The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-04-05
BEST SHOWING FOR QUARTER
YEAR SINCE 1896.
RON AND STEEL TRADE STILL GREAT
Fall OFF as Compared With Weeks
Past, bat Greater for Corresponding
Time Last Year Coarse Cotton
Goods Trade is Dull.

f+Aft "
In spite OF foreign conditions since the
obstruction OF the Maine, February l..
l%1ilureS III three months are smaller than
I'D the first quarter of any year since
1856: the ratio of defaulted liabilities to
payments through clearing houses has
t"en the smallest for that quarter since
ISL; the average of liabilities per firm
ip business has been the smallest since
$3.50, and the average of abilities per
failure has been lower than ever before
jl any quarter. 1t is especially signiti-
can't that the failures for less than $780,
600 without matcrial decrease in number.
were % per cent. smaller in trading.
The var cloud. which may have IN
fcrred, must have greatly increased com-
mcrcial disasters. does not appear to
have any such effect rs yet. Rates for
money have advanced and the 6 per cent.
which used to be the ruling rate in ac-
tive times again prevails. which com
pelS many spectators to liQuidate. But
The imports of gold go far to prevent any
real anxiety. Moreover. although part
OF the hypothecatcd exchange on Eu-
rope has been sold and ordered against
it. there is known to be about 100000
600 more Yet III the banks at New York.
and S12,500.00O i'll other cities. against
which gold is liable to be imported be
cause there is small prospect of any
better settlement.
The outgo of bread Stutfs continues.
Atlantic Nports being 2.316.220 bush
els. flour included. for the week. against
2.1So.3lS last year. and Pacific exports
042,14I bushels. against 13S,2O1 last
YEAR, and for the past five weeks from
both coasts the exports have been IT,
1921 bushels. against last
year. Meanwhile corn exports have
been for the week 3.T67 .O29 bushels.
against 4,2a1 .621 last year. All the
speculative movements ut the west have
been less influential than this heavy and
continued buying Of grain, and western
receipts begin to fall off as if supplies
We're no longer unlimited. Wheat has
declined slightly. but corn has advanced
one quarter cent for the week. and no
one imagines that foreign troubles can
check the outgo. Cotton has advanced
an eighth because of the idea that pro-
duction may be reduced. although re-
ceipts from plantations thus far have
been greater by about 100000 bales than
in 1898. from the largest crop ever
raised, and while the mills are now near
Iy all active the consumption does not
exceed the maximum.
The iron and steel market shows no
decrease.
Failures for the week nave been 30
i'll the United States. against 26O last
year. and - in Canada, against II last
year.
BRADSTREET"S REVIEW.
New York. April 1.-Bradstrcets to-
morrow. Will say:
\ week of rather Quieter general trade
a1I IF Sp,allar JiStrib1tion Jua ia aa-i1y
eXplainable causes. closes Il quarter
which has been eminently satisfactory
to nearly all branches of trade and pro-
ductiy& of unprecedented business in
many favored lines. The heavy foreign
demand for our products, particularly
agricultural staples, and the active do
mestic movement in most lines are cvi-
denced by the heavily increased bank
clcarings reported for the quarter. and
the effect on the commercial mortality
Is favorably reflected in a total. for the
first three months Of 1898. of failures.
and of Liabilities involved. smaller than
i'll the corresponding period for four
years past. Current demand and distri-
button at the east have been interfered
with by the uncertainties growing out
of our unsettled foreign ~relatioS.
Little or no improvement Is found III
the coarse cotton goods trade. and print
cloths have marked Il new low record in
quotations Of > 1-16 cents for regular
goods. The anthracite coal trade is
suffering from the usual Spring com
plants. business is inactive and prices
are weak. There is Il rather more quiet
condition as regards new demand for
IRON and steel at most markets. and
some shading in quotations IS claimed,
but the business doing is on an immense
scale. Good weather at the South ia
HorS an early planting season, but bust
ness based upon this has not been OF
such Il volume as to make up Tor the
puicting in demand noted ut Il number
of coast cities and at river points. where
nigh water is limiting business TO some
extent. Export trade at New Orleans
is reported checked by increased freight
and insurance rates. growing out u
the present unsettled freight situation.
The price situation is, on the whole
quite encouraging THIS week, oats, flour,
print cloths and hides being the most
prominent among the decreases mention
'i. while wheat. corn. lard, coffee, cot
tom and sugar are higher. and the list
IF staples unchanged III price appears
.I" most numerous.
Exports Of wheat. flour included, are
mailer than for some weeks past, but
.rr much larger than III corresponding
weeks Of previous years, a~ggregatln@
'8Iu.6Gi bushels, against 3.S96,OOO
"lshels last week, 2.464.64J bushels in
this week Of last year. 1.G93.927 bushels
H lN5G. 2.S53.93t bushels III 1895, and
-IIS.150 bushels III 1891. Corn cx-
PORTS are. on the other hand. larger than
Tor some weeks past, aggregating t.
'II, I22 bushels. against 4,49G,257 bush
chs last week. 1910. bushels last
wear. and 2.199, 900 bushels III 1896.
Failure records. aS above minated
""Hr Witness to the satisfactory c0ndi-