The Washington times., 1902-10-25
BRADSTREET'S REVIEW
OF THE CURRENT WEEK
Trade and Industrial Sit
uation Satisfactory.
STOCK OPERATIONS DULL
Due to Approaching Election; Fear of
Heavy Gold Exports and Posi-
bility of Strikes.

NEW YORK, Oct. 24.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
Favorable features still dominate the
trade and industrial situation. Some re-
duction in the demand for fall and win
ter goods at wholesale is noted, but it
is shown at the same time that the COM
pleted business in dry goods, clothing,
d. shoes, hats. millinery, and a host of
other lines is in excess of 1901 and pre-
ceding years.
Business on next springs account
tends rather to expand, and similar
tendency is noted in retail business, par
ticularly at the East, where the fear
of coal famine has been removed by
the actual resumption of work. 1t is
true that in the Northwest retail trade
is not meeting anticipaticns, possibly
because of warmer weather, but partial
ly because the farming element is still
busily engaged in crop work.
Not Unfavorable to Business.
The money situation shows little that
is unfavorable to general business, le-
gitinate trade demands being taken care
of to the neglect of the speculative ele-
ment.
The New York stock market is dull.
and speculative activity has greatly de-
creased in spite of the easing of money
due TO the Government bond purchases,
while the ending of the coal strike has
also failed to stimulate the market.
THE rise in exchange rates and fears
that repayments of loans made abroad
to stock market interests will cause gold
shipments, seem to be the principal rea-
sons for the markets hesitation. al
though the approaching Congress cleo
tion is looked on as a factor, and there
is also some talk about possible demands
by railway labor for higher wages.
No Striking Features.
There are no features of striking
interest in the New York market, and
large operators seem to be doing little
The banking interests, in fact, appear to
discourage any stock market activity.
Government bonds are very strong,
as are also high grade securities and
State municipal bonds. Speculative is
sues are, however, somewhat heavy.
Foreign exchange has been strong.
demand sterling rising to 4.s7A on a
large inquiry to repay loans abroad.
There is very general talk of gold ex-
ports in the near future. The exchange
market. however. at the end of the week
seemed somewhat easier. Bar silver
has been weak. declining again to
% 5-16d in London and 5o1s here, the
lowest quotations on record.
Raw Cotton Weak
Raw cotton shows the least strength of
the textiles. Good picking weather fav-
ors large outturn and has affected spec
ulative opinion. which has also had to |
consider more bearish estimates of ulti- |
mate yields. Prices have been weak, |
but not much changed on the week, the |
strength of the statistical position offer
ing check to any pronounced downward |
tendency as yet.
Cotton goods display considerable
strength, the print cloth market being
strong and prints and ginghams jobbing
well.
Fuel supplies do not increase as
rapidly as sangune estimates earlier in /
dicated. This is natural, however, be-
cause the men did not generally resume
work until the close of this week. Next
week is expected to find fuel in larger
supply, and the control SO long exer-
cised by the retail dealers will approach
its end.
The Coal Situation.
Increased cost of operation Is the ;
reason assigned for the advance in the
mine price of anthracite OF so cents per
ton, which, ii is announced, will con-
tinue until January /, but the advance
in bituminous prices al the mines can {
hardly be assigned to the same cause c
Advances in wholesale scale rates.
Of course, exercise little or no effect !
upon the prices asked of consumers as
yet. That domestic fuel will rule higher /
han a year ago seems absolutely GER =
ain, and 81 per ton will probably he the d
minimum advance shown when normal Z
conditions are resumed
Business failures for the week num-
Der 1874 as against 203 last week, and 223 IL
n this week last year"
AnMipkl nEMEV,c nnH