The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-08
BUSINESS PULSE
AT EASTERN TRADE oENTRRs,
Railway Construction for the Present Year.
Steel Rail output-EIEht HOuF Labor
Movement = Industrial Activity,
sugar and COEso Market,
Special DlpGteA 10 @ IutelliOa,oa.

Special Dbpatch to M IatslliOspon.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 1.-The latest esti
mate as to the probable railway construC'
ton for 1885, puts the mileage at ten thoua'
and miles. This is nearly three times the
amount that was constructed last year,
Last week, the Bsssemer Steel Company,
controlling the fifteen rail mills Of the
United States, met and refused to increase
the production beyond 100000 tons
voted upon some time ago, but expect to
meet in thirty days and agree to increase
the production three hundred thousand
tons, The financial agents Of between
twenty aud thirty projected roads are
at present negotiating in this city,
New York and Boston, for soms
twenty odd million dollars necessary
10 construct and equip the proposed
roads. Quotations on iron, steel, nails
aud hardware, hold their own firmly,
Agricultural implements and tool works
are increasing their work slowly, The Bald
win locomotive works start up Monday
full time, and with tWo-thirds their full
working force. Tho manufacturers OF rail.
way appliances expect to have business
enough in hand by the middle Of March,
to carry them into midsummer. Prices oil
all kinds OF iron and steel are firm, and an
increasing demand for all tho products OF
iron and steel, Is probable.
RIanT HOUR LABOR SCHEME.
The employers OF labor throughout
nearly all sections Of country are begin.
ming to consider the proposed reduction in
the hours OF labor from ten to eight. Re.
ducsd pay will be accepted, Strong argu.
ments are used by the labor unions to in
duCe employers 10 conform 10 the new
programme, but 1t will be vigorously re.
sisted, especially throughout the New
England and Middle States. The EN-.
ployers do not belieVa that the movement
will be sufficiently strong and widespread
10 m,rit their serious attention.
The manufacturers OF cotton goods, and
OF dress goods containing slight admix.
ture Of wool, are meeting with an extraor.
binary demand, and are doing heavier
business vt this time than they have done
for years, The increased cost Of woolens
and worsteds Is having the effect, 1t would
seem, Of driving the buyers to the finer
grades ot cotton goods, and to those Of part
cotton and part wool.
Thehosiery manufacturers are very busy
on Spring and Summer goods, and are &C.
ccpting orders at u very little increase over
last years. prices. A great deal Of knitting
machinery hiss been put In within sixty
days, and the manufacturers Of machinery
are working full, and In some cases, over
time, to fill orders.
TIE COAL COMBINATION.
The anthracite coal combination Is yet
at sea, although 1t Is somewhat nearer
settlement than 1t was. The Pennsyl.
vania company will work independently
and increase It's production Of hard and
soft coal, half million tons over last
year. The combustion will no doubt be
renewed, but the increasing competition
Of bitumiuous coal from the Beech Greek
PoCohontas, and other bltuminous fields,
will enable manufacturers TO purchase
supplies on more reasonable terms than
over before In the history OF the coal trade.
The New England,boot manufacture will
maintain their advance OF 81 to 50 on boots,
per case. The numerous strikes have
started manufacturing in new directions,
All the rubber manufacturers are busy on
late orders. The English market Is tax.
ing o good deal more finished leather.
Spring orders for boots and shoes are
pretty well In. Exports OF hides from
New York have been very heavy.
Wool Gales for the past week foot up
1,05O,00O pounds prices are pointing up.
ward. Those who still have wool In hand,
are wisely holding II for higher prices.
Manufacturers who have not secured aui.
hcient stocks, are trying 10 buy quietly
without frightening sellers into asking
higher prices.
SUGAR AND CoPFRE.
There are prospects OF further decline
in sugars and coIees, although there are
strong combinations Of capital in New
York, contemplating a cornerlng process
upon these products, II they think the
conditions Of trade will allow It. Low
prices have interiered with the cultivation
Of beet sugar In Germany and France,
but an increased Htimulus has been given
10 the cultivation Of sugar cane In Louis
lana, and to the cultivation Of sorghum
In the Western States, by improvements
In processes for extracting the Juice.
Latest adviCes from South America show
abundant stocks Of coffee and a downward
tendencyin prices.
The general market conditions are
favorable to steady prices throughout tho
year, but there 10 O tendency among
manufacturers and traders Of all kinds 10
combine, 10 order to prevent as much
competition this year, as was suffered from
In 1885.
boston Wool Market.
BosroS, Feb. S.-The AdraGser in lie
weekly review Of the wool trade Gays. 1t
iS noticeable that receipts Of foreign wool
since January foot up 7,4lS bales, against
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