The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-18
Production of Iron. WOOIens. Roots
ures Fewer than in Five Years.
EXPORTS ABOVE ALL MARKS
AND RECEIPTS OF THE GOVERN
MENT STEADILY INCREASING.
New England Cotton Manufacture the
guishinE-WeeLIy Trade Reviews.

NEW YORK, Dec. 17-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade will say in its issue
of tomorrow: Close to its annual holiday
and halt, the business of the year is sur
prisingly large. Payments through banks
are again 20 per cent. larger than in 1882,
heretofore the year of greatest prosperity;
the production of iron and wooleas, and
boots and shoes is larger than ever before,
exports eclipse all past records and failures
for two weeks have been the smallest for
corresponding weeks in five years. The
treasury receipts show a steady increase for
the first half of December over previous
months, both in customs and internal reve-
nue., and heavy payments to the govern
ment on Union Pacific account caused hut
slight stringency in money markets, with
preparations for large cancellation of bonds.
The most weighty news of the week is the
rise of merchandise exports in November to
$l16,630,2S0 the excess of exports in four
months being $229, PIP. 491 while in the first
half of December exports are nearly as
large and imports $2,5OO,O 900 smaller than last
year. when the excess of exports was $685.
2G5 ,365 Probably all records are surpassed
by exports for this year, which have been
$97460 900 in eleven months, and the excess
over imports in five months has probably
exceeded $3.50 1000.
The output of pig iron Dec. l was the
greatest ever known-226024 tons, against
21S,159 tons Nov. 1. 1896, and 217, 1906 tons in
November 1895, the highest point hereto
fore. Unsold stocks also decreased in No
vember 20. 652 tons, indicating consumption of
about 29O COO tons weekly during the month.
Bessemer declined in face of such production
10c, and gray forge 25c at Pittsburg. The
demand was, on the whole, greater, and un-
usual structural contracts for the season
were placed, with sales of 10000 tons steel
rails at New York and the largest orders
ever booked by the Illinois Steel Company,
it is said, and unexpectedly heavy business
in plates. Much buying also resulted from
expectation of the wire consolidation, in
Guiding 25, eco tons Bessemer and $4,000 tons
billets at Pittsburg. No reaction comes in
copper, and exports for the month are esti-
mated at 10000 tons, and tin plates slightly
stronger. Coke production was 154925 tons,
with contracts making for the coming year
at $780, and anthracite coal was weaker at
1915 here
Wheat is just now the backbone of foreign
relations and Atlantic exports in two weeks
have been, flour included, 7SS0,942 bushels,
against 5,413,67 bushels last year, while re-
ceipts rose to II O6O,1 22 bushels, against g.,
625, 3S2 bushels last year. The price gained
fraction in spite of the speculative decline
in Chicago Corn exports continue to ex-
coed last years, in two weeks $685. 1874 BUSH
els, against 5,074 ,626 bushels last year, which
is a particularly significant feature. The
price rose but a fraction, and receipts in
two weeks were 1923, OO1 bushels against s.
449 1S1 bushels last year.
The cotton manufacture is in difficulty,
due to production last year far in excess of
demand and to partial transfer of the de-
mand to Southern mills. While domestic and
export sales have been large, they are be-
hind a production exceeding that of the
best previous year, Northern and southern
included and the effort to straighten things
by a reduction of wages, presumably in
wolves a strike and reduction of output.
Goods are generally weak, and the range of
prices is now the lowest ever known, the ! e.
duction in bleached goods, prints and wide
sheetings having caused considerable in
crease in the demand
The demand for wooden goods is increas-
ing and some mills are in the market pro-
viding for a greater production, though
most are still waiting, and the wool market
is remarkably dull, sales at the three chief
points being 10 307, 100 pounds, against 49, 10O,-
100 pounds last year, 1913, 40 pounds IN 1895
and 16 504 100 pounds in 1892. While prices are
said to be held without change manufac-
turers are hunting for bargains, and foreign
way.
Failures for the week have been 1923 in the
United States, against 3S lest year, and Is
in Canada, against Al last year.