New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-07
reports. however. do not Indicate that the South

ern consumption has been fully maintained
Tho volume Of business continues greater than
nm, prevjous year Compared with 1897 the ex-
changes through clearing houses are 10 per
cent greater for the month. and 3OS per cent
greater than last year. and In all the great III
dustries there is evidence that the volume or
demand Is growing Even foreign trade Is well
maintained as the imports for the week nave
been IS 22OS13 against SS2iS.0SJ for the same
week last year and the exports of silver nave
heen unusually large In spite OF the diifcul'y
OF prices which restricts demand in poots anu
shoes. the shipments from the East were ior
the week about as large as in the Same wee"
OF any previous year. though on account o' tne
storm perhaps not fully reported, put WERE i-''
per cent larger than in 1892. There are many
orders for women's shoes especially from ''e
South and good fall contracts for broeans are
reported.
The iron ore producers are striving 10 erect
combinations including the Mesapi in'heS' '''''
year. but nothing has yet been set'ieu al" w
outlook for non-Bessemer ore is not c''""s'
The furnaces are turning out more iron than the
r,orLs M nresent consume. and prices are
shade weaker Bessemer pig at ~ 3D. ana "'ey
Forge at SO 50 at Pittsburg, with Sil oo qu"'cu
for Lake charcoal at Chicago. But the dehia''u
for finished products steadily increases anu
should soon catch up with the output Vi pis'
There are numerous large structural oruers'
with some Of good size for rails. whhe the ue-
mand for car building is undated. ana caiis ior
q yarv heavy tonnage of bar. There is a strong
effort to depress steel billets so that purchases
Of q low pr,cc may be made FOR the latter half
Of the year. but S14 s. is the lowest figure yet
quoted while the Plttsburg makers are holding
ala will
nushed with orders. and the completion OF the
Carnegie mill. which. 1t IS said VIII DE the
largest Of It's kind in the world, is being hast
ened owing to the prospect Of combination oy
rod and wire works. wire rods are stronger at
s23 a ton. and the Australian contract for pipe
,s still pending SSOOO,000 having been raised
II is said out OF $10O000gO required.
Tho woollen works are pushed with orders
and enjoy n greater measure Of prosperity than
thev have known for years. Sales OF wool at
tho three chief markets have been only 6,3Ol,4o
mounds for the week. against 1868 100 for the
corresponding week last year. but the buying Is
mostly for mills and represents more nearly the
actual consumption. While the cotton mills are
o, nresent waiting 10 clear off accumulated
s,ocks there is a better demand for goods
snr,nping I'D and much clearer prospect Ior
the future.
The movement OF money this week has been
decidedly favorable New-York has gained
50 600 900 by the interior currency movement
and the demand for commercial loans mas IN
creased the leading banks reporting 90 per
cent ~ such loans, against 60 per cent the
nrevious week There is no apprehension re-
eardlng the Treasury. which holds $50. loo, 10
Including the gold reserve. though receipts TINS
month have been slightly less than expenditures
thus far but there is no occasion for alarm
regarding the reserve. The expenditures about
the first OF the month are naturally large, and
there is good reason 10 expect a fair surplus OF
receipts over expenditures for the month OF
February.
Failures in January were remarkably small IN
number and amount. Duns report shows de-
crease OF about three hundred In number, com
pared with previous years. and in liabilities rs
per cent compared with last year, 81 per cent
compared with 1896. 80 per cent compared with
1885 and nearly 6S per cent compared with
1891 There was not a single failure in wooens,
and remarkably few in clothing chemicals
printing, milling and liquor manufactures. and
though a single large failure swelled the aver
age in hats the average for the last four years
was not exceeded In shoes. hardware, Jewelry
and books and in drygoods less than half
the average, and also In miscellaneous trading
classes.