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Leader (1850-1860), 28th August 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 882, 882 THE LEADER. _[Ko. 440, Atoust 28, 18...

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      882 The Leader. _[Ko. 440, Atoust 28, 18...

      882 THE LEADER . _[ Ko . 440 , Atoust 28 , 1858 .

      General Trade Report.

      GENERAL TRADE REPORT .

      London, Friday Evening. The Accounts Fro...

      London , Friday Evening . The accounts from all parts © f the country during the week , bear uniform testimony to the general improvement of trade , both domestic and foreign , and to the torn -which prices have taken in favour of producers and manufacturers . This is especially the case in the great staples whose principal seats are in Lancashire and Yorkshire . To some extent the advance is , unquestionably , attributable , to higher terms being required for cotton and-wool ; but , mainly , it is due to dealers and merchants being out of stock—a circumstance that

      places them in a great measure at the mercy of producers who , being full , or comparatively full , of orders for lengthened periods , can exact pretty much their own terms . The intelligence of the settlement of the dispute with China has had considerable effect in producing this State of things , especially as the opening of new markets upon a large scale is extremely probable . It is also in some degree owing to an active demand for our manufactures from Bombay and Kurrachee , which will probably fee followed by one equally extensive from Calcutta and Madras- At Liverpool cotton is still going up , as might be expected in the face of an increasing consumption ; but the character of the

      advices from the United States leads spinners and dealers to confine their purchases as nearly as possible to existing wants , and to look with eagerness for the public opening of the Atlantic Telegraph in order that prices may be retained at something like their natural range , and be regulated more by the ordinary laws of demand and supply than by speculative operations of jobbing capitalists . As to wool , the London , sales terminated on Tuesday with an average advance of 2 d . perlb . The whole quantity offered amounted to nearly 80 , 000 bales . Of this large supply only 20 , 000 bales were taken for the Continent , being a less proportion than visual , leaving nearly 60 / 000 which , have gone into home consumption .

      The whole that was offered having been taken at advanced rates , and there being no speculation such as existed last year , are facts that prove the Woollen manufacture to be in a sound healthy state ; and that , though manufacturers may complain of the smallness of their profits , there is good reason to expect a considerable period of prosperity . As to flax and linen manufactures , the scarcity of the raw material has led to a considerable advance , which of course tells upon goods ; but hitherto it has not been sufficient to arrest the demand , nor are makers able to accumulate stocks . If , however , the rising terms required for the raw material should check the consumption , which at present appears

      improbable , the cotton and woollen trades will feel the benefit of it , especially towards the close of the year . The iron and hardware manufactures continue to improve slowly . The improvement , however , does not as yet appear to be equally diffused . Some houses are described as being busy , while others are idle . This is always the first stage in the process of reaction . Some districts are earlier prepared with their orders than others ; and as every house has its special connexions , the fact of some not being so busy as others only proves , not the inactivity of trade , but its progressive revival . The traffic receipts of the leading railways continue to bear evidence of the greater circulation of goods in all parts of the country , for they are again larger than they were in the previous week ; and a further confirmationwith

      , regard to exports , appears from the Board of Trade returns for the month of July issued yesterday . For instance , in June the declared value of the exports amounted to 10 , 241 , 483 ? ., but in July it reached 10 , 998 , 997 * ., showing an increase of 752 , 5 < 54 ? . A glance over the items will show that this increase haa arisen not eo much from larger exports of any particular articles , as from a general improvement in that respect jjj ¦ proportion to the magnitude of the trade in each . The money market during the week has been very easy . The range for discounts of the highest claaa paper has been from U to 2 } , while the supplies are exceedingly ¦ mple . Bill * from the manufacturing districts have Deen mope general , and they are sought for by the dis-! £ T £ ! l *^!? Wlfle J . aM > y •»¦ regarded as founded upon **"? . *™ **•> *«* wwpoouUUve transactions . tor has to

      * nI ^ f ?! l"St ** a S ^ extent been influenced , both on T «« # a * y «« d agaia ye 8 terda b the intelligence of peace hMtag . l » £ . w & with China on terms favourable to the trade of this country The extension of the vast markets of that country is a most important event for cotton manufacturers and splnnm and it has imparted great cheerfulness to the operations of the week . But independently of this event , everybody perceives that the whole of the manufacturing dUtricts of Lancashire and of Yorkshire also , are making -nny In the right direction ; for , gradually but surely , Indications of a reviving home trade and of a more general foreign demand are shoeing themselves , and strengthening the hands of producers . In the early part of lost week there was some degree of hesitation on the part of buyers to pay the advanced prices required by spinners and manufacturera ; butUwt Friday , agala on Tuesday ,

