San Francisco Call, Volume 90, Number 169, 16 November 1901 — Bradstreet's on Trade. [ARTICLE]

Bradstreet's on Trade.

NEW YORK, Nov. 15.-Bradstreefs to-mor-rcw will say: Favorable features are still largely in the ascendant and the current of business Is running full the country, over. In some directions Indeed, notably in the matter of forwarding of general merchandise, grain, ore, coal, iron and lumber, complaints of insufficient transportation facilities have become more marked. Seasonable weather conditions East, North and West have expanded retail trade and enlarged reasserting orders from Jobbers. Weather conditions at the South /lave, however net been entirely favorable and complaints of slowness of collections, due to the backward cotton crop or the lower prices paid therefor have been more numerous. A favorable feature as regards this latter situation, however, is the turn for the better in prices. Following the active buying by manufacturers some weeks ago at the East wool has had Fustained activity at leading Eastern and Western markets, without, however any special gain in prices. An unfavorable feature noted at the West is the continuance of the drouth in parts of Kansas and Missouri, where livestock is being rushed to market because of insufficient water supplies. Demand for iron end steel is heavy and near ly all lines share In the strength. Pig iron is active at all markets at 25 cents per ten premium for immediate delivery. Stocks aro smaller than a month ago. Steel billets are also in demand and find ready sale at $28 per ton at Pittßburg-. The rail situation Is one of special strength, the leading Interest b»ing reported as having its output for the year 02 booked. New rail orders at Pittsburg tins week aggregate 100.0 CO tons, and mills in that district are sold up to next December. No advance in the price of rails Is looked for and railroads not already booked are not likely to receive their quotas much before the Ihi'o summer. The shortage of cars restricted furnace operations In the Central West and complaints of lack of motive power In addition are heard. Some Improvement Is looked for when the lake movement of coal and ore stops and cars employed therein can be released. In

woolen goods the scarcity of men's overcoatings has .been marked and demand in this line is active. More orders for spring delivery are being received by the mills. . AMde from the strength in raw cotton, the features have been the increased strength in such cereals as corn and oats, due to the springing up of a better demand, some slight firmness # in lard, a reasonable advance in butter and eggs and other dairy products, and the stimulation to prices caused by close control of spot supplies. Whept and also flour have weakened, due mainly to realizing upon the late advance, but renewed speculative interest is evident on every decline, and though prices are slightly lower on the week the tone of the market is much better than some weeks ago. Wheat, including flour, exports for the week aggregate 4.983,734 bushels as against 5.469.145 bushels last week and 4,062.020 bushels in this week last year. Wheat exports July 1 to date (twenty weeks) aggregate 117.182.652 bushels, as against 70,417,817 bushels last season. Continued activity is noted in shoe manufacturing and kindred trades. Eastern shipments are 19 per cent larger than the same week a year ago and 14 per cent larger for the season. Boston advices are that the strength of the demand for spring goods will prevent the usual between-seasons shut down. No sign of overstocking is yet visible in the leather and hide market. Failures in the. United States for the week agpregate 213. against 191 last week, 227 in this week a year ago 199 in 1899 and 223 in 1898. Canadian failures for the week number 30, as against 35 last week and 25 in this week a year ago.