The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-31
THE STATE OF TRADE.
The Year Just Closed Marked by
Increased Prosperity.
THE OUTLOOK VERY ENCOURAGING.

Every Indication Points to a Suc-
cessfuI Year in all Lines of Trade.
Unprecedented Activity in indus
trial Centers-Goid Exports.
NEW York. Dec. 31.-R. Ct. Dunn
& Co.'s weekly review of trade says:
The most prosperous year ever known
In business closes today with strongly
favorable indications for the future.
From nearly all points comes the report
that the holiday trade has been the
largest ever known, and while wholesale
trade is not usually active at this season
Of stock taking, it is now remarkably
large. Settlements through clearing
houses outside of New York in Decem-
Der were apparently the largest ever
made in any month, exceeding last
years by more than 10 per cent.
For the year the volume is about 10
per cent. larger than last year. and the
largest ever known. Railroad earnings
in December show an increase of about
3 per cent over last year, and for the
year an increase of about 3.5 per cent.
Foreign trade has been smaller than last
yenr in volume Of exports, at New York
81 100000 in value for the past four
weeks and at cotton ports about $l0,0 ,0O0,-
G00 less. but imports at New York have
been $3,000,000 larger. and the month
still shows great excess of exports. For
the year the excess of merchandise ex-
ports has been not far from f70, $50, 900,
with the largest imports and the largest
total of exports and imports ever known
in any year.
fal
sumption have resulted in 1889 from the
unequaled crops Of 1891, so that manu-
features have made extraordinary prog
ress. The year closes with all wooden,
cotton and silk machinery fully EN-
ployed, and unsold stocks of goods mnch
lighter than usual, while the demand
for the coming season alresaH exceeds
the capacity Of many mills. The orders
booked for the season in dry goods are
extraordinary, in mems clorhiug cheviots
having the precedence, and in womens
the blue eerge, while cotton goods are
strong, with tendency to higher prices.
Sales Of wool at the chief markets
have been 3p9, 9,10U, 900 pounds, against
I6,000,0o0 last year, and foreign i'm
ports have been the largest ever known,
with domestic supply but slightly be-
hind the largest. Shipments of boots
and shoes from the east have been per
cent. larger than last year, and nearly
per cent. larger than in any previous
year, while the increase i'll ten years has
been over so per cent.
AT Philadelphia iron is weak and
groceries quiet. though with average
trade tobacco is in good condition, and
some speculation in whisky continues.
The wool trade has been quiet, but re-
tail trade in dry goods is unusually
large. AT Pittsburg iron is slower, and
the demand for finished products dimin-
ishing but glass is fairly active.
In iron the trade il weaker, the demand
for finished products being at present
light Bnt steel rails have been re-
duced to SEQ per ton, and sales Of $4,000
tons.haye followed. This great industry
hns been much affected by the market
for securities, which has been depressed
for some months by foreign selling and
monetary uncertainties, SO that com
pafiies have been restricted i'll purchases
OF rails and supplies, But for the past
week stocks have been stronger, gaining
about $2 per share IN average price.
Speculation i'll products has been com
paratively inactive. though wheat has
been advanced by a western pool nearly
two cents. Western receipts do not
ohate, nor do exports enlarge. Cotton
has been st adv and strong, with dinin-
ished receipts. The monetary disturb
ance has passed for the present, and
enormous usdisbulsements for interest and
dividends about Jan. | are likely to make
the markets easier for time. But ii is
tEonght that further exports of gold
may shortly follow the New Years set
tlrsmnnts