The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-01-23
State OF Trade.
can.


PHILADELPHIA. Jan. lS.-Within
the last week or ten days several
Manufacturers Associations and Rail
way Companies have met for the pur-
pose of putting up prices and freight
rates. The steel makers met some
ten days ago; the iron makers of
the New England and the middle
States last Wednesday ; the National
Wrought Iron Pipe Association on
Thursday. The National Fire Brick
Association will meet this week tn
talk over trade matters and strength
en- their organization for a further adj
vance in prices during the coming
season. All industries are preparing
to enlarge their producing capacity
as we'll as production. Some long
headed manufacturers are already
predicting that the foundations will
he laid this year fer depression in
1887, because of the anxiety of pro-
ducers in all avenues of activity to do
heavy years business and make up
for the depression and low profits of
the past two years. Manufacturers
are purchasing for forward require
ments. Everyone is pleased with the
present Conditions and prospects and
is driving ahead filling orders. Steel
rail makers are content to sell at So.
Rolled iron has been advanced 80 per
ton. All kinds of crude iron are
steady but firm. The manufacturers
of sheets, plate and bridge iron have
good winters work secured, and in
general the prospects for healthy
iron trade are all that can be desired.
The railroad managers of the trunk
lines are preparing for general adj
ance in freight rates, which will be
followed by corresponding advances
in Western connections and also
Southern pool roads.
Reckless competition is going on
between the anthracite companies,
especially in New York, and at the
present writing the prospects for a
organization for 1886 are un.
favorable. Prices are eighty cents
per ton below what they were twelve
months ago, and each company is
grasling for large contracts at declin.
ing prices. The bituminous operators
are doing nothing as yet, but are in
p isitiOn to offer bitter competition to
the anthracite interests when the
season opens.
But little lumber is arriving from
the Northwest or South and prices
are firm for all kinds under the dis.
tribution of retail requirements.
Heavy supplies of hard wood will be
shipped rs som as the weather per-
mits from both Southern and West
ern States. The architects of New
York, Philadelphia and Boston were
never buster at this season than they
ute INV anu thCN uoNO Wcth WI uuiiu
which will continue throughout the
A larger amount of CAPT.
tai will he invested this year in man
establishments, residences
large and small and in municipal
and public buildings. The higher
prices realized are stimulating inves.
tors to this course.
The textile manufacturers predict
an unusually successful year under
the distribution of all kinds of textile
products. Travelling agents are al
ready sending In liberal orders from
the West. The hosiery mills of Phil
adelphia are working full time. with
few exceptions, and all carpet mills
are crowded.
The heavy efflux ofnegro popu!a-
ton from some of the southern states
promises to create scarcity of labor
and the manufacturers In some Sec
tions are already taking steps to Sc.
cure white labor from the northern
states and abroad. The manufactu-
rers of textile machinery have within
two weeks received several large or.