Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-04-24
COMMERCIAL And FINANCIAL
THE GRAIN TRADE-cRoPs. sc.

The Cincinnati Price Current of April 18th,
says:
1.-The past week has been fairly favorable
for grain crops, although not forcing, from
lack of sufficient warmth and moisture to
produce such conditions.
Considerable wheat area in Kansas is being
abandoned to other crops. Otherwise the gen.
eral position of this crop does not appear to
be unfavorably changed in the general aver
age There are but few reports of wheat be-
ing winter killed outside of Kansas.
Spring seeding of small grain is nearly fin
ished, the ground having been in good condi-
ton, and wheat and oats are starting well, but
mostly getting into rather urgent need of
more moisture. There are pretty well defined
evidences of decreased area in spring wheat,
and large planting of oats and corn.
Interior offerings of grain continue light,
but should the outlook for the incoming
crops be maintained favorably the farmers
will probably release holdings, by which en-
larged supplies would for a time be available.
The wheat markets while being rather un-
price for July at the close being &c higher
than week ago, while corn closes with loss
of &c compared with a week ago.
May wheat at Chicago closed &c below the
highest point of the week. lie above the
lowest point, and 15c higher than week ago.
Corn at Chicago for May closed sc below
the highest point of the week, &c above the
lowest point, and &c lower than a week ago.
Wheat receipts at primary markets were Il,
no mn IL e. Al 1
the preceding week, and 2, 2S7 900 last year.
Corn receipts were 671. 900 bushels, against
100000 the preceding week, and 2,O56,0O0
last year."
FINANCIAL.
The following are extracts from the finan-
cial review of Henry Clews of April 2Oth:-
There has been sudden and remarkable
rise in the price of cotton. petroleum, wheat,
corn and beeves,-fve articles which supply
fully forty per cent of the entire value of our
exports. There has been some difference of
opinion as to how far these advances are due
to speculative influences and to natural
causes. There can be no question that, in the
ease of each article. there are legitimate
causes at work; and there is as little doubt
for speculative purposes.
1t begins to be realized even by the hereto
fore most rampant bears, that this country
has turned its back on pessimism, and that
| the only way to prosper hereafter is to be op-
timistic. 1t has been long and dreary lane
for business people to wade through, as its
starting point was really the Barring panic in
November, 1890, over four years ago. The
energies of the people of this country have
been crippled more or less since that time, es-
pecially during the last two years.
The real extent of improvement now going
on among our manufactures is not generally
understood or credited. The most publish
class in the country at the present moment
are the manufacturers. They are better stu
ated than any other class to feel and measure
the first throbbings of a new impulse of de-
mand; and it is their testimony, in almost
every branch of trade, that the outlook is
most encouraging In many cases, they have
! the courage to demand higher prices and to
wait If necessary, until they can get them
Their orders are on larger scale than for the
last two years, and they are increasing thei1
| purchases of raw materials in expectation
that they may have to pay higher prices fol
them. The feeling. in short, is general that
providing the steadiness of the financial stu.
alton can be depended upon, this country Is
on the verge of an era of very unusual pros
perity. We are in a position to produce al
lower costs than ever before. In this respect
we have, within the last two years, made very
important gains upon other manufacturing
countries. The pressure of the new tariff has
to some extent contributed to this; partly by
compelling manufacturers to improve theil
methods and eco nomize on the costs of pro
duction, and partly by the cheapening OF
some of their raw materials.
Taking the situation as a whole, 1 cannot
but regard is as one warranting increased con.
fidence and steady progress towards higher
prices on the markets both for goods and In.
vestments.