The Portland daily press., 1897-09-18
CrOakers Not Content With Present
Prosperity.
NO GROUND HOWEVER FOR THEIR
APPREHEKSIONS.
The Return o. Coal Strikers to Work at
Advanced Wages the Best News of the
Week-Iron Shows Increasing Demand
and Higher Prices-Boot and Shoe
Shipments Show Increase.

New York, September 17.-R. 6. Dun
& Company in their weekly review Of
trae, tomorrow will say:
The end of the bituminous coal strike
and the return of many thousand men
to work at advanced wages adds to the
purchasing power of the people and the
anthracite strike affects not fifth as
many workers. The starting of many
mines and works, the enormous exports
of wheat and corn, the favorable news
as to these crops and cotton, the fall in
sterling exchange and the report show
exceeded exports by 50. 800, 5S7, while
merchandise exports exceeded imports
by S4, 953, 1858. 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 it SO vast and rapid that
they fear reaction. But consumers as
well as dealers have also to supply them
selves after years of enforced economy,
and while their power to purchase is in
creasing every day, and their actual buy
ing at retail, reasons for apprehension are
not urgent. When the tide rises after
again after four weeks.
The wheat market has declined over
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,
prospects in Argentina, Australia and
India, hold out no promise OF large
European supplies, or of any until win
ter is about over. Atlantic exports of
wheat, flour included, are more than
double last years each week, and in two
weeks $3.50, 313 bushels against 4,1O7, ri
last year, and of corn Z, ,095, 1868 bushels,
against 8, 1897, 826 last year.
The iron industry again shows increas-
ine5demand and an averagetof prices near
ly per cent higher, due to purchasing
by consumers. Buying of100,000 tons
OF Bessemer pig iron at Pittsburg has ad-
vanced the price to $40, grey forge is hard
to find there at $9.15, and billets sell at
SIS. so.
With output increased to 122, 43l tons
weekly, Connellsville coke advanced to
81. 40 for furnace.
The shipments of boots and shoes from
Boston are 23 per cent larger than for
the same weeks in September last year,
which in turn exceeded those of year
previous. While leather is held firmly in
spite of decreasing business, hides at Chi
cago have taken turn downward, de-
clining an average of 3.8 per cent for the
week. Textile mills are more fully en-
ployed than at any other time for years,
though new buying has diminished in
amount, and though while the number
of orders received is still large the
amount is smaller. The demand is still
very good for the season and prices are
firm throughout with some further ad-
vances. Actual business in buying of
wool by mills is increasing at all mar
kets with the belief that foreign supplies
are short.
Failures for the week have been 204 in
the United States, against 317 last year,
and 40 in Canada, against 80 last year.