The Portland daily press., 1898-03-12
BUSINESS STILL GAINS.
War Rumors Haven't Checked Pros.
perity Yet.
MORE GOLD COMING FROM
EUROPE THAN is NEEDED.

Country Rests Assured That the Re-
sources Are Reyond the Teach of Any
Foreign Power and Honor and Foreign
Interests in Safe Hands-Prices Are
Generally Strong.
New York, March 11.-R.G Dun &
Co., in their weekly review of trade will
say:
1t is most gratifying that no industry
or branch of business shows any restriction
or hindrance, but some have been gain
ing for the past week and month. The
railway are gaining, even while specu-
lators are selling their stocks, and the de.
mand for products of all the great in
dustries is increasing. More gold is
coming from Europe than is needed, &c.,
1868, COO having been ordered during tho
past week, and money markets are neither
more cautious
The country rests assured that its in
dustries, almost all its business. the
foreign demand for its products and prac-
tically all it's resources, are beyond the
reach of any foreign power, and that its
honor and foreign interest are in safe
hands.
The greatest of all industries.is sending
grain forward as there were no limit TO
the supply. Wheat exports have been A.
III, ,497 bushels, flour included, against
| / 1868, III last year from Atlantic and
Pacific ports, and for two weeks 1852, $50
bushels against 8, ,061, 546 last year. Tx
ports on corn in spite Of small yield have
| been 7,706.6 bushels in two weeks,
against 8, 1876, ,699 bushels last year, when
they far surpassed all records Wheat de-
clined 2 Id cents but corn did not change
during the week.
| Cotton declined an eighth. Sales of
fertilizers indicate less reduction of acre
age this year than was expected.
The weekly output of pig iron was $685.
| 338 tons February /, but 234 ,430 March 1st
| and the increase of unsold stocks in Feb
ruary was only 5,852 tons weekly, leaving
o25, 532 tons weekly for export or con-
sumption. against 218, 457 in January and
81, ,249 in November. 1895, the month of
greatest consumption before this year.
Prices are very strong except for wire
nails, which dropped because the great
wire com bInation fell through, though o
similar agreement is now expected and in
some western dispatches is said to have
been formed.
The minor metals are generally in
stronger demand, sale Of 1000, 900
pounds copper being reported at 10 cents.
Tin Is strong at 14.2 and spelter at 4.2,
but lead is weaker at 3.7 1-2 and tin
plates at 50. IS for the best against 81 for
foreign. Shipments of boots and shoes
from the east have been for two weeks Is
per cent and for the year 14.5 per cent
larger than last year. much the largest
heretofore for this month, and purchases
have been the largest ever known in
several branches covering five to six
months production, prices being generally
conceded below original demands. Open
ing quotations for boots and shoes are
more than one per cent lower than a year
ago. while leather is 4 per cent higher,
Notwithstanding some decline this week,
but is is not unlikely that concessions to
large buyers have made up the difference.
Hides are shade lower at Chicago, and
western slaughtering in two months has
been IL. 46 per cent greater than last year,
which does not support expectations of
scarcity.
Sales of wool for the week have been
the smallest since the week of greatest
alarm in August. 1896, but not because
any mills have stopped work. Cancella-
tions are frequent and jobbers have evil
IDENTIFY failed to sell as much as they ex-
pected at the advanced prices asked, but
even those would not be possible had wool
cost the millers current market prices.
Little wool can be moved with new clip
near and heavy stocks still in mills, with
out further reduction. Goods are now
lower in qualities we'll known, although
unchanged on standard grades.
Cotton goods have large distribution
and prices are generally steady, though
in outside dealings print cloths are q
shade lower. Prints are in better demand.
Failures for the week have been 24S in
the United States, against 256 last year
and 36 in Canada against 81 last year. a.