Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-03-10

New York March Bradstreet's
says:
Nearly all signs point to an unprece-
deated volume of business being done or
arranging for the present time The aE-
gressive strength of prices. record break
ing bank clearings and continued large ex-
ports, particularly of the lower-priced
cereals. a very heavy volume of business
in iron and steel and kindred lines. and
generally satisfactory reports as to the
volume of spring trade at leading dis
tributive centers are among the visible
features of this trade development. Near
ly all of the country's cereal products are
higher in prices this week, as also some
varieties of provisions, Bessemer pig iron.
copper, raw cotton and tin. Few decreases
in prices are noted, sugar being the most
important, while the list of staples steady
and unchanged numbers pork, coffee, lead
and print cloths The strength of raw cot
ton has had an encouraging effect upon
southern trade, which is generally report
ed good and better than usual at this sea-
son. The export of corn from southern
ports is an additionally favorable feature,
while the practical agreement of southern
iron producers as TO prices. with generally
satisfactory collections at most points, has
impaired a decidedly cheerful tone to adj
vices from that section. Trade Is larger
than usual at the central west, particularly
in dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes.
hardware, lumber and agricultural imple-
ments the demand for the latter being
notable feature at nearly all markets.
Spring trade has opened up well in the
northwest. and the jobbing trade is quite
active Signs are accommodating that the
rush of all sorts of vessels to the PACING
coast to take part in the Klondike trade
has begun to affect charter rates, which
are reported weaker at San Francisco
Dun's Review.
r. G. Dun e. Co., in their weekly re-
view OF trade. say:
Stories OF the most reckless sort dis
proved promptly. and many OF them be-
fore they are told, affected speculation in
stocks much last week and at times this
week. but they have not disturbed the
industries and the trade OF the country
al all. There Is confidence that the au-
thorities are doing what is proper to pro-
vide for public defense, and business is
moving on with the assurance that 1t will
not be seriously disturbed In grain, cot
ton, meat products and petroleum markets
have been strong, with gradual increases
in the demand for manufactured prod
ucts.
Failures in February have been smaller
than in any other month, except three of
the previous five months, with remarkable
decrease in the failures OF 100000 and
over, though in number and amount the
smaller failures show less change than
might have been expected indicating that
in good times or bad large proportion ts
due to causes apart from the general con-
dition of business. The ratio OF defaulted
liabilities to payments through the clear
ing houses Is but S1.71 per $1,000. lower
rate than has appeared In the first quar-
ter of any year except 1880 and 1881 of the
past % years.
Wheat has grown stronger exports con-
tinuing at a rate which threatens exhaus-
ton of supply, If trade reports of farm
ers' stocks are correct. From Atlantic
ports 2.426.24O bushels went out flour in
cluded, against 1855. 416 last year. and from
Pacific ports s64.9 1898. against 1889 bushels
last year. The price has risen cent. but
1t is possible that the estimates of las
years stocks. though 50.000000 bushels in
excess of the government estimates, may
prove too small. Corn has declined only
one-quarter of a cent, with exports OF
4,74S, S43 bushels, against 5.22l. 1855 last year.
Failures for the week have been 251 in
the United States. against 246 last year, and
80 in Canada. against SO last year"