Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-21
TER RETARDs BUsINI
WEATHER
spring Trade II. However, Far In
Advance of Last Year.

Advance of Last Year.
NEW YORK, Feb. 2O.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
Unfavorable weather has retarded spring
jobbing trade, which, despite drawbacks,
Is still far In advance of a year ago. Retail
business has been more noticeably affected
and buying has been lessened temporarily
This has also further accentuated the
transportation problem
tion is unquestionably the heavy SHOWS
which have covered the entire surplus pro-
duce winter wheat belt, putting the plant,
temporarily at least, beyond danger from
seasonable changes. Other developments
of the week have been mostly favorable.
The price situation, indeed, as whole Is
remarkable Country produce. particularly
butter and eggs, has displayed exceptional
strength, while the great majority OF
staples retain all their old steadiness eN-
cept where further advances are noted, as
in the case OF cotton goods, whlch are
strong at the highest prices In years. Col
lections are rather better as whole, rang
ing from fair to good the country over. In
dustry is active, limited only by uanspor-
Reports from the shoe leather trade are
rather irregular. Leather Is reported
quiet, except in the west, where consider
able sales at full prices are reported by
tanners.
The sugar market has been unsettled but
the net change on the week has been a
that jobbers are cutting the prices.
Coffee remains steady at close 10 the
7
Consumption stin leads production in the
crude forms of iron and steel. Finished
materials are in active demand, but gem
era. complaint Is that four TO six weeks ls
used up In making deliveries, instead OF tve
| to ten days, the period in normal times.
| Increased inquiry is reported by southern
! furnace interests and quickly available iron
| finds a ready market, but the scarcity OF
| this article limits business. Foreign re-
ports of iron and steel are rather hrmer.
! Finished products, plates, bars structural
material and pipe, note exceptional ac-
tivity. The vexing ianspC rtation problem
overhangs the entire trade, and no really
new developments, certainly none in the
direction of lower prices, are possible unit
| this situation is improved.
| Wheat, including -four, exports for the
week ending February 10 aggregate Lbs
| 752 bushels against 2,S56,439 last week, :,
| $50, ,435 in this week a year ago and 3,4243J.
| In 1901. Wheat exports since July aggre'
| gate 769 bushels, against lI5,93l5o'
| last season and 129, ,662, $50 in 1900.
| Corn exports aggregate 3,13l, ,451 bushels
| against 1,SS0,170 last week, 247,S3O a year age
and 3267, 66S in 1901 For the fiscal year ex
| ports are 2S,3I0,bi3 bushels, against l2,SUo
! 326 last season and 1854 ,S84 In 1901
Cotton reached and passed 10c this week
heavy speculative buying being reported
in New York, New orleans and Liverpool
| While this may have been largely manipu
latlve, additional strength was given by tht
| reduced movement of the crops, claimed tC
| be due to bad weather. Over ana beyonC
the active demand for finished products re
ported, 1t being a sellers market for nearly
all classes of cotton goods. The advance
! In cotton yarns Is reported to have dis
| couraged business, but manufacturers Of
fering to buy have done a fair business.
| Wool has been dull anC. firm on reports
! of active employment for mills and small
! available stocks of the raw material.