      and again to-day , there has been an obvious and even a marked willingness to accede to the terms required . Home consumers have found that they could make no impression by bidding less ; and continental bikers , having discovered the strong position held by sellers , have been endeavouring to place their orders . Sellers , however , have been less and less disposed to contract on previous terms . The result has been an advance all round . In yarns for export spinners are now requiring id . to £ d . per lb . more ; and they have been generally

      successful in obtaining it . The Germans have been the principal buyers ; but a good deal has also been done for India and China . The mnkcrs of goods for China have , as might be expected under all the circumstances , been stimulated to demand higher prices . They have raised plain shirtings from 3 d . to 4 id . per piece . But even thi 3 advance has not satisfied many manufacturers . Their extreme requirements have , consequently , restricted operations . In all other goods the tendency of prices , under a steady and growing demand , is in favour of sellers , and against the buyer .

      The Leeds woollen trade shows no new features this week . It continues steady , and a fuir amount of business has been done in most of the warehouses , particularly for the home trade . The attendance of buyers in the cloth halls has been moderately good . The inquiry has principally run upon heavy goods , suitable for the approaching autumn and winter ; and for novelties that appear to possess recommendations either from their pattern or their texture . The clothiers throughout the district are fully occupied ; and the dressing , dyeing , and finishing branches are actively employed . The anticipated visit of her Majesty has also imparted some activity to the building trade and the branches connected with it .

      At HuddersSeld there has been an average attendance of buyers , and considerable activity has prevailed in some branches , particularly in mixture unions and Bedford and woollen cords . Large quantities of these goods were sold at both markets this week at fair prices ; and the manufacturers have still orders on hand ; The practice of ordering goods to pattern direct from ¦ the manufacturer a season in advance is now very extensively adopted in the Huddersfield , as well as other markets . Hence , large quantities of goods made in the district are delivered direct from the mills , and do not appear at all under the head of market sales . For the

      country trade the demand for nearly all kinds of goods is ^ limited ; and the houses exclusively engaged in this branch are not doing so much as they usually do at this , season of the year . The low goods trade has improved considerably during the last few weeks ; and unions in smart light mixtures and cheviots sell well at from lOd . to 2 s . Gd . per yard . A demand for ladies ' cloakings has again set in , and further extensive orders are anticipated . The black and plain mixture doeskin and superfine trades are somewhat quieter . The latter indeed are dull for the season . Trade in some of the warehouses has been quiet , and the parcels sold have been small ; but prices have been maintained .

      At Halifax improvement continues to be manifested in all descriptions of local business ; and the prospects are universally admitted to be far better than they have been at any time since the late commercial collapse . In wool we have to repeat our late reports of increased demand and higher prices , particularly in the fine bright sorts . Yarns have advanced , and tho spinners liave remunerative orders in hand . A heavier class of goods , suitable for the more advanced season of the year , are now in demand , and are being extensively made . The carpet trade generally is brisk , the orders being good both from home and abroad .

      The -worsted trade at Bradford has been rather quiet ; but there is still a fair amount of business doing .. As to wools , bright-haired sorts have been in good demand at improving prices . Other qualities besides these lustres , especially Southdowns , have been inquired for ; but with fewer indications of any improvement in rates . Noils and short wools have throughout commanded a ready sale at buoyant prices . An increasing demand for yarns has been maintained firmly ; both home and expurt houses have been giving out orders freely , at tho priceH

      asked by the spinners . The increased business , therefore , is uniform , and comparatively little machinery is standing . Cotton warps of ull qualities remain firm in both demand and price . At both markets this week there has been a fair attendance of buyers of goods , both for domestic use and for foreign export ; and stocks being low , there has been nearly a general clearing out , while orders have been rather plentifully received , generally at better prices . Few looms , consequently , are idle , ami the population is well employed .

      At ltochdale the buyers of flannels have been pretty numerous ; and there in an obvious disposition on the part of merchants to operate somewhat freely . Moat of the manufacturers , consequently , aie woll employed on ordws— -certainly us fully as they can well venture to « o with the present upward tendency of wool . Tliero is therefore a constant struggle between buyer and uellor whether prices shall bo advanced in some degree commensurate with the incieased value put upon t » ie raw material ; and in most cases buyers uro compelled to yield to the manufacturer . There is no wont of employment among the operative classes . Indeed , some manuaoturors have positively refused largo orders for delivery

      at long dates , partly because thev are alreadv ™ ^ partly becausc ihey ^^ f ^ J ^ ggg Tho China news hns had , no effect upon tho silktm l at present , either in Manchester , Coventry MtZ « i , ° Spitalfield * , or elsewhere . It has been * t £ dy ^ 91 ?' has the value of the raw material . There is ' a ? demand for all the goods that arc made The , f °° 1 manufacture at Paisley is very active . ' e v Nottingham and Leicester hosiery , lnce nill j -, trades have been more active than they were Cf £ ??* some good orders having been received from aUL ' andthe . U « itea States . The Home trade u l ^ S ^ and the prospects both for autumn and wint * . % 1 generally considered to be very cheering . Mailuf » o turers are keeping down stocks ; they are product ™ for immediate requirements ; and they are certainly doTtac I safe business . J ^' b a

