The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-11-26
DUN'S WEEKLY
REVIEW OF TRADE
Thanksgiving Meant More Than Tor Past
Thirty Years.
LARGE CROPS OF COUNTRY
Marked Increase Of Confidence In Events
That Are to Come.
ALL INDUSTRIES DUNG WELL
The Market for Bessemer Steel Grows
Steadily Stronger : Wheat Has
Again Advanced a Shade
Failures for the Week.
LARGE CROPS OF COUNTRY
ALL INDUSTRIES DUNG WELL

| New York, November 25.-R. G. Dun &
| Co.'s weekly review of trade will say to-
| morrow:
| Thanksgiving in 1898 means more than for
| thirty years. The Harvest home" has
never recognized larger crops. On the
whole in this country the general prosper
| ity is attested by the largest volume Of
business ever recorded, the peoples verdict
has given reason to hope that the soundness
of the currency and the nations honor will
not again be in peril, and war not match
ed in history Tor swiftness of success with
smallness of loss has brought the more per-
feet union than ever between north and
south, and closer bonds than ever with
kin beyond the sea- ending with the most
important increase of territory since Cali
fornia was added TO the union.
The year SO exceptional in magnitude and
variety of blessings draws near its end
WIN yet another good gift, marked in
crease of confidence in prospects for the
year which is to close the century.
The industries are doing remarkably well
considering hindrance of late by unseason-
aple weather. With storms and cold wealth
er many branches now get larger orders.
There has been more liberal buying of
NO'toi 6oOuS, III pau OSCduSc VI last WSSh
reductions in bleached goods and the cur
tailment Of production. in print cloths has
caused an advance of a sixteenth, while
the export demand supports heavy brown
goods, and a good feeling that cotton has
probably seen its worst. Sheetngs are still
irregular and some per cent. lower. There
is slight demand in recorders for mems
spring wooens, though neither jobbers nor
clothiers have yet been buying freely. The
bulk of the demand is for medium plain
fabrics, especially serges and clays, but
high grade goods are quiet
More is doing in dress goods, but not
enough for producers. Sales of woods have
been 35,975,0O0 pounds for four weeks, in
Guiding about 100000 for export, but most
ly at concessions which have been this
week a little increased on fine unwashed
fieeces.
When the steel rail contract was ready
for final signature, withdrawal of one large
company killed it, but a working compact
is nevertheless said to have been made,
apparently sort of "gentlemans agree
ment' in which more confidence is per-
haps expressed than is felt. The market
for Bessemer grows stronger at Pittsburg,
and Gray forge advances to 1925. Billets at
Pittsburg are in heavy demand at $15.25,
and steel bars at SIC. The Edgar Thompson
works have started on rails with three to
four months orders ahead. Chicago works
have booked further orders for plates, in
Guiding one for 1900 tons and statements
made by the Iron Age show that bids for
the $4,000 tons needed in the Coolgardie
pipe lines, with other heavy export con-
tracts are hindered only by an ocean
freight syndicate.
Wheat has. again advanced shade.
though for spot only u cent during the
week, while eastern receipts are heavy,
for four weeks being 4S,0'4,291 bushels,
against 29119,104 last year. The Atlantic
exports -four included, have been 1857, S76
bushels for the week. against 3,62S,446 last
wear. Pacific exports, BLISS bushels,
against 1859 last year, making for three
weeks of November 136420o6 bushels
against 15,195,209 last year.
While Atlantic shipments exceed last
wear a decrease from the Pacific affects
this market but little. Moreover, corn ex-
norts continue heavy, in four weeks 105S3,-
55S bushels, against 932S,7SS last year, lift
ing the price u and showing continued
demand for nearly five months. almost
equal to the unprecedented demand of last
year. 400 ,
Failures for the week have been 1888 in
the United States, against 236 last year, and
twenty-one in Canada, against twenty-five
last year.