The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-21
BUSINESS
LOOKING UP
Review Of Week Shows Trade iii
Mitch Better Condition Than
Any Time Recently.
THE WEATHER FAVORABLE
he WEATHER FAVORABLE
Outward Movement Of Gold Com
tinucs and Attributed to. Pay
nents OIL Japanese Loan.
Especial to The TImes-Dlspa tch.)


NEW YoRK. May 2o-spccial dis
patches to the international Mercantile
Agency describe general trade revival
this week at prominent Western ana
Southwestern centers Tho stimulus Is
noteworthy In contrast With conditions
existing during the previous month, ana
has It's basis In moro scnsonable weather
and increased orders for spring stock
Jobbins ccntors report a material addi-
ton to the volume Of restocking bust
ness with q tendency among many mer-
chants to duplicate orders previously
given for spring goods. Dry goods have
been specially active, with a healthy de-
nland for both spring and fall stock.
Clothing lines are also rejecting I'M
provement, which is specially evidenced
y throughout the Southwest Boots ana
sloes more active, with strong Inquiry Tor
the better qualities. Il
The crop situation has been greatly
benefited by the warmer weather. which
has advanced wheat In sections where
backward spring did great damage. Al
though wheat suffered serious injury by
the setback encountered during tho re-
cent cold snap a fair sized crop can be
counted on IL normal conditions prevail.
Most grains will be harvested two or
It dis quite possible that the next govern
mont report will describe generally bet
ter condition than was shown by the
last figures. Winter wheat is showing
1 Ing in the Red River Valley District has
been retarded by unfavorable weather.,
SO that the crop outlook In that section
Is probemntlcal. Elsewhere throughout
the Northwest encouraging conditions 'l1
$500 THE IRON MARKET,
Outlook in iron is still uncertain. There
is little demand for pig iron, consumers
being well supplied into June WI, Cuts
uncertainty to very dull market
caused by the strike. Is likely to keep
prices for ore at present le eye, B ~ dnSse
lines the tle-up on the Great Lakes Is Sc.
rously influencing general business ut.
points of origin for such traffic,
The situation At the south IS ne genera, 10y
Ing much encouraged by more copiouss
ranfals, although certain sections Of
that state report poor pasturage. que e, 20 70
drought Distribution q , merch han,dsd
Improvement in general groceries, and
territory tributary to Louisville prosper
Ing specially by reason Of the extraordi-
nary movement In leaf tobacco; althousm
at record figures, prices arc being well
maintained. and the outlook Is generally
encoura cling Hardware is active. show
ing Increase over previous weeks. with
prospects OF excellent business during
Collections in general are reported sat
isfactory except In a few special lines.
where the results arc not equal 20 lasI
year. Improvement Is. shown IN, n % I,
Canada has been somewhat, depressed ny
cool weather but wholesalers look for
active business as soon as warmer Weatll-
er prevails, owing to depleted stocks IN
PAYING FOR JAPANESE WAR LOAN.
E With the SC, 100000 exported last Thurs
day, Europe's demand upon New iorks
gold supply. aggregates a total drain !, o OF
began on April 18th last. Indications point
70 The continued use OF metal rcmlttances
for some time to come. although it Is
not believed that the total tai S Outflow VIII
amount to more than $75,OOOoO0.
The Immediate cause of these large eX-
ports has been the demand for remit
tances covering Initial payments on inc
SIS 10000 subscriptions to the Japanese
war loan and the balance due on the :, Pa l.
OF the s@5,0oo,0oo has already been re-
mitted Japan. and the balance Will pc
paid at convenient intervals between
Although tho New York market has
financed these extraordinary demands
without difficulty, mony Is tending nigh
err and bids fair to command better re-
turn before long. But nothing Ike strin-
gent rates need be expected before Sep
atember or October, when the periodical
demand is expected to involve heavy cur
tallment OF New York balances belonging
to out.of-town banks.
Merchants are borrowing very Sons ,a,-
vatively and the banks are stu having
difficulty In securing as much high class
paper as they are willing to take, Good
names command from 1-3 to 1874 per
Ia, or, Of
business being done for less than per
cent. Four and ll-2 per cent Is being
Similar ease prevails at most interior
centers, where banks are willing TO put
asking for. The general situation Is
sound, but owing to sluckened trade and
the general disposition of business men
everywhere to Ego slow funds are ping
IN abnormally at centers of trade and