The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-22
BUSINESS IMPROVING.
The Volume of Business Remark-
able Tor This Time of the Year.
Thirtv-eight Per Cent. Larger
Than Last Season.

New York, Jan. 21.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'s weekly review of trade Will say
tomorrow:
With a volume of business remark
able for the time Of the year, 3S per
cent. larger than year ago and LA
per cent. larger than in 1892 in pGy-
ments through clearing houses, it is
discouraging that one or two indus
tries are tagging. The demand for
most goods is more heavy for the sea-
son, manufacturing works are better
employed and business orders hooked
and prospects for the future are more
encouraging, than at this season in any
other year Of which equally definite
records exist Exports of products
continue surprisingly heavy in spite of
some rise in prices. The treasury re-
ceipts from customs were larger in
twenty days of January than in the
entire month of October or November,
and apprehension regarding the none
tary future is no longer felt outside of
speculative circles. Failures are con-
siderably smaller than were ever
known at this season, both manufac-
turing and trading less than half last
years. Railroad earnings in January
thus far reported have been 176 per
cent. larger than last year, and 1913 per
cent. larger than in 1892.
The rise of wheat above a dollar in
regular sales was not accompanied by
signs of speculative excitement. In
fact, the continuance of extraordinary
exports, 2,945, 705 bushels, flour includ-
ed, for the week from Atlantic ports,
against 1,173,2l5 last year, besides 4,O36,-
$40 from Pacific ports for three weeks,
would give excuse for high prices, even
if the corn exports were not enough to
suggest great foreign need amounting
to 9,270 lS9 bushels against 10,U4,293 for
three weeks The fact that Cargoes Of
corn Were shipped during the week
both to Egypt and Russia, the very
countries upon which Europe most re-
lies for breadstuffs next to the United
States, affected trade not unreasonably.
Just when unprecedented production
of pig iron was causing weakness. eX-
traordinary demand for finished pro-
dutcs appears. For this season, at
least, the general demand is beyond
precedent, including 100000 tons steel
rails for the week and 1200, 600 already
this year, orders for plates so large
that Pittsburg works send away some
to other concerns, unable to fill all they
receive, orders for bar such that many
concerns are obliged to refuse more,
an excellent demand for sheets, and
fair for structural forms. Nor does
this demand spring from efforts to
combine makers of wire and it's pro-
ducts, and makers of tin plates. Prices
of all finished products are sustained
by the demand, though Bessemer pig is
five cents lower at Pittsburg, but pig
at Chicago is strong with some pro-
| ductiCn of finished forms delayed by
its scarcity, the great strike of oper-
| atiVes in cotton mills of New England
seems as convenient to mill owners
with their heavy stocks unsold as if
| they had ordered it. Probably it will
| last long enough to work off stocks,
| and the print cloth market is already
about ] per cent. stronger v hile q
slight advance is noted in some other
| cotton goods. With very stagnant
markets for wool, sales amounting to
only 5,395,2O0 pounds at the three chief
cities, which reported over 1S,G00,000 in
one week of September, and &C, 800 900
in four weeks, the inquiry for sound
lots is mainly for three-eights and
| quarter blood, suitable for cheviOts,
but have resulted in little dealing. The
mills have taken satisfactory orders for
such goods, probably not without
knowing where they could get the
wool, and the goods movement is dis
tinctly encouraging, though quotations
Of the higher priced heavyweights Rre
still deferred. But a very large busi-
| ness for the coming season is already
| assured. according to reliable accounts
entitled to confidence.
Failures for the week have been 374
in the United States against 400 last
year, and SO in Canada against G5 last
! yer.