The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-16
CEREAL EXPORTS HEAVY
GUILE AND ATLANTIC TRADE
SERIOUSLY DISTU RBED
THE IRON BUSINESS CONTINUES HEAVY
New industries are Checked Print Cloth Low
Receipts Of Corn are Extremely Heavy
Failures are Remarkably SMALL
Business done on Previous Order.

New York. April 15.-R G. Dun ~
Co.'S weekly review of trade tomorrow
will say:
The meaning of Congress regarding
Spain is not in doubt, but the form of de-
cIaration at this hour is i'll question:
The Presidents message has been ac-
ceptcd as q; strong statement OF the sit
uation and the question in Congress IS
whether it will without change adopt his
proposal. Preparations for war continue
as if it were inevitable. There is some
hindrance in business and yet the volume
of payments through clearing houses Is
still 1928 per cent larger than last year
and outside New York about - per cent
larger than in 1892. though speculative
stagnation here makes the aggregate
lower.
The industries are doing well, because
they have enormous orders taken III tep-
ruary and March or earlier. which en-
sure operations for periods varying from
Il fortnight to several months.
In the iron business there are orders
for about 10000 tons structural work
held up by questions of law.
While new business offered in this line
is still very heavy, the production is so
large that it may easily be disastrously
checked by a persistent restriction of the
current demand.
With prices for print cloths still at the
lowest point ever touched, buying of cot
ton goods is more hindered than many
are willing to admit by the idea that 9th
er goods, not equally overproduced, may
likewise decline in prices. The stagna-
ton in wool is something remarkable,
the total sales at the three chief markets
having been only 1,1S2,144 pounds
against 100000 last year.
Wheat rose 51a and held 2i5 cents for
the week. although Atlantic exports for
the week have been 3,045021 bushels.
flour included, against S76.719 last year,
and Pacific exports S27,36S bushels
against 212.0o6 last year. The total
from both coasts for two weeks of April
has been 1879, 1876 bushels against
3,051, 49, last year. The receipts from
western farms show some decrease for
the week. but for two weeks are only
about six hundred thousand bushels
smaller than a year ago. Meanwhile it
Is astonishing that receipts of corn con-
tinle remarkable heavy. for the week
more than million bushels larger than
last year. and for two weeks more than
1,690,O00 bushels. and the exports for the
week have been 1858, OBJ bushels against
los 3S last year and for half of April
S,146,6S1 bushels against 6,032,O15 last
year. Such extraordinary exports of
corn go far to show that the outward
movement of wheat is by no means of n
speculative character, nor likely to di-
minish speedily
The volume of legitimate business is
enormous. and meanwhile failures are
remarkably small: for the week they have
been 2J4 in the United States against 207
last year, and Is in Canada against 30
last year.
BRADSTREET'S REPORT.
New York, April Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
Effects of the prevailing uncertainty
i'll foreign affairs is reflected in a further
perceptible qllieting down of general
trade, so far as future engagements are
concerned, in nearly all parts of the
country. While there Is a little NOR,
activity to be noted in the demand for
seasoDable staples at the west and north
west. where better weather has helped
retail and wholesale trade alike. rather
more quiet is reported at the east and
at the South Atlantic and Gulf ports
where the interruption to business has
become particularly serious. The dis
position 10 buy only actual necessities
has developed Il hand to mouth demand
III the latter sections of the country,
but the chief effect is found in the indis-
position to embark in new enterprises or
to contract new obligations pending the
definite settlement of the foreign con-
troversy. In the iron trade business CON
tinues of large volume. but the bulk of
this is claimed to he on account of or
ders previously booked, and new bust
hess. where noted, is for small indiivid-
ual lots.
Wool continues dull at nominal prices
at the east. and the activity i'll dry goods
IS confined chiefly to goods
needed at once. Cotton goods prices are
steady. except for print cloths, talk of
curtailing production in which is con-
tined. Low price woolens continues
i'll most active demand in this branch of
trade. heavy export demand is re-
ported in white goods and prices are con"
siderabIy higher.
The prices situation is one of COM
parative steadiness. The business fail
ures in the United States for the week
number 30, against 30 last week, 1875
in the corresponding week of 1897. 244
IN 1896 and 219 in 1895
Exports of cereals are larger The
shipments of wheat flour included this
week from the United States and Cana
da aggregate 4,044000 bushels. against
3,1IS,000 bushels last week, 1874 900
bushels i'm this week year ago, 2.017.-
600 bushels in 1896. 3,165.O00 bushels
in 1895 and 100000 bushels in 1894.
Corn exports are over 100000 BUSH
els larger than last week, aggregating
1927 900 bushels. against 3.557 900
bushels last week 2,32S.000 bushels in
this week n year ago. 1,074,000 bushels
in 1896 and 77S,000 bushels in 1895.
1t is a great leap from the old fash
toned doses OF blue-mass and nauseous
q1hySicS to tho nleag1nt little Mills known