Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-02-10
THE BUSINESS SITUATION.


/ Severely cold weather. accompanied
by high winds md heavy snows, has
been feature exercising considerable
influence upon the movement and dis
tributioD of staple Foods this weak.
The Northern ana Eastern States APP
pear to have felt the effects of the
storm most severely, md reports OF
ChuGked distribution coms from many
points In New England, the Middle
States and the Lake region. Some i'm
provement 10 the retail demand for
winter goods is, however, reported "a
result thereof. In spite of this interrupt
tion OF business satisfactory trade for
tho season is reported in most lines,
with special activity reported in tho
iron aud steal trades and kindred Limos.
In the Fast the distribution OF dry
goods and wool has been checked aud
the movement Of produce greatly inter
fered with, nut the tone Of the cotton
gonds situation IL. If anything, i'm
proved. 10 the Middle States and in
the Central West the movement OF iron
into consumption is still very large,
but nervousness as to possible ever
production affects the market. In tho
Northwest better trade is reported and
cold weather has helped tho distrihu-
tion of reasonable goods. At the South
trade is reported improved at several
important centres, and the total Of Jan
uRry business il said to have been above
the average. The light frseze did little
damage 10 Florida truck farming inter.
ests. Alaskan business on the Pacific
coast 10 still very active, but export
trade in cereals is small. Rain 10 neeled
in California or crops will be considera-
bly, shortensd. Stsadiness in prices
has been feature Of the week, the
only decreases noted being in wheat
corn and flour on a speculative reac-
tion, and in lead, while the prices OF
oats, pork, beef and coffee are higher.
Print cloths chow further advance,
and the cold weather has affected
anthracite coal production, with cen.
sequent advance of 10 cents per ton"
Il. q. Dun 81 Co., in their review for
last week. says:
"Actual payments through clearing.
housed in January made a remarkable
showing, heing much larger than in
any previous month, 363 per cent
larger tuan the same month last year,
and Z. | per cent larger than in 1892.
The failures in January were smaller
record, and were probably smaller than
in any other January since 1881. The
statement by branches OF business given
this week shows a surprising gain in
most departments of manufacture and
trade. No failures appear in the WOODEN
manufacture, and in several branches
only an insignificant aggregate COM
pared with the failure OF previous years.
IA h ais -
fident as ever; gold does not come from
Europe in large amount only because
bankers find it worth while to lend
American money abroad, and the com
mercial balances are heavily in favor OF
the United States, as heretofore. Per
haps the most striking feature of the
With exports of 1904, 5l7 bushels,
cludad, from Atlantic ports, and
ZIG, $40 from Pacific ports, against
Si4, 3i3 bushels last year, the temper Of
the market has been weaker. The re
port of the Agricultural Department
has had some influence, although it.
figures are not generally credited as re
liable. During the past week pricel
have declined cents, although thert
/
foreign or domestic demand. Corn hal
fallen only IS of cent for spot. ant
there has been no important change il
options. 1hs wheat market has turner
largely upon tho operations OF Chi
cage speculator, hut the fact remain
that the price depends largely upor
foreign needs and upon tho compare
tive scarcity of American supply. Tn
iron and steel manufacture is still gain
ing in consumption OF pig iron
although the production OF the materia
ia still in excess Of immediate demands
but not enough 10 cause a decline il
prices at Pittsburg or Chicago. Evsl
the Southern producers are able to ge
a fair price at Chicago ami at the East
and anthracite pig is unchanged. Tn
demand for finished products has bss
very heavy. The shipments OF boot
and shoea from the East show iucreas
ing sales, exceeding those Of every yea
excent the last and 1885, although tn
returns are possibly incomplete heraus
Of the storm. There 10 batter domain
for cotton goods since the general stop
pago Of works at the East hut there
no Indication as yet Of material gain q
respects unsnld stocks on hand. /
wooden goods the demand is altogethe
more satisfactory, an advance of abou
20 per cent being paid on most grade
Of the finer woolons and worsteds, an
nearly all the mills are active. Rail
way earnings show an increase for tn
month of January, as far as reported
OF IL. / per cent over last year. and Z.
compared with 1892. Exports G
domestic products from New York ar
! 6 per cent larger for the week than las
year and 10 per cent larger for January
while imports are per cent smale. f1
the week and per cent smaller for tn
month. "