to supply the demand. Domestic trade
keeps up its vigorous movement and conditions
in all staple lines are most satisfactory. Sea
so0abe weather has added needed stimulus n
the few branches Of business that have been
inclined TO lag. and jobbers are preparing to
place large contracts for fall. There is no sign
of weakness in the industrial structure, unless
it be an abundance OF strikes.
Remarkable conditions have prevailed in the
grain markets. prices receding little, despite
many encouraging weather reports Supplies Cf
the old crop are aIy low. and a consider
able time must elapse before the new yield will
be available hence there is extreme caution in
selling option contracts. With no aggressive
operation. on the short side of the account 1t is
a comparatively simple matter to sustain quota
tions 1t is worthy of note that recent high
prices have attracted more liberal receipts of
corn, but wheat is not marketed freely. on the
other hand, foreign buying of the finer grain Is
on a very heavy scale while practically no corn
Is being shipped. An average yield of both
cereals would bring a lower range of prices.
although the emptying of cribs has put the
farmers in position TO hold the next crop so
that there is no prospect of a return to extreme
ly low prices even If bumper yields should be
harvested.
Cotton reached 97sc. for middling uplands.
a striking advance during recent weeks, and
the outlook for the next crop is still uncertain.
Mills are consuming freely, both here ana
abroad and there is evidence Of accumulat-
ing stocks Domestic demand is we'll main
tained, particularly in view of the fact that
there has been no effort to advance prices in
proportion to the rising raw material. In the
wool market it is between seasons, most manu-
facturers having sufficient of the old clip to
carry them through until new wool arrives ON
the ranches there is a stubborn belief in hrm
prices despite the loss of consumption at mills
closed by the strike. Domestic quotations VIII
be influenced to large extent by the coming
sale at London. where brisk bidding and steady
prices are anticipated. Clothing manufacturers
have replaced most of their orders that were
interrupted by the labor difficulty and it is
proba BILE that there will be many cancellations.
Shoe shops have gained little on the whole,
although shipments from the East are still con-
siderably under last years. Instead of the con-
cessions hoped for in materials, leather ana
hides are still firm. Former conditions renal"
unchanged in the iron and steel industry. The
strike at blast furnaces has been postponed
until June l. and in the mean time a settlement
is expected Consumption is on an enormous
scale buyers who procrastnated being com
PEELED to pay high premiums. The current stu
alton is shown clearly by large sales of old rails
at a higher price than the regular quotation for
the new article. More imports Of partially man
ufactured steel have been arranged. this class
of business ha~ing extended TO structural ma
terlal Even the most pessimistic cannot discern
idleness at iron furnaces or steel mills for the
rest Of 1902