      Irade at Birmingham is described as slowlv imnrov ing . A good many manufacturers have been fullv em " ployed ; but others have been slack . Orders are comint m more freely from the agricultural districts , and alsa from Lancashire and Yorkshire . The Forei" . i trade is gradually improving . The iron trade is also better but it is unequal , for while some establishments are not work ing more than half-time , others have six weeks' orders on hand . For charcoal iron of the best quality there is a good demand , and more inquiry is obvious for sheets and plates . The accounts from Sheffield are pretty much to tlie same effect ; but on the whole they are more cheerful than from Birmingham . The Scotch and Welsh iron trades are gradually mending . ¦

      The Pottery trades of Staffordshire , which felt severely the late collapse , are also improving ...-Though much less active than they u-ere this time last year , the make of goods , both for home and abroad , is about equal to that of the corresponding period in 1850 . The . linen trade of Belfast and the neighbourhood continues to feel the effects of increased activity in the home demand for goods , -while for most , descriptions the foreign markets , particularly those of New York , Havannah , and Mexico , are rapidly reviving . With regard

      to hand-loom linens , the reports are uniformly good ^ The stock of drills is decreasing , and prices are-a poiut or two higher . In diapers but little has liecn doing , . bat prices are firm . The demand for printing lawns is still improving , but stocks are being reduced and prices are firmer . Cambric and linen handkerchiefs sell rapidly . Light linens for printing have been sold to a considerable extent at the late advance , and stocks are far from accumulating . For goods for dyeing and for hollands the demand continues active at firm rates , and the stocks are moderate . For heavv linens then ; has been a brisk

      demand at the advance asked by the manufacturers of £ d . to Id . per yard . This advance , however , has rather checked sales ; but stocks are limited and the makers firm . Power-loom linens have been sold largely during the week at the late advance , and drills have been in considerable reqxiest . With regard to white linens , the home trade , which was rather dull last week , is healthy , and steadily improving . The export demand is good , and prices very firm . In many cases they are higher . From the country places round about the accounts of the improvement of trade are equally cheering . In Arfnagli , on the lost market-day , tho market was cleared of

      rough brown linens and of goods for dyeing purposes , nt full prices ; but there was rather less doing in oilier articled . In Lurgan the supply of goods -was small . Bird-eye diapers were in good demand , but lawns and damasks dull . In Mogherafelt ami Monc 3 ' iiore stocks are small and prices higher ; and in 13 nllymen ; i , on Saturday , coarse goods sold freely at an advance of Ail . to = Jd . per yard , and fine goods at an advance of from Id . to l ^ d . per yard . The advance in prices lierc noted lms imparted firmness to tlic yarn-market , and there is a good native demand . The supplies of new flax aro coming in , and they are selling freely at advanced prices .

      From Dundee tho letters describe considerable movement iu the flax and linen trades , consequent upon ft marked advance in tho raw material . For some qualities of flax an advance of fully 8 / . per ton ha . s been established . Tho demand is still unsatisfied . The letter descriptions of flux are still being run upon ; but nu'itiiuit and lover sorts have participated in tho improvement . Fine tows have also been in demand at better prices ; mediums and tho lower kinds of Codillus in demand . Jute in steady request . Owing to this general tendency yarns aro advancing , especially the flux lands , 'low yarns aro also hold with great firmness ; anil spinners uro requiring some advance .

      Wool Market Circular. Tim Colonial Wool ...

      WOOL MARKET CIRCULAR . Tim colonial wool miles closed on Tuonduy evening . The attendance of buyers , botli English and foreign , lms been good from tho commencement to tho close . Prices have advanced during the sules Id . to 2 d . per lb . About 16 por cent , of tho wool sold has been tulccn ' <>« foreign account , tho French and Belgians taking the groat hulk . Very littlo was bought for Germany . Nearly 80 , 000 bulos have been sold . Tlio market w described as In a very healthy state , and prices are very firm .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 28, 1858, page 882, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/ldr_28081858/page/26/