The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-10
NOT DISTURBED BY CONGRESS.
Absence of the Usual Business Fright
when Congress Opens.

New York, December 9.-R. g. DUN
& Co.'s weekly review Of trade tomorrow
will say:
The most significant thing this week
has been the entire absence of the GUS
tomary nervous fright before or after
the meeting OF Congress the Presidents
message and the treasurer's report.
There is larger demand for products
in nearly all the great industries, larger
export demand more health
full domestic demand since seasonable
weather arrived and comforting con-
yiction that November business, the big
gest ever done in this country in any
month, was but a step toward some-
thing better.
Exports last year in December were
marvellous, but this year are starting
far ahead. The Atlantic wheat exports,
fiour included, have been for the Week
5, ,636. 767 bushels. against 4,3l2. l17 last
year and Pacific exports 556, 5S5 bushels,
against 97s,s ,s0S last year. Prices have
declined 3-A cents for cash. Western re.
ceipts were 1913. lS9 bushels, against o.
siS, Al last year. Corn exports were A.
ISL $3.50. against 8.8ls. 0s6 last year. The
price declined only IA O. with enormous
receipts
Cotton shared in the export movement
fully, and nevertheless has risen 3-l6 in
price, with feeling that estimates Of
yield may have been excessive. The CON-
sumption in this country is not very
large, but the demand for goods Is better,
and had lifted the price of print cloth an
eighth and I. some other goods shade.
Wooden goods have been In much better
demand. The market is more healthy and
sales Of 10.655,200 pounds in two weeks
past at the three chief markets. against
10. .852, 700 pounds in the same weeks of
1892, are quite in line with demand in
prosperous years. Sales of boots and
shoes from the east were smaller for the
week than in most other years because OF
the storm, but wholesalers here were at
work night and day, some for six or
fiji orders and retail trade throughout the
country is greatly improved.
The rupture of the Inchoate rail combl-
nation. it appears, resulted in lower prices
and larger sales in the first week of sharp
competition than were realized week
ago. Prices were made in some transac-
tions much lower than were then or are
now quoted, and while SIT at Pittsburg
is now named, special orders are said to
command lower figures. Pig iron has
risen at the east to $ll. 80 and Quotations
average for pig throughout the country.
a shade higher than at anytime this year.
Tin is weaker at Is cents and copper is
weaker at IL SIS cents, WITH exports of H.
4l5 tons in November. Lead is dull at
3. so cents, though the first step for con-
solidation of producers is reported. The
volume of business, domestic and foreign
is very heavy. Exports from New York
for the week were II per cent larger than
last year, and for five weeks 28 per cent
larger, while imports were 3 per cent
larger and for five weeks about the same.
PAYMENTS through the principal clearing
houses for the first full week OF December
were 90 4 per cent larger than last year
and IA. s larger than in 1899. fact espsci
alIy significant after the heavy excess of
las5 month. This weeks failures have
been 24S in the United States against Sla
last year and % in Canada, against 20
last year.