The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-10
BUSINESS CONDITIONS
And PrOspects-StsaIy DEICS Toward Bst'
Ter TImss Eject Of the New Tariff.

ter TImss Effect Of the New Tariff.
Philadelphia Inquirer: There is no
MISLEADING the drift Of affairs in the
business situation, which is toward bet
ter conditions. There is an Increase In
the volume OF business done, prices arc
rising, manufacturing is more active,
and the purchasing power OF the COM
munlty Is increasing rs the disburse-
neptS for wages grow larger. These
symptoms are frequently met with NJ
this season OF the year, but they are
now more marked than usual because
OF the great contrast With the eohd!,
lions that eXlsed during the fall and
winter Two great factors are at work
helping on the improvement that would
have come naturally As IL result OF the
change In government from incapable
to capable hands namely. the possible
Ity OF war In Europe and the prospect
Of an adequate tnrift bill. The influence
OF the war scare has been felt In spec
(IlatlVo advance of three cents q bushel
In the price OF wheat, but It may be.
come more Important later The pro-
posed new tariff ID. however. u factor
OF FAR rGaching Importance.
In anticipation OF the new tariff bill
will pass the house OF representatives
turers have been purchasing raw mate
rails freely and this sentiment has eN-
tended TO commodities that are not so
much affected by the tariff. Since jan
uRry wooden manufacturers have
bought in the chief markets OF the
country Si.OO0OOO pounds OF wool,
against less thnn 50OOO.OO0 pounds In
the same period OF 1899, when the trade
was normal and consumption was much
larger than 1t is now. Stocks are un-
prccedenuy large for this season.
Moreover. the wooden goods trade,
which has seen q demand for low prize
ed goods only for three years past, Is
now enjoying strong Inquiry for I'm
ished goods Of the best grades, upon
which, OF course. the new taTi8 VIII
bear rather heavily. Leather manu-
factuFers are buying hides eagerly at
advancing prices and leather itself has
risen under strong demand from shoe
manufacturers, who never did larger
business ut this season than now. In
the cotton goods trade the same Condi-
ton prevails, buyers being mroe num-
erous. aud save for n slight weakness
In print cloths. prices holding Arm.
Northern spInners took l7O,6O7 bales OF
cotton IN February. against 1lb,lS0
bales in February last year, although
last month. Steel makers have been
buying Bcssemer pig iron freely and
prices are slightly higher for number
OF iron and steel products. while firm
er tone prevails all along the line. The
resumption OF work at a number Of es"
Establishments RtteStS the stimulus given
the trade at he breakdown OF the rail
pool. The reports from all four OF these
great industries are Of so uniform
character thai It is impossible TO ignore
the existence OF an improving tendency
helped on. though II is, by traders de-
string to forestall the new tariff law.
Agricultural products have risen in
sympathy with wheat, although Europe
shows it's Indifference to war news, TO
exports from Argentine one-sevcnth OF
what they were year ago and the re-
ports for decreased acreage in India and
crop damage In Italy and Russia, by
refusing 10 purchase much wheat. But
II is buying corn freely and Mt advance
ing prices. Cotton. however. was not
affected by the war scare, FALLING one
eighth Of cent a pound. Up TO March
the amount oft he last crop In sight
was 7.4I2.00O bales. n statement which
points 10 a yield Of nearly, X not quite,
$3.50, 900 balcs, Foreign stocks are large
once more and the preparations for an
pushed with viGor.
We are approaching the season OF
light exports, but last weeks reports
do not give evidence OF It. Our ship
mentR OF wheat. according to Brad
streets. were ?,075.OOO bushels, against
2,4O7, coo bushels In the same week last
year; corn. 5.255,OO0 bushels, against
2.T75O0O bushels. and OF cotton, l22,t2l
bales, against Si,S55 bales. Our i'm"
ports. too. have not yet given evidence
OF the increase that will come just be"
fore &c new tarlfE bin become effective.
We are pretty certain. however, to run
into season OF light exports and large
Imports. Moreover, Europe has been
selling our securities for some time and
should the Crctan complications become
worse will undoubtedly sell more. Still,
this situation has produced no alarm.
The new administration begins with
over 5O,OOO.O0O gold in the treasury,
some OF which can be spared II neccssa-
~ A more important matter Is the
deficit OF %4.395,O6O in treasury income
for February, and the deficit OF AS.l35..
900 for eight months. Until this deficit
ia choked by the new tariff law more or
less uneasiness win be felt and pcrma-
nent prosperity Ia out OF the question.