The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-25
Dun e. Co. and Bradstreet's
Both Report Large Business.
The South Especially Shows
Increased Activity.
COTTON TRADE DULL.
Increased Demand for Iron and
Its Products.
Business Failures Equal the
Same Week of 1896.

New York, Dec. 25.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review Of Trade says:
The weekly reports show a remarka-
bly, large holiday trade at many points,
the largest for five years. Moreover
at the season when wholesale business
usually shrinks, the pressure of de-
rnands for immediate deliveries, which
results from unprecedented distribution
to consumers, keeps many establish
ments at work that usually begin their
yearly rest spell somewhat earlier. In
stead Of decreasing, the demand from
products shows an unexpected increase
in several important branches. For
eign trade continues satisfactory, even
in comparison with the remarkable
record of a year ago, when exports eN-
ceeded S117 ,0O0, 600 in December sank
failures at Philadelphia, due to indlvld-
ual operations, cause no dlSJufDancei
and commercial failures for the month
have been less than half last years TO
the same date.
The outgoing of local grain is not
checked by Chicago speculation, though
more corn than wheat has been NOV
ing.
been 1898 321 bushels for the week,
against 3.56S sos bushels the previous
week. and 1. SAC. .443 bushels a year ago,
and in four weeks Is, 1898 bushels,
against 9 O39 5ST bushels last year, While
corn exports for the week 4,54O S2S
bushels, against /, 751, ,440 last year, nave
been in four weeks 1442O,l5l buShelS,
against S.1T6,073 last year Last year ;
corn movement was by lar the greatest
ever known, and the wheat movement
for the half year nearly ended, has
been close to the maximum reached IN
1891
cents higher for the week, after delIV-
cries of surprising magnitude at Chi
cago and corn closes nearly cent
higher Cotton has also been moving
largely and has risen a sixteenth
Cotton goods have further declined IN
prices of bleached, which meet actlVe
southern competition ana the r an
River spinners insist upon a reduction
of One-ninth in wages, other New
England mills joining Out of l0l New
England works 45 have passed dlV1-
dendS. Il at Fall River. with 10 OIheIS'
having / Der cent for last quarter. The
fall in the price of cotton when mills
were holding heavy stocks OF goods'
placed the industry in a most empar-
RAISING position. WOOlen mllIS nave
begun buying domestic wool heavily,
especially Montana and territory, as IL
assured of LARGE business for the sea-
son to open. Contracts of unknown
magnitude have been made II IS Salu'
many at previous prices, but others at
a moderate advance. Wool IS more
firm. traders having disposed OF S,5OoOgo
pounds territory and 5,50O.OOO POUNDS
other domestic at Boston, and sales at
three cities reached 7.809100 pounds
There is a stronger demand for iron
and its products, besSemer rising TO $AU
and grey forge to SO at Pittsburg, and
the eastern bar association has ad-
vanced the price to 1.01 cent for rehned
and O215 for common. Owing to the
possible changes in freight rates, south-
ern pig is offered 25 cents lower. A
striking feature is the unusual demand
for the season in building cars Oh
which 1000 have been ordered at Chi
cago by one trunk line. and rails there
have advanced to $50 in new business
with sales here of 5000 tons for home
1lse and 1000 for Mexico. Building con-
tracts in unusual number for the sea
son come up; also contracts Tor tIlIte
drainage canals at Chicago The I'M
nois Steel Works have eight months
business booked, with more orders Of
ferine Pine is dull and weak, but res
are quite active and billets have ad-
vanced about so cents. The output OF
ConneIsville coke. 155,I21 tons, IS the
largest for any week this year and
contracts to supply a MahOning furnace
al 81 so for half next year have been
Antbracite coal is 10 cents stronger
with colder weather. Tin is slightly
weaker owing to large shipments.
Failures for the week have been "
in the United States, against 29l last
wear and % in Canada against "A last
year -
BRADSTREET'S REPORT
New York. Dee 25.-Bradstreets says;
Oufetness in Wholesale lines, but pro-
y9o17ncad and notable activity in retail
trade. have been the salient features IN
this weeks trade situation Price
cha neres. which are numerous. are large
" in an upward direction, and the year
draws to a close with results as a
whole fully equaIling and in many in
stances surprising early expectations