Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-20

Signs in the Different Mercantile
Branches which are Encouraging.

signs IN the DtherSnt MercantiAe
Branches which are Encouraging.
PHILADELPHIA. Sept. 19.-The steel
rail makers have orders on their books at
the present time for over 100000 tons OF
rails TO be delivered between this date and
she lsst OF December. They have inquiries
for upwards Of leo, 600 tons in addition to
be delivered during the FIRST quarter Of the
year, but they are holding prices at $50
per ton, instead of S27-tne price ruling
bstore the recent advance. Buyers be
heye that this advance cannot BIO main
tanned. The production agreed upon Tor
next year is ,o)u tons. Last years con-
sumption was ,UO0,00l tons Makers D.
Heyethat low refusing tumake AS manYrails
as viii be wanted They can crowd buyers
into paying an advance OF ~ per ton
There are contracts in hand for SEQ miles
of wrought pipe for between 40 ana 90
railroad br!d -e<: besides heavy orders
fnr nearly all kinds OF iron ana steel.
Sales OF wire for the past three weeks 1901
up 10000 tons. and prices have advanced.
Numerous orders are rtceived tor Iner
chant iron and steel FROM agricultural
implement manufacturers, and from
wagon carriage and machinery makers
The manufacturing interests are inclined
30 the opinion that the depression Of the
past two wears has not reached its end,
and that the coming winter aud spring
will develop "a moderate improvement.
Last week orders for fifty locomotives
We're placed, besides a large number Of
freight cars and goOdly number Of pas
sepger cars.
The lumber dealers In all Atlantic tide
water markets are meeting with an
active demand for white pine, yellow
pine and hemlOck, besides hard wood;
rre..r in,
rates to he. per hundred from Chicago,
considerable dissatisfaction is created in
Pennsylvania lumber interests, who
find themselves deprived of the custom
airy market. The lumber dealers OF the
Northwest VIII therefore be able 10 con-
Irol large amOuDtOf the lumber trade
along the Atlantic coast during the win
ter. Building is beng rushed with great
activity and there is everything to en-
courage the lumber trade.
The anthracite coal trade is very dull,
although 10000 tons of coal are mined
and sold every day. Another shading in
prices 10 the extent Of l0c. or 200. per ton
Is probable after oct. /. A great deal Of
mining territory is being opened in this
State, but it IS probable that Dituminous
coal viii hold its own during the winter.
The writing paper manufacturers are
preparing to advance prices. squirt OF
demand has absorbed considerable of the
summer stocks, and they are running
their mills less than full time. The manu-
factuTers OF news papers report a better
demand, due in part TO the action OF some
publishers in placing long contracts for
future delivery, on account or the fact
that prices now are lower than they are
likely 10 be later on.
The carpet manufactures have orders
in hand for 5000, 900 yards Of carpet, and
are working, many OF them, day and
night to I'LL their contracts on time.
Prices range from $50 TO sac for brussels
and ingram, and the markets are expand
ing throughout the South and West. A
good many strikes have taken place, but
most of them have been compromised. No
further advance IN prices is probable
New designs are being constantly brought
out, and the industry is i'm a very healluy
condition. Eleven Thousand persons are
busiiy engaged in turning out hosiery aud
knit goo1s. The production of Phisdsl-
pnia factories liz estimated at SIS, 600 per
day, nearly all made to fill orders. A
great deal Of knitting machinery has
been put in during the past three
or four months, and manufacturers feel
encouraged 70 increase their capacity.
Although competition is very close. the
silk manufacturers are quite iull OF orders,
aud are employing 1000 hands. mostly
ful time. The improvements mace in
IL preferable to most OF the foreign silks,
ard. TO many Divers not familiar with
American goods, the latter il frequently
sOid as imported. The bingham and
cotton yarn goods mills are All working
fuli time, furnishing work TO 10000 or
1900 hands. There are orders sufficient
in hand to run the mills through the win
Ter. The heavy cotton crop will posi-
bly, work a slight decline in cettOn goods
Tor the spTlnR trade.
Prices OF ali kinds OF staple products
are not likely TO vary much from the pres
ent. Several trade combinations are
talked OF to control prices I'd production.
The boot aud shoe manufacturers are
working full time and have so DAYS orders
on hand. The New England factories are
crowded with orders and their ship
ments are IN excess OF last year. The
clothing manufacturers have orders
enough TO run them up u Nov. ], and are
now preparing stocks for the spring trade.
Medium clothing is in very active demand,
and 10 selling at lower prices at wholesale
stores than ever before. Every day de-
yetops something Of special interest, and
Indicates that If we are not at the end OF
the deDressiOu we are very near il