Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-19
correspondence Of the Commercial List.

.r LIVERPOOL, JANUARY 10, 1913.
The year AS47 has been remarkable period in the annals
of commerce, nd has left impressions behind il which will
easily be erasel 1t commenced with fair promise of
cess to the meronte community and Of comfortable employ
ment for the opehve classes but has disappointed the
pectaons Of both and been attended with intensity and
proongaon OF sung such has before been expe-
renced The causes appear to have been the inn
potaton of food indeed by the failure for the second time Of
the potato CROP arrangement Of the balance Of
trad and state OF The foreign exchanges in consequence
leading drain of gold simultaneously with unpre-
cedented and monstrous outlay for railway undertakings of the
most gigantic character and the stringent operation Of the
bank act Of 1914, the powers Of which, always wemed
wisely applied exerted with crushing force prevent
the and check the other. The metal trade
early has ii been seriously affected by these
the other branches Of ndusy and throughout the
have been steady and in general remunerave the parties
engaged in it. In consequence of the immense demand for
railway purposes and thecompaatvey high price which has
prevailed for years. the production has fallen short Of the
requirements and stocks both home and abroad have been
reduced to very low point for it is well to observe that the
very great demand for labor in all departments prevented for
tunaey the increase othe make any great Owing
however, inability Of the railway companies to proceed
with their works, and to the interruption to both home and
foreign trade by the arrangement of monetary affairs the
prosperity of the iron trade received check towards
the close Of the year. and prices have declined consider
ably consequence We will proceed 10 refer TO the
branches particularly and give such information
be relied upon, and will, think be useful in forming
opinion TO the future.
Manufactured iron in extensive demand until very
Gently aud prices have been remarkably steady throughout the
year. Rails purchased largely, both Cor home
tion and export and occupied many of the works. almost 10
the exclusion of other descriptions Of ron The demand
however, fell off very much about October and the price,
which the beginning OF the go has declined to
f7 los per Bars have commanded equal price from the
limited production but have declined in like proportion Stat
fohe bars hoop, and sheets have been in active demand
and prices very firmly supported but that district has
also been last affected by the depression and at the quar-
tery meeting Of the trade held yesterday at Birmingham,
reduction Of 40s per from the highest prices of last quar-
ter day agreed upon In consequence of strike Of the
workmen against reduction of their wages little iron has
been made for time in Siaordshe and Shropshire (72
furnaces Of 64 said be Of blast y and should
this continue much longer the deficiency Of supply may pre-
vent this decline from being generally submitted 10, and
present few parties will sell subject TO IT,
will he observed from reference the following tables
that exports the United States have increased very
much during the past year. especially in the finer descriptions
Of iron aodng gratifying proof Of the advantage derived
from freeing trade from hurtfu restrictions The shipments
from Wales direct the States have also been much in ad
any former year To India exports have again
been lgh, the stocks very low we may expect
considerable shipments will be made there
tive business be resumed with that country, but which is
very much interrupted present by the failures
which have taken place.
Exports Of Iron from Liverpool in 1876 and Is47 to Ne
York, Boston, and PHILADELPHIA.