The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-26
THE WAR SCARE
AFFECTS TRADE.
Il Accounts in Part for a Check in
Whelt's Rise.
IRON MANUFACTURE IMPROVES.
Failures Decrease--With n Few Ex-
ceptions the Prices Indicate
strength--CottOn Situation Is
Firm-Steel Rails for Alaska.
IRON MANUFACTURE IMPROVES.


Foreign possibilities have much affected
speculation and caused hesitation in some
;argo business operations. possibly ac-
counting In part for a check in the rapid
advance OF wheat, but Industrial pro-
duction continues larger than ever, a few
more works being added to the active list,
with @ decline On number Of hands on
strike and renewed evidence that tho
volume Of business IS larger than In Feb
ruary OF any previous year; nor Is there
any symptom Of IL serseless craze based
on rising PRICES The legitimate export
and domestic demand presses closer TO
the capacity of works. and though there
Is no Eighty advance IN any line. and IN
all narrowness Of profit Is a matter o.
mpaint. new business for this dut
season is unprecedented.
WHEAT DECLINES.
Wheat contlued its progress upward
until l0S75 VAS reached on Monday but
declined Ia cent later as II there were
fear that SPAN would somehow stop
British vessels from taking wheat across
y
eien possibilities deserves little notice
bat the price has advanced about ten
cents since Chicago spectators last took
occasion 20 SHAKE of weak followers and
the opportunity Tor reaction was inviting
There is no abaling Of foreign demand
Atlantic exports were I9GSNl bushels
flour included for the week against
1864 last year. and Pacific exports.
] --t AGAINST f.- f.t last wear
I'm view Of current excitement these fe
uros are more important than The aggre-
gate for four weeks. 10 i95,9l2 bushels.
against 65sSf5 last year from Atlantic
ports and i053,0&, against l6ll2i6 from
Pacific ports
Corn exports for the week were 1A5
per cent less than last year, but the
cash price declined but slightly. The
spo; price Of cotton was not affected.
IL Is not the season for much improve
ment IN textile manufacture but the
cotton branch has gained by the closing
of the strike in one Fan River mill an,
by the addition Of some works Al the
South. The wool manufacture meets
many cancellations. and especially in
goods sod early without definite prices.
but 10 IS no more than ever at this sca-
son, tIough higher grades Of worsted arc
not particularly encouraging. Sales are
slow with weakness in clothing amount
Ing 10 ABOUT two cents decline from the
highest point. indicating THAI mills have
at present abundant stocks. but some are
selling foreign wool IN order 70 take sup
pies of other qualities.
An goods oi medium and low grades The
demand continues large. The silk man
ufacture shows remarkable increase
during the last Sass months having inn
ported raw material FAR iu excess or con-
sumption in any previous year and al
rate Of 40 per cent above the Imports
In the last census.
IRON.
The iron manufacture has improved for
products and slightly better prices for
Besscmcr pig. which has advanced Go
5000 at Pittsburg with Grey forgl un-
changed there local coke strong 90 Chi-
cago On spite OF some southern weakness.
and eastern anthracite real Us unchanged
.lough quotations are shdi, lower no
finished products have changed 600 price
and an ave strong in demand excepting
bar which a combination has failed 20
advance. some large contracts are re-
ported especially in car and bridge bui'd-
ing. ship and structural work. and the
ais changed bur little. lin weakening
shade TO- forty cents with large receipts.
Failures foT The week have been 23S In
the United States. against 296 last year
and so in Canada. against 50 last year
Bradstrcet's.
NEW YORK. February 25.-Bradstreets
tomorrow will say:
While business Of a speculative nature
has been quick 20 reflect the increasing
strain in political affairs Ia reduced values
and Withdrawals or curfailment of ac-
uvity in some lines. there is little % indi-
cate that the volume ol distributive trade
has been reduced. ana reports 10 Brad
streets this week. SO far as the latter
branch oil business Is concerned. are
among the hest received this year
with Few important exceptions the
prices indicate strength. while the en-
larged demands for coarse grains IS taken
60 reflect the turning Of attention from
high-priced cereals 10 those Of a lower
priced character. Al the East Lost week
squirt IN the dry goods trade at Boston
does not seem 10 have held but al New
York there is considerably more doing IN
the jobbing trade.
COTTON AND WOOL.
The cotton situation is one OF nrmness
rejecting alike the curtailment OF proouc-
uon srowlng OUT on ,aDor troubles aul
the hrmness or raw cotton induced by
good export demand. Wool is firm, but
The demand has perceDubly sllckened
and there is less do.ng ~ manufactureo
goods. The best reports as 90 the dis
-rbuuon OF trade mde so far this year
comes form the Central West Spring
trade there is reported earlier than
usual.
Kansas City, perhaps the most inn
p0rtaut market for agricultural impie-
ments IN the country. reports the demand
exceeding all records and sales limited
only by the ABILITY to deliver orders. The
demand for iron and steel al the West
sun continues large and prizes axe firm.
4 feature cl .Ae Chicago trade has
been the placing Of an order for 5.Co0 i0us
Of steel rails for o rahroad Va Alaska.
Almost eqnlly good reports come from
the Northwest where trade is reported
either fully equal 20 or ahead of last
year. The south seems 20 have shared
in The Improvement To "a notable extent.
Collections arc reported retarded in Texas.
owing TO the holding back of cotton.
The word "Ki0ndike' accurately pic
lures the situation on the Pacific coast.
An eyes appear 90 be fixed on the out
fitting trade and the transportation OF
men and supplies 10 the North
Exports Of wheat Including -four, from
this country ard Canada during the p'sf
week Qye davO aggregate 3,s2 4ie
bushels. against 1892 ~ bushels last wee;