Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-26
THE STATE OF TRADE.
Despite War-scare. Industrial Pro-
ducfion Larger Than Ever.

q. Dun * Co.'S Weekly Review or Trade
will say in its issue Of tomorrow: For
eign possibilities have much affected
speculation and caused hesitation In some
large business operations, possibly ac-
counting in part for a check in the rapid
advance of wheat, but industrial produc-
ton continues larger than ever, few
more works being added to the active
list with a decline in the number OF
hands on strike and renewed evidence
that the volume Of business is larger than
In February of any previous year; nor Is
there are symptom OF a senseless craze,
based on rising prices. The legitimate ex-
port and domestic demand presses closer
TO the capacity of works. and though
there is no Eighty advance In any line,
and in all narrOwness Of profit Is mat
ter OF complaint, the new business Tor
this dull season is unprecedented.
Wheat continued its progress upward
until $1.OS.75 was reached on Monday but
declined Ia cents later, as IL there were
fear that Spain was somehow TO stop
British vessels from taking wheat across
the water. Any yielding based on for
eign possibilities deserves little notice,
but the price has advanced about 10 cents
since Chicago spectators last took occa-
sion TO shake off weak followers, and the
opportunity for reaction was inviting.
IneTe is no OF IOItiSu
Atlantic exports were 1,96S.Sl4 bushels
flour included for the week, against
1926 4i4 last year. and Pacific exports
1910. 376. against 136.46i last year. In view
Of the current excitement these hgures
are more important than the aggregate
for four weeks, 10. 496 .9l2 bushels, against
65SS. 4l5 last year. from Atlantic ports,
and 4053,O2S, against l,6ll, 246 from Pacific
ports.
Corn exports for the week were 145
per cent less than last year, but the
cash price declined but slightly: The spot
price OF cotton was not affected.
It is not the season for much improve
ment in textile manufactures. but the
cotton branch has gained by the closing
of the strike in one Fall-River mill and
bv the addition of some works at the
South. The wool manufacture meets many
cancellations, and especially I'm goods sold
early, without definite prices; but II -
no more than ever at this season, though
higher grades of worsted are not particu-
larly encouraging. Sales are slow, with
the weakness in clothing amounting TO
about a cents decline from the highest
point indicating that mills nave at
present abundant stocks, but some are
selling foreign wool in order 10 take sup
plies Of other qualities
IN goods of medium and low grades the
demand continues large. The SILK manu-
facture shows a remarkable increase du-
ring the last six months, having imported
raw material far i'm excess of consump-
ton in any previous year, and at a rate
100 per cent. above the imports in the last
census.
The iron manufacture has improved for
products. and there Is slightly better
prices for Bessemer pig, which has adj
Vanced TO 5000 at Pittsburg, with gray
forge unchanged there. Local coke Is
strong al Chicago, in spite Of some south
ern weakness, and eastern anthracite -
really unchanged though quotations are
a shade lower. No finished products nave
changed in price, and all are strong IN
demand excepting bar, which comDlna-
ton has failed to advance. Some large
contracts are reported. especially in car
and bridge building and ship and struc-
tural work. and the demand for sheets Is
heavy. The minor metals have changed
but little tin weakening a shade, 10 IL
cents, with large receipts. -
The failures for the week have been 255
I'm the United States. against 2s6 last
year. and 80 in Canada, against % last
year.
REPORTS TO BRADSTREETS GOOD.
Bradstreets tomorrow will say:
While business Of a speculative nature
has been quick to reflect the increasing
strain i'm political affairs in reduced values
and Withdrawals or curtailment or actlV-
ity I'm some lines, there Is little TO indicate
that the volume Of distributiye trade mas
been reduced. and reports 10 Bradstrte'
this week so far as the latter brancn OF
received this year. With few important
executions the prices indicate strength
while the enlarged demand for coarse
grains is taken to reflect the turning OF
attention from high-priced cereals TO
those of a lower-priced character.
AT the East, last weeks squirt in the
dry-goods trade at Boston does not seem
10 have held but at New YORK there Is
considerably more doing In the JopDlns
trade The cotton situation Is one OF
oil
of production, growing out or labor trou-
bles. and the frmness of raw cotton, IN
duced by a good export demand. WOO ,si,,
is firm but the demand has percepuply
slackened. and there is less doing IN man
ufactured goods. The best reports as 70
The distribution of trade made so tar
this wear come from the Central West.
Spring trade there is reported carrier IMAM
usual. -. ,,ro,.
tant market for agricultural implements
in the country, reports the demand tN-
ceeding all records, and sales liinlteu V, n
bv the ability TO deliver orders. ne
demand for iron and steel at the west
etiu continues large, and prices are hrm.
a feature OF the Chicago trade mas peell
the ulacing OF an order Tor 9,OO IONS OF
steel rails for a railroad in Alaska. A.
most equally good reports come Ii er'nrt tl
Northwest. where trade Is reported
either fully equal 10 or ahead OF lasl
wears The South seems 20 nave shareu
i'm the improvement TO notable extent ull,
Collections are reported retarded In Tex
as. owing to the holding back OF COTTON COTTON:
The word Klondike accurately pictures
the situation on the Pacific coast. All
ewes appear TO be fixed on the outnttinss
trade and the transportation OF men ana
supplies to the North. AZ. A., from,
Exnorts of wheat Qncluding -FOUR from
this country and Canada during the pass
week five days. aggregate 3,72'469 push-
els AGAINST 382.7A bushels last week,
/. 372. 2l6 bushels a year ago, z,zVo,HS col III
iS9s ? $50 OSS in 1885 and 2972.29O In lsyl'
Corn exports amount To 36&.iy9 busneisss
against 5.O56 SIS bushels last week 4,t4t'o,yo
in this week q year ago, 3,loS,3lS Dushels
en- iSqs and S47, 900 bushels In 1899.
very large drop in the NUMBER on
hnsiness failures Is indicated by reports
IN Rradstreets this week. the total num-
her being only 1S3. against 26s last Meee,
90 IN The corresponding week Of 1897, yIl
in 1896 ga i'm 1896 and 272 in 1891
Rusiness failures I'm the Dominion on oi
Canada this week number 10, against SO
lagt week so in this week year ago Of
in 1896. and A I'm 1893.
KNIT GOODS MANUFACTURERS.