Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-10
THE BUSINESS SITUATION.


Bradstreet's for last week says:
"Nearly all sigma point TO an unprece-
donted volume of business being done
or arranging for at tho present tinre.
The aggressive strength of prices, record
breaking bank clearings aud continued
large peports, particularly Of the lower
priced cereals, very heavy volume OF
business iu iron and steel and kindred
lines, and generally satisfactory reports
as to tho volume of spring trade at
loading diatributive centres, arc among
the visible features of this trade devel-
opment. Nearly all OF the country'a
cereal products arc higher in prices
this week, as are also some varieties OF
provisions, Bessemer pig iron, copper,
raw cotton and tin. The further adj
vance in pig iron this weak would seem
to indicate that the immense current
production is ss yet without Visible
effect IN values. The price Of copper
showed an advance OF nearly cent per
pound during February. whilo the CON.
gumptive demand ind statistical posi-
tion are such "a 10 load to confidence,
ut least in the maintenance Of present
prices, il not Of further advance. Few
decreases in prices arc noted, sugar
bHihS tub uu5b lHlDbEbhltI Whlip Ahp
list of staples steady and unchanged
numbers nork, coffee, lead and print
| cloths. Tho strength of raw cotton has
hand encouraging effect upon South
| ern trade, which is generally reported
good AMI better than usual at this
aeHson. Tho export of corn from South
ern ports is an additionally favorable
feature, while the practical agreement
| rf t,,, al
| with generally satisfactory collections
ut most points, has impaired decidedly
| cheerful tone TO adyiees from that Sec
tion. Trade is larger thar usual at the
central west, particularly in dry goods,
grocorieg, boots and shoes, hardware.
| Ia nber and agricultural IMPLEMENTS
| the demand for the latter being nota.
BILE feature at nearly all markets.
Spring trade has opened up well in the
Northwest and the j0bbiBg trade ia
quite aetive.''
II. q. Dun 4 Co. IS Review voices the
opinion that "while the milton stands
rsady to support President Mckinley,
as il was ready to support President
| Cleveland, 10 any Just controversy, ii
is gratifiod by the calmness and justice
shown in waiting until facts determine
whether there ia ground for complaint.
The nation looks for peace, but Knows
that its sources Of prosperity are quito
beyond the reach of any attack that is
possible. In grain, cotton, meat pro
ducts and petroleum. markets have
been stronger. with gradual increase in
the demand for manufactured products.
Failures in February have bean smaller
than in any other month, except three
of the previous fiftytwo months, with
remarkable decrease in tho failures fol
500, 600 and over, though 10 number
and amount the smaller failures show
loss change than might have been ex'
pected, indicating that in good timer
or had large proportion is due tc
cauRes apart from tne general condi
tiou of business. The evidence of gen
eral safety and solvency is gratifying.
while in most branches Of manufacture
and trade defaults are smaller than IL
February for four years past. produc
tlon of pig iron is the greatest evel
known, some furnaces having started
10 tho pnst month, but Bessemer hilieti
are 10 scarce at Chicago that aomt
works arc embarrassed. and heavy pur
cbasss at Pittshurg, including one o
%. 600 tons. have stiffoned the pricoa 81
that Bessemer pig and local coke a
Chicago are stronger than since Noyem
Der lst."