The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-18
WEEKLY REVIEW OF TRADE
CLOSE TO ANNUAL HOLIDAY BUSI-
 NESS IS SURPRISINGLY LARGE.

CLOSE IO IA CdL HOLiNfA
 NESS IS SURPRISINGLY LARGE. Payments Through Banks Larger Than in1S0e, Heretofore the Year of Greatest Prosperity-ProductIon ofIron, Woolens, Boots and Shoes Larger Than Ever Be-
 fore.
 New York, Dec. 17.-R. G. Dun & Go. in their weekly review of trade will say: Close to it's annual holiday and halt the business of the year is surprisingly large. Payments through banks are again 2.5 per cent. larger than in 1892, heretofore the year of greatest prosper ity; the production of iron and woolens 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. Probably all records are surpassed by exports for this year, which have been $974 600, 900 in eleven months, and the excess over imports in five months has probably exceeded $2S9, 100000.
 The output of pig iron December 1 NSto lllC 5LSilGSI CNGl hioWIJ GAOJOGt tons against 213,159 November 1, and 217,306 in November, 1895 the highest point heretofore
 Wheat is just now the backbone of foreign relations, and Atlantic exports in two weeks have been, flour included, 7,S80,942 bushels against 5,413,677 last year while receipts rose to 12,060,122 bushels against 6,625,3S2 last year. The ..z J Al. speculative decline in Chicago. Corn exports continue to exceed last years, in two weeks 6326,S94 bushels against 5,074326 last year, which is a particu 1arly significant feature. The price rose but fraction and receipts in two weeks were S,023,001 bushels against 5,449, ,1S1 last year. Cotton does not change in price though somewhat weak options, but the uncertainty about spinning at Fall River has some effect.
 The cotton manufacture is in diff culty, due to production last year far in excess of demand and to partial transfer of the demand to southern mills. While domestic and export sales have been large, they are behind pro- duction exceeding that of the best pre- vious years, northern and southern in- cluded, and the effort to straighten things by a reduction of wages, presum- ably involves a strike and reduction of output. Goods are generally weak, and the range of prices is now the lowest ever known, the reduction in bleached goods, prints and wide sheetings having caused considerable increase in the de- mand.
 The demand for woolen goods is in creasing, and some mills are in the mar ket providing for a greater production, though most are still waiting, and the wool market is remarkably dull, sales at the three chief points being 15,307, 100 pounds against 1S,100,10o last year, IT, 17911O in 1895, and 16,5O4,10 in 1892. While prices are said to be held without change, manufacturers are hunting for bargains, and foreign wool in consider able quantity is coming this way. Prices of woolen goods do not change, and transactions thus far made in heavy goods for next season appear to be mainly at previous prices.
 In actual performance the boot and shoe industry runs ahead of all others, because it surpasses its greatest weekly shipments from the east by 5000 cases, and it's shipment for half of December last year by 25 per cent. and those of 1892 by 39 per cent. Accounts show great exhaustion of jobbers' stocks and demands for immediate delivery of goods sold ahead, while orders formerly withdrawn at advanced prices are now renewed. It is worth while to note that western reports show a similar extra ordinary deemand for immediate deliv- cry of goods, with factories pushed to their capacity. The west Is buying largely in eastern markets, while southern business is relatively small. Leather Is unchanged, but hides aver age 21s per cent. at Chicago.
 Failures for the week have been S29 in the United States against 3S7 last year and 2S in Canada against Al last year.