Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-04-29
THE STATE OF TRADE.

So-' weekly review OF trade says
If either Turkey or Greece had been
wholly buried in the sea, markets
might have been affected less than by
| the outbreak of war in Europe. Like
| fire in the heart of a crowded city it
raised the question whether a general
| confiagration may spring out of it.
To this possibility and not to the direct
| influence of either Turkey or
Greece upon the worlds money
or produce markets was due the
| excitement in grain and stocks.
As the unknown is magnified, Ameri-
| can markets were much more Tightly
than European, where the possibilities
| have been discussed and partly dis
counted for months But the uncer-
tainty remains and will affect the
movement of money and staples until
it disappears, creating larger demand
for American products as higher
| prices, causing hasty speculative selling
of securities at times, but also more
continuous buying by foreign investors
and not improbably influencing the
attitude of foreign powers on questions
| important to this country.
Wheat rose six cents from Thursday
to Monday, and has retained most of
the rise. Since Russia and the Danu-
bian states will be likely to ship wheat
scantily, especial needs and much
higher prices being possible there, a
larger share of the requirements of
western Europe may naturally be
drawn from this country, and the
chance of a war between the great
powers has the more influence, be-
cause supplies there are not large.
While western receipts do not yet in
crease, and in three weeks have been
but 5,641 ,O01, against 5, 933, 1919 last year,
Atlantic exports begin to gain slightly,
amounting to 1,190, 500 bushels, flour
included, against LOSS, 764 last year,
and for three weeks have been $685.
ITO bushels, against 3, 453, 079 last year.
But the great increase is in corn, on
| which the price has scarcely advanced,
though Atlantic exports were 4, 1S9, 1916
bushels, against 1924, 1872 last year.
Already the exports for the crop year
have been 80, 900, 900 bushels larger
than Atlantic exports of wheat and
flour, and may soon exceed the total
exports of wheat and flour from both
coasts.
all, though government estimates that
the flood districts yielded nearly $780,
900 bales, for increased acreage in other
sections is generally reported.
The past week, like others of late,
has witnessed the starting of opera
tions by several iron works, especially
in black sheets for timing, and yet
prices of iron and unfinished products
are lower, demand not yet equalling
the supply. Bessemer pig has sold as
low as $905 at Pittsburgh and gray
forge at S. so in Birmingham. Steel
billets fell to S14.25 at Pittsburgh and
angles to 1 cent, but wire rods cannot
be supplied fast enough at $21.75.
Nails are strong, and few more
structural orders are pending. East
ern works also have orders for 5000
tons of steel rails.
Complaint and proof that the de-
mand for the products is deficient
blinds many to the fact that the actual
work in progress, largely the heavy
orders for beams, billets, rails and
sheet bars taken when the pools broke
up, is of greater volume than for a long
time.
Large sdASS VI copper hAC LCpOAGCd dN
III cents, with production 17,2s3
tons in March. The end of stipulated
curtailment has been reached by some
cotton mills, and nearly by all, and
since the auction sales some BILE ached
goods have been slightly advanced, but
actual buying does not increase and
print cloths do not improve.
Sales of wool have been largely of
foreign, reports being swelled by ar
rivals of quantities sold some time ago
and imports at Boston for the week
were 80, 600 bales. For the three chief
cities sales were 34.O36, 500 pounds in
three weeks, 2O,271, 300 being foreign,
against 1896, 100 in 1892, including
1864, 900 foreign. But manufacturers
are doing scarcely anything, and or
ders for goods improve very little,
though for somewhat better grades.
Failures for the week have been 21s
in the United States, against 23s last
year, and 81 in Canada, against A last
year.