The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-19
NOT BY PEACE OR WAR.
Reports of Last Week Have Not Changed
Onward Current of Business.

New York, March 1S.-R. G. Dun q
Co.. IS weekly review Of trade will say:
Neither peace nor war reports have
changed the onward current of business.
Orders for more than $25, 100000 gold
from Europe have blocked any drift to-
ward stringency in rates for money and
treasury receipts of about 81, 100, 900 per
day have kept in check any question
about the currency, while exports OF
products have continued at a rate con-
siderably increased, and the demand for
products of the great industries shows
steady expansion. The backbone of the
situation is the excess of merchandise
exports, against more than Sal, 100000
in February with an increase OF $780,
600 in miscellaneous products, So loo GOO
in provisions, "a, 100000 in cotton and
81, 900, 900 in breadstuffs compared with
last year and SIS, 100 600 in all products.
Wheat also moves in spite OF all Specu-
lation. Atlantic exports, -four included,
have been 1924, 500 bushels, against
], 1858, 800 last year and from Pacific
ports 1871 1926 bushels, against 26S, 800
both coasts 1869, l25 bushels, against
4, 53S, Al last year. Nothing yet appears
in all foreign returns to Indicate that
anything less than the utmost this
country can spare in grain will be re-
quired by foreign countries before Sep
tsmber.
Wool shows no change in quotations,
though eastern markets are extremely
dull, and the Indifference of manufact-
urers has made transactions only 2, O62.-
800 pounds, against 10, 891 800 for the
| corresponding week last year and BOSS,
| 200 for the corresponding week in 1899.
The London market is rather higher
| and holders in the interior are expect
| ing material advance in prices.
Little encouragement appears In tnt
market for cotton goods, with print
| cloths sixteenth lower than week age
and standard grades undersold by many
of less note. The demand is large, but
not large enough. In WOODEN goods,
ON the contrary, the material advance
in prices has raised the only obstacle te
| increased transactions and somewhat
frequent cancellations Indicate tina,
dealers have been disappointed in theil
distribution. The small yielding II
wool may result in a greater decline Il
this tendency in the manufacture con
tinues.
| The boot and shoe manufacturers hav
ing chosen the opposite policy has secured
by far the largest orders ever known
| this season through concessions WHici
leave scarcely any profit for the works
but insure active operations for a hal
year or more to the establishments PRO
ducing most heavily. Leather is slight
ly weaker, and hides at Chicago average
a little lower in price.
Bessemer pig and grey forge are botf
Slightly stronger at Pittsburg, the pro
posed commission of valley furnaces help
ing, but pig is not changed in price else
where, nor are finished products at any
point, excepting wire nails which are
are said to be sold at $3.50 at the cas-
by some establishments Railroad earn
ings continue 10 larger than last yea
and 10 larger than in 1892, while Chi
cngo east-bound tonnage is very mucf
the largest ever recorded land bank clear
| ing for the month were 1928 per cen
larger than last year.
| Failures for the week have been 20S il
the United States, against 2l6 last year