Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-01-03
THE YEAR,s TRADE.


The concluding week in December, which
Is generally the dullest of the year In mer.
camille and industrial circles, has proved
no exception to the rule in 1883. Reports
from leading trade centers show that tine
merchandise movement has been much
slower. The general feeling appears 70 De
an unsettled one. Traders In all lines CON
fess to no anticipations of special activity
in the near future.
THE LIST OF FINANCIAL WRECKS.
The commercial wreck list Of the year II
formidable one. The following table
gives the total number Of failures reported
during each Of the last five years:
United State. ,ss 1 1sss l ssss 1 ls u 5s
Canada and Prov.s.SS $50 SN sls 1870
The table below gives the failures dur
ing each of the two last quarters OF 1851
1882 and 1888:
No. of failures fourth quarter i,50J 2,e61 2,sSs
No. of failures third quarter. -1.i4O l,dos z.ooS
No. OF failures six months .. 1856 1926 1881
The returns of to-day and Monday will
quarter of 1883, and, therefore, of the years
total.
IRON AND STEEL.
The year 1888 has been less satisfactory
to the iron and steel trades than its prede-
cessor. The latter comprised prolonged
a
reduction in prices. This year has brought
no such disturbing labor agitations, but has
continued the contraction of prices below
limits which were thought to rest on bed
been from $3.50, January 1, to S20f920.50
cash for foundry No. TX. Early last
spring contracts for rails were offered at
s3S. and in the summer at $3.50 By fall
the figures had settled to $3.50. though not
announced. November prices were revo-
lutionized by the Lackawanna Company's
cut to $35 at the mill. Excessive produc-
ton of steel-rails unduly stimulated by
the phenomenal railway building of pre-
ceding years, combined with other and ar
tifcial aids, have caused this. The result
was the forced closing of several mills and
the reduction in wages of nearly if not all
from 10 to 10 per cent. Importations Of
British steel rails have rapidly declined.
Receipts for eleven months are 63.579 tons,
against 167,142 tons in eleven months of
1882, and 1S2,051 tons in 1881.
ANTHRACITE COAL.
The anthracite coal trade closes the year
in moderately satisfactory condition to
producers. The preceding year was more
satisfactory than 1883, owing to the scale Of
prices at that time having been steadily
rising one, while in 1888 it has been falling.
notwithstanding this the trade is in a gen.
orally healthy state. States in the West
have exceeded those of any other years,
and promise to increase in the future. The
total output of anthracite coal Tin Peunsyl-
vania) from January to December %. was
3O,S14 ,223 tons, as compared with Is, 716, POI
tons in a like portion of 1882. The outlook
for the production during the remainder Of
December is approximately 100000 tons.
This points to a total production of anthra-
cite for this year of 81 ,064, coo tons, as com.
pared with 26, 120, 600 tons in 1882.
THE WHEAT CROP.
Floods and drouth fell upon the winter
wheat crop of 1882 and 1888. Rust and pest
met reports, the harvest was 100000, 900
bushels short of that in the preceding year.
This ranks the total, allowing a slight gain
for spring wheat, at about 4O0, OO0 900 BUSH
els, as against $4,000 600 in 1872 and $685..
100000 in 1891. There were 1856 100000
bushels reported as wheat and flour in 1880
81. In 1872, 121, 100000, and in 1928,
152, 10000 bushels. Since July exports
have been restricted and prices relatively
in excess Of 85,OOo,Ooo bushels, as
against 10, 41s,0 15 bushels July /. Farmers
have sold their wheat freely and appear to
the crop of 1928 have been Ito December
10 from July ~ but $3.50, 91S bushels, as
against 81, 103,772 bushels in like part Of
1882, and IA, 475 ,921 bushels in 1881, and still
Russia, India and Australia are Offering
Of wheat mo. 2 red at New York; opened
in January at about S1.13k, advanced to
s1.17 February 2, to SLAB February 17and
70 81 20 during the month. To-day ittouched
CORN EXPORTED.
The exports of Indian corn have been on
q more liberal scale than those of wheat,
but less than formerly. The total from
July to December is 24,SO7, 10 bushels,
rs against 8, 1912 bushels in like period
we're 4f.655,653 bushels of corn and meal
againt A, $40, 6S3 bushels in 1SS1-S2, and 3d.
'S4, ia bushels in 1SS0-S2, and 9364S,1A
bushels in 1SS0-S1. The price of corn on
i was III cents, and February II, "A cents.
To-day it touched "a cents.
THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY.
This year has brought decreased pro-
iuction of oil, and has shown a uniformity
IF the tendency of the various petroleum
districts to yield less and less, and has me-
August, September, October and Novem.
per, and naturally developed a higher
'ange of prices. The exploration of the
regions" has been very great, with but
little ENCOURAGEMENT thus far as to new and
.ich fields OF Oil. The main hope in that
direction lies in the statement that unex-
,ected deposits have been discovered.
others may be following. On the prime Of
he Bradford district came the Allegheny,
md the average. annual price of crude
per barrel at the wells was in 1880
Town to 94H cents; in 1881, to 85X
;ests, and in 1882 to 79X cents. This
year thus far the average annual price is
JOG per barrel. The average daily pro-
luction this year, to December %. has been
',7S0, 900 gallons, and the exports 100000
gallons. The average daily quantity added
o stocks has been $4,000 gallons, w.,ich i'm
licates an average daily home consumption
If ], 277, 900 gallons during the year to De-
.ember %. Exports from the United States
rom January to December 90 aggregated
9s, 331 ,2l9 gallons (actual), against 49,
"a, 4S2 gallons (crude) refined, naphtha.
'tc., in like period in 1882, New York
continues to Ronopolize the trade, it's share
i these e exports being 4ns,00l, 522 gallons
Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore this
rear, to December %. exported 90, 389, G97
gallons, against 102, 900, ACE gallons last
rear.
THE COMING YEAR.
AS things are now, there is no adequate
eason Tor concluding that the business OF
ne country Is to find a still lower level in
ss4, but on the other hand the enforced
topping OF mills and further reduction
III waUes in the