The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-01-12
BUSINESS REVIEW.
THE BOOM IN THE IRON TRADE
And the Causes Leading to 1.-THE Danger
Of OVERRIDING the RsViVAl-output Of
the FurnAsOS-ThO Wool Trade.
The Industrial Situation,
peIaI DLpaleA d " In..Iliqner.

sPeiaI DlspGseA to NE IA.SEigAea.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan, 1.-THE booming
activity for which the iron and HtseI
makers have been praying for the last two
years has seemingly come upon them a
last, and finds them with light stocks and
improved manufacturing capacity, Dur
ing the depression great deal Of Ingenuity
has been expended in improving mill
capacity OF all kinds, by which cost oi
production can be reduced, The manu-
facturers Of the United States will realize
very liberal margins during the coming
twelve months, which will 60 far to COM
pensate for the unsatisfactory results OF
the past year or two, During the past
week between thirty and forty thousand
tons Of steel rails have been contracted for
at an average Of $S5, Sales OF twelve
10 fifteen thousand tons Of bridge iron have
been made for bridge work east and
West. The Southern pool roads are in
the market for large Buppliea OF steel rails,
bridge iron and machine shop equipments,
including lAthes, tools, drill presses and
power hammers. A further advance Is
likely to take place in steel nails, old rails,
merchant bar, merchant steel and pig
iron. All the mills are pretty we'll sold
up, but the policy OF the iron trade here
after will be 10 permit prices to be crowd.
ed up rather than to lead in that effort.
The productive capacity OF the 270 fur
naCea In blast is $4,000 tons per week.
The capacity OF the furnaces not in blast
10 $1,000 tons per week. A great deal Of
this capacity can never be employed, ow-
ing to the ability Of the more recently
constructed furnaces to make iron cheaper.
EAR IRON MEETINa.
The bar iron meeting at Philadelphia
next week will be attended by over one
hundred manufacturers and will bs the
most important meeting in the iron trade
for several years, Railroad builders and
manufacturers and consumers OF iron and
Iteel material generally are apprehenSiye
OF q general advance In prices. The gen.
eral tendency Of pricas In the long run ID
In the downward direction rather than up.
ward, and any undue advance at this time |
would simply act 40 . retarding influence |
upon enterprise and close up avenues for |
the employment Of capital that are now
kindly opening, The conaumptiye capacity |
Of the country 10 increasing. Repairing |
requirements are enormous and II we are |
saved from disaster Of boom, growing
out Of the anxiety on the part Of Consum.
ers to purchase ahead, the country will |
enjoy q year OF exceptional activity. The |
boot and shoe manufacturers have more
orders now than they have had for three
years at this date. The PhilGdelphiashops
are crowded with orders for all kinds Of |
spring and summer wear, and the travel.
Ing agents are sending In very good re-
ports because Of the depleted condition Of
stocks throughout the west aud south,
and the anxiety Of retailers to order ahead.
THE WOOL TRADE.
Tho aggregate sales ol wool in this mar
ket for the past week were 100000 pounds,
and o further advance lisa Hand. Sup.
plies are found to be moderate in ali wool
centres. Stocks in the interior are Gener-
ally exhausted. Woollen yarns have ad. |
vSnced from 5 to 10 cents per pound more
than three weeks ago and low and medium |
wool yarns have advanced 10 10 cents |
within thirty days. Stocks OF wool In |
Philadelphia, New York and Boston are
estimated Of thirty.fve 10 thirty-eix mil
lion pounds. The textile manufacturers
Of this city are crowding capacity OF all
kinds, because Of the incoming Of orders
larger than anticipated. Manufacturers
have started out with the lowest prices
consistent with the increased value oiraW
mAterial, but will probably take advantage
OF the improving demand 10 put prices up |
later In the season. All the carpet mills |
are crowded with orders for the spring and
summer trade. .s
The coal trade Is inert. No agreement
has yet bsen made by the anthracite |
companies. The Pennsylvania company
Is perleCLing facilities In Maryland for
competing actively with the anthracite
and btuminouS coal interests OF Penn.
sylyania and West Virginia, and In the
hard and soft coal trades In all markets
that can reached by water.
fuMDER MAREETs,.
Lumber markets are we'll stocked with
hemlock, white and yellow pine, but the
hard woods are in limited supply, although
orders are being placed In Western and
Southern markets for rail shipments for
March.
The Philadelphia architects are buster
at this time than they have been for three
years and have instructions from builders
and inveators 10 prosecute drawings and
plans Upon vast amount OF work.
During the past year 1900 buildings we're
erected In excess OF the number In 1884,
and from present indications the build.
inc anlivitv NJ 1890 yvili raarh havond that