Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-04-28
THE BUSINESS SITUATION.

r. g. Dun & Co. q Review for last
week says:
| There is no EXCUSE oycent want OF
nerve for decline in railway stocks
whom earnings have heen IA. 3 per cent
larger than last year for the first MALI
of Arril, and t. per cent larger than
in 1852, With railway tonnage eaatbound
from Chicago about 10 per cent larger
than in 1892. Neither are clearing
house transactions glunmy. The week q
payments we're 30 per cent larger than
last ysar and CO per cent larger than
in 1892.
In no aspect eau the wheat market
be considereu without finding just
occasion for q material advance in
prices. which has been 7.25 cents for
the week. Tho exports from Atlantic
coast ports have been 3. 10I. 800 bushels,
-four included. against |, 100, 392 last
year, and from Pacific coast points
49, CSC bushels, against G3, 30 last
year. making for the three weeks of
April $3.50, 1872 bushels from Atlantic
ports, against 3. 55S, ITO bushels last
year, nnd from Pacific ports 2, $50, CPS
bushels, against liz, Sfl for the same
weeks last year. The exports of corn
during tho same three weeks have been
ll.3i0 1888 hushels, against ~, 81, 1Gt
bushels last year, which is strong evil
dence that the demand for wheat il in
no ssnse fictitious.
With 30 600 tons bessemer iron sold
at Pittsburg for $40. 40, and with deal
ings in grey forge unchanged. and
sales OF 30, GJ0 tons to car wheel makers
Mono at Chicago, and 10. 900 tona at
Eastern wnrks Of Pennsylvania, with
some at tho South for pige manu-
facturers, the enurmOus production does
not diminish. No decrease in prices
| appears, and the production continues
practically uncnanged nc the highest
pnint over known, although in Eastern
markets the output ia considered some
what in excess OF supply. Copper 10
stronger, with heavy demand.
In woolena tho heavy cancellations
recently reported prove to lie in large
measure requests for deferred deliveries,
bur better demand has been seen
during tho past week in some quarters
| on account of largo government orders.
| In cotton goods tho resumption of work
| 10y several large mills has increased the
| output. and tho demand does not an
| poar to have diminished. Tho print
cloths are at the lowest punt ever
known. sales are OF considerable volume,
anu there ia at leaar enough demand
for othor gunfis to prevent any agree
mont of manufacturers as TO decrease
of working capacity.
| Bradstfeet'5 resume of thu business
situation for tho past week is as folluwa !:
In commercial lines this week much
interest and activity has heeu mani
fested in the speculative ami actual de-
mand for laading stuplas. such az wheat,
corn, oats, flour. cnifeu, sugar most
pork products and cotton. A reflection
OF this active demand, which had its
rise, so far as wheat and cotton arc con
corned, among foreign buyers, who wish
to anticipate any possible interruption
of supplies. is found 10 the movement
OF prices, which, for the first time for
many weeks past, shows q general up
ward tendency.
The advances in coffee, sugar aud rico
are directly traCoable 10 war influences,
marking, as they do, either desire ON
the part OF the domestic buyers tn pro-
tect themselves against any possible in
terrnption OF aupplies. Or the antici-
pated levying of taxation 70 meet the
Increased outlay of the government.
Careful sel Oh among the quotations
for staple products fails to reveal any
important decline in prices. outside Of
q fractional marking down OF steel
billets at some markets.
The total shipments of wheat flour
included) this week aggregate 3, 223, LOG
bushels, agains. 4,525, 302 nushels last
week, l,G14, G66 bushels in this week
year ago. l, 2S6, 600 bushels ia 1895,
2,43l. 900 bushels in 1895, and 2, 1877, 900
bushels in 1904. Corn exports this
week aggregate 3.363. 900 bushels,
against 4.6G6,000 bushels last week,
4, 100, goo bushels in this week last yoar
and Isl, 900 bushels in 1896.
There were 22l business failures in
the United States this wosE, against
2l5 last week, ZIG in this week year
ago, $40 in 1896 and 223 in 1895.
Business failures in the Dominion of
Canada for the week plumber 10. against
q last week, y in this week q year
ago, 81 in 1896, and 20 in 1895.
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SheDher ls of fsethteha,n