The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-17
THE CONDITION OF TRADE
Channels of Seasonable Trade
Are Running Full.
A BIG DEMAND FOR STEEL
Activity In the Iron Industry Has
Never Beer Equaied Pre- fitable
Orders Reiused-An Ad-
vance In Prices.

New York. Dec. 16.-Bradstreet's to-
business OF the country to that of a wa
t~ercourse. ii may be authoritativcly
stated that nearly all the channels OF
s~easonable trade are at the present
running full and I'm some lines OF bust
ness the stream is virtually overlooking.
This is particularly the case in iron and
steel. where production and consump-
tive demand are alike going on at an
unprecedented rate. at a time. too.
when il is usual to look for quietness in
this industry. Nothing like the present
activity i'm this anc OF trade has
been seen for years past il, indeed. 1t
has ever been equaled. Advices from
all the leading centers of iron produc-
tion are OF an exceptionally good de-
msnd for the crude and manufactured
products n OF advancing prices. the
only anxiety expressed being that by
buyers desiring early delivery. Prob
ably never before In the country's his
tory has IL been possible for an Ameri-
can steel company TO refuse "A profita-
BILE order for rails for foreign account
on the plea that its mills were already
fully occupied so far ahead as to pre-
clude it's trying for the business. High
er prices for pig iron. steel billets. soft
steel and all sorts Of car material are
reported. while the production of raw
material is at its maximum. Ship
building. too. contributes its portion OF
activity to the iron trade by its urgent
calls for material.
In other lines of business the situa-
lion as regards prices is a favorable
one. notable among the advances re-
ported being nearly all the cereals. cot
ton. coffee. lumber. y lead and "A
variety of other less prominent staples.
Following the slight recession shown i'm
wheat values of last week an improved
demand for export has again developed.
which is evidence OF the fact that
stories OF keen competition from Ar
gentina N Russia have been more or
less discounted. the United States re-
naming. as for some time past. the
principal source OF supply of the world.
Increased interest is being taken in
cotton at the advanced price. Seasonal
BILE quietness is reported i'm the lumber
trade. but prices retain all their old
strength and an active demand is look
ed for with the turn of the year. Holt
day trade is reported extremely active
at most markets. The country's export
trade is of the largest volume ever
known for November. surprising the
total for December a year ago. with the
indications favoring a total rad for
the calendar year at least one-sixth
larger than a year ago and our sales
abroad ag~gregating " dollars for ev-
cry dollars worth We buy.
Wheat, ~ncludin LOT shipments for
the week aggregate 6.O67, 625 bushels
cortland. Me, not received). against
6.66S, 900 bushels last week., 4.604. 399
bushels in the corresponding week of
1897. Since July 1. this year. the ex-
ports Of wheat aggregate l09. 0i3.l :
bushels, against lls.SO9. 097 bushels last
year.
Business failures are about normal.
numbering 233 for the week. against 237
last week. 2S3 In this week a year ago.
359 i'm 1896. 3S5 i'm 1895 and 1923 in 1894.
business failures for the week in the
dominica Of Canada number %. against
20 last week. a. in this week a year
ago. 80 In 1896. ~ In 1896 and "A in 1894.