The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-12-18
FINANCE AND TRADE
Weekly Report of the Two Leading
Commercial Agencies.
SURPRISINGLY LARGE BUSINESS.

me Closing Days OF the Year sBq,on
Gratifying Increase in Consr,, ,.I1.',.1 '.,,
over the Preceding Y
the slump in Cotts >" 'i''o u res
New York review Of trade savs.
90 Weeits annual holiday and halt
~ business of the year is surpris-
/ ingly large. Payments through banks
are again 2.5 per cent larger than in
1892 heretofore the year of greatest
| prosperity. 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 Tor the corre-
/ spending weeks in five years. Treas
ury receipts show a steady increase for
the first half of December over previ-
Gus months both in customs and in
ternal revenue, and heavy payments to
/ government on Union Pacific account
caused but slight stringency in money
markets, with preparation for large
cancellation of bonds
The cotton manufacture is in diff
Guilty, 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
production exceeding that of the best
previous years, northern and southern
included, and the efforts to straighten
things by a reduction of wages, pre-
sumably involved a strike and reduc-
ton 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 demand
The demand for wooden goods Is in
creasing, and some mills are in the
market providing for a greater pro-
duction, though most are still waiting,
and the wool market is remarkably
dull, sales at the three chief points be-
ing 15,3O71OO pounds, against IS, 100, 900
last year, 17179, ,11O in 1895 and 16, 5O4. 100
in 1892 While prices are said to be
held without change, manufacturers
are hunting for bargains, and foreign
wool in considerable quantity is coming
this way.
Bradstreets' review says: A sensible
quieting Of demand in wholesale lines
is reported as the holiday season and |
the annual stock taking period ap- |
proach. Chief among the favorable |
features Of the week has been the en-
larged inquiry at higher prices for steel |
in various forms. accompanied by ad-
Yances in the prices of sorts most af-
fected. A correspondingly heavy busi-
ness has developed in pig iron. and
prices show but a slight shading in
race of the current immense produc-
tion The wheat market has been less
feverish, and prices are practically un-
from a week ago, while corn.
oats and sugar are additions to the
list Of products showing advances. The
outlooI. for cotton goods
Is reflected in reductions in bleached
goods to the lowest point ever reached.
while some cotton yarns show weak
ness. Anthracite coal is weak, although
production has been curtailed and talk
Of further restriction is heard. With
these exceptions the price situation is
one of quite exceptional steadiness.
AT the east trade in wholesale lines
Is quiet, but retail trade has been slim
ulated sufficiently to allow OF a fair
recorder business in seasonable lines.
Manufacturers of wooden cloths are
running on small margins and took
TO a change in heavyweight goods to
improve the situation. The trade sit
lation west and northwest is one of
lnimpaired strength, although miIder
weather checks distribution of winter
wear goods. Notable among favorable
eatures is the improved inquiry at
higher prices for several kinds of steel.
specially billets and wire and nails,