The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-17
ACTIVITY IN ALL MARKETS.
MORE ORDERS FOR STEEL THAN
CAN BE TURNED OUT.

Foreign Orders for steel Rails Re-
fused-Advances in the Cereals
Cotton, Coffee, Lumber and Many
other Products-Wheat Shipments
Way Ahead of Those Year Ago
Holiday Trade Extremely Active
All over the Country.
New York, Dec 16.-Bradstreet's will
say to-morroTs.. Likening the general bus
mess of the q esnuy to that of a water
course, it ma Zoe authoritadvely stated
that nearly ag9he channels of seasonable
trade are at ne present time running full
and in some lines of business the stream
as virtually out of the banks.
This is particularly the case in iron and
steel, where production and consumptive
demand are alike going on at unprecedent-
ed rate, at a time, too. when it is usual
to look for quietness and even dullness in
this industry Nothing like the present
activity in this branch of trade has been
seen for many years past, if. indeed II
has ever been equaled. Advices from all
the leading centers of iron production are
of an exceptionally eager demand for the
advancing prices, the only anxiety eX-
press being that by buyers desiring early
delivery.
Probably never before in the country
history has it been possible for an Amerl-
can steel company to refuse profitable
order for rails for foreign account, on the
plea that its mills were already fully occu-
-, gg
for the business. Higher prices Tor PIG IRON
Steel biIlets. soft steer and all sorts of car
material are reported, while the produc-
lion Of raw material is at its maximum
Shipbuildng, too, contributes ats porlio'
of activity TO the iron trade by its urgent
cells for material
In other lines of business the situation
as regards prices is a favorable one nota-
lie among the advances reported belng
nearly All the cereals. cotton, coffee, lum-
her copper. lead and variety OF o'her
Jess prominent staples.
Following the slight recession shown N
wheat values of last week, an improved
demand for export has again developed
which is evidence of the fact that STORIES
of keen competition from Argentina ahV
Russia have been more or less discounted
the United States remaining as FOR sonlt
time past. the principal source OF supply
Of the world. Increased interest IS be'na
takeh in cotton at the advanced price, anc
@athe situation of the manufactured produc
Las been strengthened by skilful manage
meHt of the print cloth situation, when II
turn has Induced a more liberal depan'
Tor kindred products for the spring trade.
Seasonable quietness is reported in tn
lumber trade, but prices retain all thei
Old strength, and an active demand 4
looked for with the turn Of the year
Holiday trade is reported extremely ac
i've at most markets. The country's eX
port trade is of the largest volume eve
known, that for November SURPRISING IN
toial for December a year ago, with I'll
iudications fayoring a total trade for tn
calendar year at least one-sixth larger tina
year ago. and our sales abroad aggtegat
ing Two dollars for every dollars wort
we buy
Wheat. including -four, shipments ior th
week aggregate 6.GS625 bushels Portland
Me-, not received, against C.sjo9a2 las
week i6I.393 In the corresponding wee
Of 1897 2.05o.8iS ia 1895 and 3. ,s5J Ia 1872
since july 4, this year the exports o