The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-28
WEEK SHOWS GAIN
 IN COTTON PRICES
Fluctuations Have Been Nar-
 row In Daily Trading
GOOD SUPPORT CONTINUES
In Spite of Large Crop Estimates and Selling By the Bears Prices Re main Steady and Without
 Evidence of Decline.

New York, November 27.-Net changes in prices of cotton have been small during the past week. Conflict ing influences have kept the 1uctua- tions within narrow limits. Wall street and outside markets at the south, in New England and at the west. particu- larly at Chicago have bought partly on a scale down. This with enormous spinners taklngs and exports, the lat ter in two days amounting to nearly 100000 bales, and a generally firm tone in the spot markets at the south have contributed to support prices. Also as a very important factor, general trade has increased, things are improving in the dry goods business all over the country print cloths have advanced at Fall River and Providence and finally the recent advance in the stock mar ket has not been without certain in- fluence. At the time some falling off in receipts, too, at interior towns has not been without it's effect. December here is at premium of "A points over January, even on notice day. Spinners takings have been on a scale far in excess of the corresponding period last year. The things which the market has had to contend against during the past week are briefly these:
 
 In spite of some falling off at the tn- terior towns; crop estimates, running in some cases as high as 14,000,000 bales; the fact that the average esti- mate by the members of the New York cotton exchange is 13,321,006 bales persistent selling by large spot houses who are understood to have sold De- cember and January freely, with the view as most people here think of pre- chi nf 1or m i- ties of cotton to New York.
 Futures here have recently, on the whole, advanced more rapidly than spot prices at the south. The weather at the south, moreover, has continued, in the main good, and right or wrong, the tendency of late has been to in- crease the crop estimates. However, there has been persistent buying for rise, led by Wall street houses on the idea that the cotton business Is bound to improve with the trade conditions all over the country.
 Today's cotton market was nervous and showed a comparatively narrow range, closing barely steady, net un changed to points lower. Sales were estimated at 100000 bales.
 The market opened steady at an ad- vance of II points on November points on December and 1 point on January, but unchanged to 3 points lower on later months. There seemed to be little buying of November by belated shorts and December was in- f1uenced by smaller notices than eX- pected, only about 2500 bales, accord ing to estimates. But January weak ened right after the call under liqui- dation by people who seemed to be buy ing the later months, December reacted from 9.27@920c, and the entire list sold about 3 to points net lower dur ing the first half hour. There was no actual pressure against December, however, and the steadiness of this position, which quickly rallied, follow ing early break, together with the good demand for the later months from Wall street and outside sources, imparted a generally steadier tone to the market during the middle of the day. and at one time during the day prices were net unchanged to points higher. The close was off from the top under scat tered realizing. The members of the Liverpool cotton exchange estimate the crop at 1S,349,0 900 bales on the aver age.
 Southern commissioners of agriculture estimate the crop at 12.551 900 bales. The New York cotton exchange an- nounces that it will increase it's esti- mate of southern mill takings, owing to the rapid revival of trade, to 100000 bales per week during the months of December and January. Cables were about as due. Southern spot markets were generally unchanged.
 Receipts at the ports today, 63,124 bales, against 73,s96 last week, and 49,295 last year. For the week, 425, 900, against 405,903 last week, and S35, ,S30 last year. Today's receipts at New Or leans. 5671, against 4074 last year, and at Houston, 22.437, against SS57 last year.