The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-31

tate the rate OF exchange Exports have
been about 81, 25O. coo, 600 and the excess over
imports about $617. 10000. against 1851 co.,
e01 in 1897, and in only two previous years
mas the balance risen to $500, 000. 900. In no
past calendar year have net imports of gold
reached $l5,000C00, but this year they have
been about $40 900, 900. November passed all
PREVIOUS months in value of produce exports
over imports, but December has gone much
beyond November.
Power in the worlds markets comes with
a demand for breadstuffs and other neces-
saries never before equaled. Exports of cot
ton have been over 100000 bales. about
S,s36C0o,0OO pounds. and in no previous year
as much as 100000 bales, or $500 900. 900
pounds. Exports of breadstuffs have been
IN value $2eS,SlS,2S4 in eleven months and
have never been as large in any other year.
Exports of wheat for the year, lacking
day Or two. have been us, 594. $50 bushels,
Hour included, slightly exceeded by 225, 665.-
NJ bushels in 1892, and of corn 200979,077
bushels, only approached by 1S9, 127.570
bushels in 1897. The heaviest exports of
both grains and flour in any previous year
We're 100000 bushels smaller only $50. 220,-
5i3 in 1897
The triumph in finance has been largely
due to industrial progress. The output of
pig iron mas been about IL $4,000 tons the
greatest yet reached i'm any year by 2,OC0O00
tons and greater than Great Britain ever
reached by 2.S1VOeO tons Yet the consump
uon IN manufacture has been still larger,
~ spite OF net exports in pig. in ten months
lsS0s9 tons Exports of iron manufactures
IN ten months We're about SS7 6if5s2 in
value against imports of $I3 1851 Prices
SHOWN for the year in the table of COM
parsons nave been unusually steady, vary
ing not per cent. for pig from the lowest
70 me highest and for finished products not
per cent.
Textile industries have been retarded by
Hieh prices or wool and abnormally low
prices of cotton. both deterring purchasers
IN three months cotton reached 5.31 cents.
me lowest price for fifty years. the greatest
yleld ever known being followed by re-
ceipts since September 3J7 900 bales larger
than last year. Exports have increased
out not as greatly. Toward the close re-
eovery came with accounts of some destruc-
ton by storm, and the price reached 5.0
cents, giving strong impulse to the manu-
Iacture, so the taldngs by Northern and
southern spinners in the calendar year have
Teen 342S. 200 bales, little greater than i'm
any previous crop year Goods were re-
Guced IN price 3 per cent to the middle of
november, but have risen per cent. and
closed at the highest point for the year
IN spite or enormous stocks held wool was
so lifted that buying both of wool and of
goods was checked early in the year. but
SLOW decline began in February. Sales have
been only 232, .131 pounds at the three
cnie1 markets, so that the mills have prob
ably used less than full years supply and
the STOCK or goods was also excessive year
ago.
Failures In the United States for the week
We're 2o2 and in Canada twenty-five, total
"a, against 2S9 last week, 292 the preceding
week and ZIG the corresponding week last
ana twenty-one in Canada OF failures i'm
the United States seventy-four have liabiIi-
Ties exceeding 5000 and us liabilities less
IMAM 5000 For four weeks of December
the total liabilities of firms failing were
ll6y,6O5. against $40, $50 last year.