The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-09
FINANCE And TRADE
Despite War Rumors, the Indus
tries Continue Active.
NO BUSINESS CONFUSION AS YET.

Exports of Wheat Continue Heavy,
But There Is No Fear of a Scarcity
Here-The Extraordinary Exports of
. Cotton Now Deferred.
New York, April 9.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade saws: When
everybody is asking whether It is to
be war or peace, the state Of business
Ia not easy to Judge. Since nobody can
judge just how wise bankers NAV be
in an emergency, there is some uncer-
tainty, but thus far scarcely any stop
page whatever of manufacturing con-
Germs appears, nor any indications that
the producing force Is likely to be d.
minished, nor is any such symptom to
be seen In business reports. Evidence
Of existing conditions is not confusing
nor Lnfavorable. So far banking con-
seryatism has not caused failures,
which continue smaller than for many
years, as in March, nor has 1t caused
stoppage Of any manufacturing con-
Germs nor lessened the volume of bust
ness reported by railroads in tonnage,
or clearing at principal points.
and continues, Atlantic exports having
been 2,24O,i72 for the week. against L.
521l22 last wear, and Pacific 1,226,574
bushels. against 447,5S last year. Since
corn exports continue, 3.4S3.650 bushels,
against 3.3232T last year, the strength
of the demand is not to be attributed
to speculative agencies. 1t is fortune
that western receipts of wheat do not
fall short Of the extraordinary gain,
but are still 1901 ,305 bushels. against
1,7S9,l10 last year. so that the stories
Of nearly exhausted supplies Of wheat
are fables for children. The price rose
steadily and closed two cents higher
for wheat, with corn one cent higher.
At the same time the exports of cotton
are extraordinary, though just now de-
ferred by the caution which causes
larger shipments by rail to New York,
instead of outside, from gulf ports.
In such conditions heavy industrial
demands for a great force of opera
tives have been effective. The truth is
that every great industry meets enor-
nous overDroduction compared with
corresponding demands in any other
year, however prosperous, and yet
nearly all are keeping almost their
whole force employed, and some are
increasing force. In one branch of
wooden manufacture two carpet mills
have stopped, or are about to stop, as
it is between seasons but much COM
plant of cancellation because Of higher
prices, and possibly in some cases be-
cause Of inferior qualities, has not been
followed by reduced production.
Bradstreets' review says: A sensible
quieting of demand for staple goods is
perceptible in the various detailed trade
reports coming to hand this week. At
the east the drift of matters affecting
our foreign relations has been such as
to discourage new business, but this
tendency has been considerably ac-
centuated by unreasonably cold
weather. which has checked the usual
Easter demand to considerable eX-
tent. Reports from the west are that
the heavy rush of spring business Is
about over and that orders coming in
now are of a filling in character Here
again reports of unreasonable weather
are met with. A fairly good business
is reported at the south, but a slight
check to our export trade is reported,
growing out of the raising of freight
and insurance rates consequent on the
disturbed foreign outlook.