The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-12-03

The Past Tear Has Been the Best the 5us-
incss woid Ever Experienced
New York. Dec. 2.-Bradstreets tomor-

lroW VIII seyi
The business world enters on the clos
ling month Of the year with 50 many fav
lorable and so few depressing features Il
sight as to leave little doubt that the yea
1898 as whole must hereafter furnish thu
basis for estimate when comparisons o
Ilarge business to be made. Nearly all OBJ
tainable statistics and reports as to th'
volume Of business point TO the present
year having heavily exceeded any former
year in the amount Of business done and
though comparisons as regards prices are
not so favorable as In earlier years nota'
bly, 1892 and 1896 when quotations Of most
staples were considerably higher, still the
expansion IN trade, due to increased pop
ulation and enlarged foreign demand FOR
our products, has resulted in an aggregate
volume Of business done considerably in
excess of cay former years.
GENERAL BUSINESS.
In the general business world the lead
ing event of the week has undoubtedly
been the placing of very large orders, es-
timated at between 100000 and 100000 tons
of steel rails, more than one quarter OF
the entire countries annual production at
prices which II not entirely satisfactory
- a.. a....~a4ta.. rou .,fit. oro o,oo,ra o. =
caused by combination of interests will be
administered to our growing export trade,
which business, coupled with the possible
demand next year for structural steel for
building purposes, is likely to play a most
important part in the government of prices
Of steel products generally. Nominal
prices Of steel rails show little change
from those ruling some time ago, but
quotations for Bessemer iron and steel
billets reflect the stimulating infence OF
the removal Of the uncertainty regarding
the placing of this large volume Of rail
business. tEgs
tODhkl6N OERlANsJs
Foreign demand for food products has
continued an encouraging feature OF the
situation. and wheat prices parti-
culary are a little lower on the week, no
not very heavy farmers de-
liveires and domestic stocks. Exports this
week are the largest ever reported, re-
hecting partly materializlng Of early re-
ported BUSINESS and partly increased fore
ign buying at concessions earlier in the
week. Corn and oats appear to have tenn
porarily parted company from wheat and
,ulative buying and enlarged export trade.
The ocean freightsituation is slightely cas-
er and the supply Of tonnage shows en-
argement. The price situation generally
Is an encouraging one, and advances
largely outnumber declines. The early
arrival of winter weather in the south
las tended to make smaller cotton crop es-
more popular and enlarged spe-
anlative and spot purchases have adyanc-
ed prices for this staple. Anthracite coal
has been marked up In some markets.
largely owing to the cold weather, but
there are yet few new developments IN
the direction Of control of output. Tin ard
copper are again active speculatively and
tin p!ates reflect the formal launching Of
the new commission in slightly higher
quotations. The boot and shoe situation
oroved by the severe weather
lately experienced. as has the outlook for
.upber goods. Leatner IS steadier and hide
are higher, an unusual feature at this
time Of year. The recent advance in raw
sugar appears TO have cuAninated this
week and slight reaction Is shown on
reports that beet sugar imports from Eu-
'ope are likely to heavily increase. Re
ined is firm, November business having
'een very heavy
INFLUENCE OF WEATHER.
rhe advent OF winter weather has tended
o reduce the demand for building lumber.
which, in some markets. particularly the
east was oppressed during the summer
because OF the inactivity in building. A
'rher better tone Is, however now re-
ported and the opening OF the new year Is
awaited with confidence Recent advance
n prices in pine anu spruce lumber are
we'll maintained, stocks in dealers hands
ire not all heavy and advices both from
Tow pine and cypress producing sec
ions of the south and the white pine mar
Sets Of the north and northwest are that
! heavy output has been, as a rule, sat
handled. Tho hard wood sit
lation maintains all OF the strength pre-
giously noted The domestic wood work
ing demand is Of good volume, while ex-
port business Is steadily increasing and
prices, as a whole, are considerably high
ar than they were at the opening OF the
year
The general jobbing trade has been rath-
er smaller than usual at this time OF the
year, and severe storms in the east have
hurt distribution. but the demand for holi-
days goods IS Of an encouraging volume.
and promises we'll
Business failures are Of normal volume