Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-12-13
|1 IS MOST ENCOURAGING
Activity Shown in Retail Trade In
Nearly All Markets Pleas
ing to Wholesalers.
TRADE OF THE HOLIDAYS IS BOOMING.
Likely to Exceed the Record of Pre-
ceding Years-Export Trade Con,
tinues Encouraging with Indica-
lions of Making the Cl0siAg Month
Of Year Record Breaker.
New York, Dec. 1a.-In the weekly
review OF trade Rradstreet,a Saws:

New York, Dec. 12.-In the weekly
review OF trade Bradstreet's says:
The business conditions Of the country |
continue of most encouraging character. |
A very satisfactory feature. and one full
OF announcement to all wholesale lines OF
trade. Is the activity shown In retail trade
In nearly all markets. Reports received
as to the holiday trade proper, too. point
to the present year constituting q record
maker in this respect. The Importance OF
the early arrival OF real winter weather to
the retail distribution Of heavy clothing
and similar ssasonabls goods can hardly
DO overestimRted.
I'm the wider domain Of general trade
and industry perhaps the most notable
feature has been the continued activity at
advancing prices shown for most classes
OF iron and steel. but particularly pig iron
demand become since the placing OF the
first large rail orders that what is ordinari-
ly regarded as dull period in this industry
has given place to exceptional activity and
the stimulting eject already impaired to
values seems likely to be added to rather
than diminished. 30 far as the outlook for
the coming year can at present be fore
Swallowed. Features Of the week have been
Immense sales OF Bessemsr pig iron, large
sales OF steel billets and heavy orders for
ship plates, the latter at western points.
Car builders, too. have placed large orders.
impelled thereto by the enlarged demand
from railroads. which find their present
facilities for handling goods oyertaxed:
Export trade continues ehcouraginE,
and Of q favorable nature In this respect
IL the weakening In frsishts reported
toward the close Of the week. Increased
supplies, consequent on the heaviest move
ment from farmers hands ever known.
have constituted a bsarish feature in wheat
prices this week. Notwithstanding con-
tinued heavy shipments abroad. and the
coarser grains have sympathized with this
important cereal. Activity In the lumber
trade has been feature calling for COM
ment In many markets. the placing OF large
government orders for yellow pine lumber.
most of which is for export to Cuba, having
insured plenty OF work for number of
southern mills until far in the new year.
| From other branches of the trade reports
| are Of sustained demand OF proportions SUI
| flcient to take care OF seaSonably small re-
| ceipts, and prices retain frmneYs."
Dun's Report.
The report Of r. G. Dun & Co. saysi
The most significant thing OF the week
which has just passed has been the
entire absence Of the customary nervous
1 fright before or after the meeting OF con
gress. the presidents message and tn,
| trsasurer's report No one showed tins
| least alarm, and nobody could find rea
son for any. Money and stock and grair
markets moved on exactly as II the gov
l eminent were AutOIudllCs CSEloM " w W
| say no more than the people had already de
cided and expected. and SO the gradual bet
terment since October continues. There y
larger demand for products in nearly al
the great industries, larger export demand
for foreign needs. a more healthy domesti
demand since seasonable weather arrived
and comforting conviction that Novem
Der business, the biggest ever done In thi
country in any month. was but ste
toward something better.
Exports last year in December wer
marvellous, but this year are starting ia
ahead The Atlantic wheat exports, nou
included. have been for the week $685.. q
bushels, against 4.312,1s7 last year, and Pa
cifc exports 556.623 bushels. against $3.50
last year, and prices haYe declined .
cents for cash. but weatern receipts OF 10
las, 1863 bushels, against 6,el3.4n from lai
years great crop stops argument tn
wheat does not come out at low prices
tho people have less to sell than last yes
at 20 cents more per bushel. So the cor
exports were 4,151 1881. against S.S130s6 lai
year. and such foreign demand at price
,much higher than last year and with whet
cheaper, Is proof Of a state of things abroa
which Americans hardly appreciate. Tt
price declined only one-fourth cent wi,
. enormous receipts.
"This weeks failures have been Ms In Il
United States. against SIP last year. ana
t In Canada. against 20 last year"