The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-19
TIE STATE Or TRADE.
X. G. Dun & Co.'s Review.

Cos review OF trade says
The dreadful disaster 10 the Name
much as IL has affected all hearts, mas nor
much affected business. only IN inc STOCK
market. where there was selling eui.s.
gay b. spectators on thin margins Out
in no 0tner speculative maFket was an
effect fslt nor IN general business. An
advance OF 10 per cent. In wages % so.hS
Cog BIC mines is expected 10 De eeneIdI
throughout the lake region, excepting tAe
Mesala district. and prices Oh ore from
the other ranges have been advanced 10
per cent, with an allotment OF a,VvJ,vo
ions outside OF Carnegie names, men
bsyokens an output much larger than ever
known Wheat has risen s9s points, ana
exports continue so heavy that material
advance is natural Atlantic exp IN
three weeks have oeen s,ilo,A3 busheis'
-four Included against 5.ool,9tl last year,
and Pacific exports have been 2,ite,ooz,
against LA 7s2 last year.
Such shipments, with heavy engage
ments for the future. In spite OF H. iSg' nj
bushels in the same week last year. are
conclusive proof OF the urgency OF Tor
eign needs,
Wheat receipts hold up We'll. though not
exceeding last years as much as exports.
in three weeks ..'i5.56o bushels, against
i,si,7i0 last year.
The bottom fact is that the world needs
wheat which this country can only sup
ply for about six months 10 come. The
iron output February l, with reports
OF stocks on hand not held by the great
steel companies. inOjrHtSS a S1tlEGtlHtiC!i
OF at least 3,oo tons per week greater
in January than in the previous maximum
attained In November. 1897. The pFosuc-
ton is at present greater than consump-
tion stocks having increased 500 io-s
weekly in January. outside the steel COM
panies whose stocks presumably de-
creased. Some weakness in pig would
naturally result but while gray forge has
declined at Pittsburg 10 ss.eo. with South
ern iron offered al Chicago at concessions
no change appears in products. Though
new business has been somewhat disap-
pointing the works are mainly supplied
for months ahead.
In the building of steel cars. in black
sheets for timing in rods. wire and wire
nails. an increased demand and heavy
business appears. though bar and pipe
are weaker ana structural orders season
ably slow.
Mine metals have advanced. tin to s142o
on considerable consuming demand. cop
per to $lll+ for lake on heavy exports.
and lead 10 $3.50 and spelter 10 $40 on
speculation. but failure TO organize the
tin pool causes weakness. American SSH
ing at s. and lower al the West.
Failures for the week have been 20 in
the United States, against sos last wear.
and 50 in Canada, against IS last year.
Hradstrcets Review
Bradstreei's tomorrow Will say:
Favorable features dominate the gem
eral business situation a whole. and
there are few commercial conditions of
themselves which can be regarded as iii
aIS NekfEe AlSt0ItlHE- AA&C1 among those
factors which make for continued or
growing strength IN commercial nnes may
he mentioned the renewed tendency to-
ward advances in quotations of all staple
articles, and the steaGiness Of pricea IN
other lines where increases are not ~ the
moment reportah.e. perhaps second in
tho list OF suspicious features il the
marked activity in nearly all branches Of
the iron and steel trade. more particular
~ In the Central West where q IS ati-
thoritauycly reported over - per cent
% the pig iron furnace capacity Is in
blast
The failure Of the Southern furnace men
10 reach a price agreement IS, Of c0lrse
q depressing feature in that section
which. however. tinds a counterhalancing
factor ~ the intention 10 advance prices
reported from BesSemer ore prCssucers
The volume OF distrihutiVe trade shows
an increase. notably In dry goods and gro
cefieS. also many widely separated points
as 80 warrant the conclusion that spring
trade - receiving perCeptibls impetus
Al the West iron and steel mills are re-
ported generally buslly employed ard IN
~idinE 20 take orders for future delivery
Al Chicago 2o.fs0 tons OF stNl rails have
pfen sold IN the past two weeks The
bicycle trade IS reported starting all I'd
81 the " est. bat j. siill slow in the East
where. however. TIE cotton goods sifua-
ton Is one ~ hopeful strength owing IN
me strength of raw materials and the Re-
sstflcton or production due 10 the New
ENSiaTd mill strikes
AS 20 the strength a cotton. sugar and
Tice ard the demand for iron. eli favor
TIE southern trade situation. which Is
also being helped by tho growing foreign
trade IN cotton goods The activity jn
AAAShan shipments keeps vessels busy on
me Faclfc coast and freight rates are
arm California crop pros poets are no.;
encouraging as whole
business failures continue 20 darresSe
aEsreESttpc oDlv 20 for the week aza{ns+
- last week. ~ IN he corresponding xeeb
o. ~, -I6 in iss 81 In lS6 ard - FRI Essf
As above !8tiEat.d, me price situation
is ore OF Aocai strength. Compared Win
a ~eet aso. not one article - staple use il
reported lower. although some 3ow grades
% Wool Eouln have 20 b shaded y sales
wee T-ada- Tais was owing 70 the 2 tsserca
q n manufacturers from the market during
ne past tpo weeks Prices q Ysnarfv Al
kinds ~ Erair bat notably wheat corn
efd Uour. and 81 most metals and pGrtfou-
AIRY steel hitRssS- copper. lead ard TN
have advances The agreement by The
Essserg5eT ore producers will probably re-
suit - 81 advance on the coming seasons
output. Cereal exports tend "a inereasa
Es9oFtS q wheat flour innig8eTA for ia
ask aggregate 90 "a hgSAsls. "a AZ re.
AIS no bushes SET Meek s8@s go tssgshaIs
last wear. AKA go bushels - fses ard I Ak =
H.V bushels n issS- Tho bsIlk e tkss IN
cease ever 4zst week - charged Die 70 lzr-c
Eoar exports