In commo: with the rest of this part of for both India and China it may be said that if reasonable terms of delivery could be given by makers, contracts would probably be much more numerous. Of the smaller markets the Near East has to report a steady demand for all the descriptions of cotton goods usually sent thither. Purchases for South America have boon made in rather small lots; a fair business having transpired, without noteworthy features.
Prices of long-cloths and shirtings have remained firm owing to the strong position of manufacturers. Yarn also romains at the level of the last few woaks notwithstanding the drop in cotton. prosperous tr \joyed for #0 many months by spinners and manufacturers is inducing the building and equipment of not afew mills. The Home trade inquiry for cloth has increased considerably of Into, Dealers in drapery have suffered owing to the cold weather prevalent during the last few weeks, Dress goods selling pretty well, the holi having boon of assistance t, the move ment of those descriptions. The flannel trade is distinctly brisk. In Rochdale the bank-holiday was cheerfully foregone, in order to keep pax with the demand.
The demand for pig iron has been fairly satisfactory, without showing any increase during the past few weeks Iron ore has also commanded a fair sale. In this department orders for heavy rails have been plentiful, but the prices, which are kept up by combination, are a bar to business going through on x corresponding scale. No° revival can yot reported in the shipbuilding and marine ongitieering branches, but there is a better outlook. Other departments of engineering business report " fair trade. The trade in coal for steam is good. Railway requirements have been very heavy. Slack for engine use has been in full demand for all classes of manufactories, The coldness of the season has also induced large calls for household fuel during the month, The position of the produce trade shows some signs of improvement compared with that of two or three months ago. The fact is, however, that this class of imports is very slow in recovering the prosperity which was enjoyed prior to the West, and will build a trans-China electric railway system. The system is to Lo built in relays, and after the order of the suburban aystem prevailing with the third rail lines in New York xnd California, rican and propose with Chinese capital, to be o clusively by American and Chinese moters, in competition with the Bog] syadioaion operating through Chine now under the old English concessions.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.