, 1898-12-24
THE TRADE REVIEW
THE YEAR 1898 IN TRADE is WITH
OUT A PARALLEL IN
HISTORY.
Dun and Bradytreet's Resume Of the
Business of the Year in Cereals,
Wool, Cotton Stuffs, Iron, Copper,
Steel Rails and Other Goods Puts
Us Now the Creditor Nation.

70 ANO" ~ u
New York, Dec. 23.--R. G. Dun G Co.'S
weekly review Of trace will say in to-
morrow's issue:
1t Is a year beyond parallel, and goes
to its close with the biggest volume OF
business ever seen.
Enormous transactions at the stock
exchange make some difference, and
heavy railroad earnings, but when all
the transporting and speculative inter
ests are eliminated, there is still a much
larger business than in any other month
OF amy year. Last year the exports
were in volume greater than in any
previous month in the history OF the
country, but this year the three weeks
reports show an increase of % per cent
against 9 per cent in imports, which
would indicate much more than $780,
O0O, 900 excess of exports this month.
The paymentsthrough clearing houses
have been for the week 26.5 per cent
greater than last year and "a per cent
greater than in 1892, and for the month
IT'S per cent larger than in 1892. Until
now no greater volume of business has
ever been done in the history of this
coulttry than in the closing month Of
this year.
Shipments Of wheat have been 1885,
704 bushels, flour included, at Atlantic
ports, against $685. 21 last year, al
though western receipts for three
weeks have been 25,0SS, 5S1 bushels,
against 10, 30s, 1929 last year, a fact which
the believers in a small crop may well
consider. From Pacific ports the ship
ments have been, for a week, 1850 l
bushels, against $50 900 bushels last
year. Considering the enormous ex-
ports from July 1 to date, exceeding last
years, one can only wonder that the
outgo this year has been so large and
the price has risen during the week a
cent and a half. Corn exports also have
been 1924, 1886 bushels, against 4,540,61
last year, and for the month. thus far,
11,O12, 1873, against 10, 1867, 407 last year.
The price has advanced two and three
eieyhths cents, but the continued foreign
demand is astonishing.
IL the cotton manufacturer takes a
leading place this year, 1t Is merely be-
cause cotton is an eighth lower than a
year ago, not because prospects for buy
ing are so good. The manufacture has
been much expanded by in creased de-
manbd, 50 that prices Of nearly all the
goods quoted in our report have adj
vanced more or less, and there Is a feel
ing that with unreasonable accumula-
tion OF print cloths out OF the way,
there is a brighter prospect for all
goods. Sales Of wool have been large,
q. 1856, 100 pounds, against 2S.115,z0 last
year and 81, $50, 200 pounds in the same
week of 1892, with small as we'll as
large manufacturers buying freely,
which indicates a general improvement
in the demand for goods, although not
enough as yet to lift prices.
The story of the iron manufacturer
is like a dream. With 5000 tons bes-
semer pig sold at Pittsburg for $1,000
and grey forge at $40 and Chicago
sales limited only by the capacity OF
the works and EASTERN sales so numer-
ous and SO large as to raise the price
25 cents, there is u demand for finish
ed products, which includes at Phila-
delphta 1000 toms of plates for export
to South Africa, 5000 tons at Chicago
where works are crowded, 80, 900 tons
ateel rails by the Maryland Steel com
pany for Asiatic Russia, 80 900 tons for
Australia, against British bids, at Pitts.
burgh, and about 10000 toms domestic
at the east, 5000 tons structural work
at Chicago and Pbttsburg and 5000 tons
Of car building at Chicago, an the works
There being crowded with heavy buying
of sheets and wire rods, and sharp com
petition In the south on cotton ties
pending q contract for 1000 tons cast
pipe for Yokohama, and sales of small
er quantities in each case to numerous
TO mention. Prices Of iron and etee
products have not materially changed
although the tone rs everywhere strong.
or, and for wire nails, quotations have
been advanced to $1.30 at Pittsburg.
But this Country is beating the world
in this industry.
All duhts business Is done with FULL be.
lief that the next years demand will
be greater than even before, and 1t h
creditable, especially in the iron ana
steel business, that 30 little advance n
prices Of finished products have beer
made. The range of prices Is nearly
20 per cent lower than In 1892, ind8cat
Ding an astonishing increase In the guam
tity Of products exchanged. How Eu
rope will be able to pay more chan SIS,
000, 900 due on merchandise on accoIm
for the month OF December, besides TN
enormous balances due for Novembe
end previous months. Is a question
Druggist r.. g.: cAIARRE
for sesssoes h~