The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-20
COTTON PRICES
 LOWER FOR WEEK While Market Declines the Trade Offers Resistance SOME ADVANCE FOR DAY Scattered Buying on Demand From Shorts Causes an Advance and the
 Close Is Almost at the
 Highest Point.
SOME ADVANCE FOR DAY

New York March 19-Priees have given away, yet the market has at times con- tnued to oppose a stout resistance to the forces which seemed to be making for lower values. Wall street houses have bought on scale down. Manchester trade has improved. Continental mills are be- lieved to be in many cases but moder ately, if not poorly, supplied with raw material.
 New Orleans has latterly been buyer at New York, rather than a seller. It is also stated that mills both at home and abroad have latterly been larger buyers at the south Local traders who have sold for a decline have been quick to cover on slightest signs of rally.
 Stlll there are factors inimical to cotton for the time being which have had noticeable effect. For one thing, specu- lation is dull, the outside public holding aloof. The south at times had sold. So has Liverpool and spot markets have de- clined. Texas has had quite a little rain, and some advices predict large acreage for that state In general, the advices seem to indicate that there will be decreases in the acreage, taking the cotton belt as a whole. In the nature of things it is yet uncertain whether another big crop will be raised. This uncertainty, coupled with the big spinners' takings Is the real bulwarl of the market
 The opening today was steady at un- changed prices to an advance of points in response to higher cables. During the first minutes prices eased off to a net loss of a point or two, on the active months, under a renewal of liquidation similar to that of the previous day, but the decline was soon checked by covering and the market worked up to a net gain of some or points during the early afternoon on demand from shorts for over-the- census report and scattered buying for long account encouraged by the light es- innate for tomorrows receipts at New Orleans, reports that wet weather was causing delay In the eastern belt, and the light into-sight movement for the week. The close was to points off from the best, but offerings were not urgent in the late trading, and the absence of activity suggested that scattering accounts had been pretty well evened up in prepara- tion for the ginning figures, which are ex- pected with the opening of the market on Saturday. Local traders appear to be looking for report showing between 1S,- 25O00O and 13500,000 bales ginned for the season, including linters
 Southern spot markets officially reported were unchanged to 1sc higher as a rule, while private advices concerning the spot situation were somewhat conflicting. The weather map showed very little precipta- tion with the western belt forecast for cloudy weather in Texas and further rain expected in eastern sections.
 The close was at a net advance of to 5 points.
 Receipts at the ports, 15.95O bales, against 19,946 last week and 17912 last year.
 For the week, 100000 bales, against 121,- 129 last week. and 3,055 last year.
 Today's receipts at New Orleans 4945 bales, against 2560 last year, and at Houston 2S91 bales, against 1953 last year.
 New York, March 19.-The following statistics on the movement of cotton for the week ending Friday, March 19 were compiled by the New York cotton exchange.