The San Francisco call., 1898-12-17
puNs REVIEW OF TRADE.

NEW YORK Dec 16.-R. G. Dun x Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade tomorrow will say: December Is adding a surprising close 10 the most surprising year of American history NO vember surpassed all other months Of the cen tury in volume of business and production. and thus far December Is doing even better in pay ments through clearing houses. in railroad earnings. in foreign trade in output Of piglron in activity and strength of securities.
 But that is saying a great deal. for in all these and other tests November was far the best month in American financial history. De- cember began with pigiron output of 2S552S tons weekly against 22S, 935 November ], and with stocks of unsold iron diminished 2S9SS tons in November, which indicates consump- tion of 1.o24. .31S tons during the month. Not only is the output the greatest ever known but it has increased 22la per cent since lS92. which developed the greatest monthly record then s14 75 at Pittsburg. but until the middle Of November sold at s10 10 this year. It has since risen with enormous demand and sales to SlO 90 there, with gray forge ss B. but the Chicago market Is also strong with sales of 100000 tons besides 25, 900 tons of billets, which had risen at Pittsburg with big transactions to slb; With scarcity of pigiron feared, both East and west: there Is as yet no rise whatever In finished product although the demand is far beyond all production Steel rails are quoted at s17 per ton at the East. although the Lackawanna Company has taken orders for 1Oo9oo tons tons at at works being sold far ahead, and bids for SZooO tons for Australia are to be opened to-day; -VV'vvN tons deliverable in two years in Asiattc Russia. In other lines the demand for finished products is of surprising magnitude, especially Tn plates and in sheetsS
 The woolen industry also comes to the front with very extensive purchases of wool by large houses and small helped by material con sessions at Boston. so that sales at the three chief markets have been 17,96S,70O pounds, of which 13 S60 200 were domestic. against 15.S07,- 100 pounds last year, of which 7.443,000 were do- nestle and Is. 5O4. 100 in the same weeks of 1892 of which f, 399 500 were domestic
 ha frnn show demand that of the most prosperous years heretofore. Philadelphia has good business. but seems in- clined to ask cents more than Boston prices for fine fleece Ohio xxx being offered at Boston for 2612 cents. A much improved demand for goods has started many mills long idle and at more reasonable prices, has decidedly im- proved
 The exports of wheat continued heavy, from Atlantic ports. flour included. 5492. 692 bushels, against 35SS, ,S05 bushels last year. and from Pacific ports 741, 991 bushels, against ], ,520 SIP outgo has been II, ,S71, $40 bushels against 9.401- 555 last year. AS the wheat output in December of last year was close to the largest record. the returns this year show a really surprising gain. While prices have been cents stronger for cash the Western receipts for two weeks of December have been about S. 000, 900 bushels greater than last year.
 The corn movement is the most astonishing feature of the business. the exports for three weeks have been 7,1s7.302 bushels. against 6, ,326 S94 bushels last year. and the price has advanced 1 cent for the week. Should such a demand for American corn continue 1t would be of enormous value to Western farmers
 Failures for the week have been 2e1 in the United States against 329 last year, and 31 in Canada, against 2S last year.