The Saint Paul globe., 1898-08-13

NEW YORK, Aug. 70. = Bradstreet's
tomorrow will say:
Changes in general trade and busi-
ness this week have been very gener-
ally toward Improvement. Notably in
this respect is the iron and steel trade,
which has passed from the stage Of
promise to that Of fulfillment, on In
creased demand and marked advances
in values. From all the leading iron
centers and East and West comes re-
ports Of more or less Improvement in
tone demand, or prices, especially
prominent in the latter particular being
steel billets, with an advance Of 81 per
ton, steel rails have had advances rang
ing from 25 cents to 81, and sympathet-
ic advances are likewise noted in East
ern pig iron, wrought iron pipe, steel
beams and other structural material
and steel plates. Further encouraging
features have been the accentuated
demand on foreign account for wheat
and corn, which is reflected in ad-
vances for those cereals, in spite of a
rather more favorable than expected
government report Of possible yield.
Popular estimates tend to allow of
an underestimate by the government
in wheat fully equal to that of last
year, and point to a total crop of not
less than 7o0 000,o bushels The effect
Of holding wheat by farmers for better
prices are found in the reduced volume
Of grain carried by railroads during
July, with some complaints of inter
fered-with collections. Price strength
is also feature. Oats, lard. beef cof-
fee, tea, rubber, copper and cotton, in
addition to those mentioned, are ad-
vancing this week. Cotton prices are
higher and contrast with the govern
ment report of an unchanged condi-
of T11lx
this Is partly due to complaints of too
much rain since Aug. 1, the date OF
the government report. Signs that
Eastern markets are about to expert
ence some Of the improved demand re-
ported at the West are among the IA
vorable features.
Evidences of increased business at
the East are beginning to appear. Busi-
ness at the West is, If anything, more
active than last week, dry goods,
clothing, boots and shoes, groceries,
hardware, lumber and hats and caps
all sharing in the swelling fall demand.
Complaints Of collections being affected
by farmers holding back their wheat
comes from a large number of markets.
'aToo much rain for cotton is COM
planned Of in the Mississippi valley, but
in spite of this the general tone Of bus
mess Is good.
"On the Pacific coast business is rel
atively best in Oregon and Washing
ton.
Cereal exports are of a satisfactory
volume and are still ahead Of last sea-
sons liberal movement. Wheat ship
ments for the week, including flour as
| wheat, aggregate 4,S3S,S55, against
Ali ,312 bushels last week, and COM
pared with 4,46o,519 bushels in the cor
responding week Of 1897; 1855, ,216 bush.
els in 1896; 1924, ,468 in 1895, and 2,979.924
bushels in 1894 Since July l this year
the exports of wheat aggregate 1S, 722,
657 bushels, against 16,115,543 bushels
during the same period last year. Corn
exports for the week aggregate 3,6l7,
952 bushels, against 2,S56,923 bushels
last week; $685. one year ago, 2,S67,
5a5 in 1896; e44,546 in 1895, and 6,2es
in 1894 Since July this year exports
of corn aggregate 17,032,344 bushels,
against Is, ,73e,s5S bushels last year.
Business failures still incline toward
minimum, numbering only 157,
against 1S9 last week. 214 in this week
a year ago, 21S in 1896; 195 in 1895, and
254 in 1894. Business failures in the
Dominion of Canada for the week num-
Der SO, against % last week, 81 in this
week year ago, a5 in 1896, 20 in 1896
and 40 in 1894"