Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-17
DUN'S REVIEW OF TRADE

NEW York, December 1s.-R- @. Dun
& Co.'S weekly review of trade viii say
tomorrow:
December II adding close to the most
surprising year of American history. Mo-
vember surpassed all other months Of the
century in volume of business and pro-
duction, and thus far December Is dong
even better in payments through clear
ing houses, in railroad earnings, in for
eign trade, in output of pig iron, in activ-
ity and in strength of securities. But that
is saying great deal, for in all these
and other tests November was far the
best month of American financial history.
December begins with pig iron output Of
2c5, 52S tons weekly, against 22S 935 Novem-
Der 1st and with stocks of unsold iron
diminished 1853 tons in November, which
indicates a consumption of 10sA, S1S tons
during the month. Not only is the out
put the greatest ever known. but it has
increased 221k per cent. since 1872, when
the greatest monthly record ever known
then was made, and Bessemer pig was
then selling for STATS at Pittsburg, but un-
til the middle of November sold at $lo.lo
this year II has since risen with enor-
nous demand and sales to $l0.o there
with grey forge at s935 but the Chicago
market is also strong with sales OF Woooo
tons. besides Is 600 tons billets, which had
risen at Pittsburg with big transactions
to s15 With scarcity of pig iron feared,
both east and west, there is yet no rise
whatever in finished products, although
the demand is far beyond all product.
lie S1I ton
the east, although the Lackawanna COM
pany has taken orders for 100000 tons at
the west, both the Pittsburg and Chicago
works being sold far ahead, and bids for
, 90 600 tons for Australia are to be opened
to-day. while Chicago has pending bid
for 200. 900 tons deliverable in two years in
Asiatic Russia. In other lines the demand
for finished products is of the same sur
prising magnitude, especially in plates
and in sheets.
The wooden industry comes to the front
with very extensive purchases of WOOL by
large houses and small, helped by mater
ial concessions at Boston, SO that sales
at the three chief markets have been II,
e6S, 100 pounds, of which Is, seq 80 were
domestic, against 15,3C7,1c0 last year. of
which 7AaOO were domestic and 1904 leo
in the same weeks of 1892, of which l., 399 :
coo were domestic. The transactions show
a demand fairly up to that OF those
PROSPEROUS years heretofore. Philadelphia
has good business but seems inclined to
ask lie to &c more than Boston prices for
fine fleece, Ohio Xxx being offered at Bos-
ton for 2S14c. A much improved demand
for goods has started many mills and the
prospects for the next season with wool
at more reasonable prices has decidedly
improved.
The exports of wheat continue heavy,
From Atlantic ports, -four included, o.
1872 692 bushels, against 1858, So5 last year;
from Pacific ports, TAI 991 bushels, against
/ 80 612 bushels last year, SO that for two
weeks the outgo has been 1LG1,54 BUSH
els, against 9,4H, 500 last year. AS the
wheat output in December of last year
was close to the largest on record, the re-
turns this year show a really surprising
gain While prices have been &c stronger
for cash. the western receipts for two
weeks of December have been about 81
oc0 Go bushels greater than last year.
The corn movement is the most aston
ishing feature Of the business, the exports
for three weeks having been 1882 bush
els. against 6,c26, s94 bushels last year, and
the price has advanced 1c for the week.
Should such a demand for American corn
continue it would be of enormous value
to western farmers.
Failures for the week have been 261 in
the United States against 500 last year,
and 81 in Canada agar Is last year.