The age-herald., 1897-09-18
GENERAL REVIEW IF TRADE
Despite the Epidemic in the South
 Business Improves.
ALL INDUSTRIES ARE ACTIVE
Iron, Through Increased Orders, Advanced In Price-Expofts of Wheat More Than
 Double That of Last Year.

New York, Sept. 17.-R. G. Dun & its issue tomorrow:
 The end of the bltuminous coal strike and the return of many thousand men to work at advanced wages adds to the purchasing power of the people. The anthracite strikes affects not fifth as many workers. The starting of many mines and works, enormous exports of wheat and corn, the favorable news as to those crops and cotton, the fall in sterling exchange and the report show ing that gold imports began in August, exceeding exports by s2S9O55S. while merchandise exports exceeded, imports by s40,953,753 have all contributed to for ward the improvement in business. The replenishment of stocks cannot be half finished, though some who could see no sign of improvement a few weeks ago are now finding 1t so vast and rapid that they fear reaction. But consumers as well as dealers have also to supply themselves after years of enforced econ omy and while their power to purchase is increasing every day and their actual buying at retail reasons for apprehen- sion are not urgent.
 The wheat market has declined over 5 cents on account of crop reports, which promise larger prosperity, and corn and cotton are both a little lower for like reasons. Yet estimates of the highest financial authorities regarding require- ments from this country are not smaller but larger than before while better pros poets in Argentine, Australia and India hold out no promise of large European supplies, or of any until winter is about over. Atlantic exports of wheat (dour included as wheaD are more than dou- ble last years each week, and in two weeks S,S2O,313 bushels against 4,1O7,721 last year and of corn 7095,36 bushels against S,9S7,S26 last year. From the Pacific coast wheat is also moving large ly, twenty-five cargoes from San Fran cisco this month and over 54S,9S5 bushels in seven days from Portland. Corn de- clined over cents, with the growing belief that the yield will surpass esti- mates. Cotton was depressed from 71s to 7c with favorable news of yield, although the mills are now consuming with great rapidity. a4e - e-
 The stock market had another of it's re- actions on Monday, but on Tuesday was higher than ever. The miscropsic re- NptinnS th1Iu far haxpa haap ciorpi6 oa,,+ After the average of active stocks had risen $4 per share, it fell 36 cents in re- action in June and then rose again. Af-. ter rising $5 more it fell s1 more Aug. 15, and then rose another dollar and had a serious reaction of 69c on the 17th, but was higher than ever within a week. Aug. 24 and % it fell 25c, but it then rose 8 more. Sept. 13 its reaction averaged 25 cents, and it has since advanced $1.07.
 The iron industry again shows i'm creasing demand and an average of prices nearly per cent. higher, due to purchasing by consumers. Buying of 100000 tons Bessemer pig at Pittsburg has advanced the price to $1O; grey forge Is hard to find there at $9.15, and billets sell at s15.50. With output increased to 122,431 tons weekly, Connellsville coke advances to s1.4O for furnace.
 Textile mills are more fully employed Hhan at any time for years, though new buying has diminished in amount, and though while the number of orders re- ceived is still large, the amount is smaller. The demand is still very god for the seasons and prices are firm throughout with some further ad- vances. Actual buying of wool by mills is increasing at all markets, with the belief that foreign supplies are short
 Failures for the week have been 204 in the United States, against 315 last year, and 40 in Canada, against 32 last year.