Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-09
The BUSINESS SITUATION.

BtaJhtreet's for this week says: "Re-
ports as 10 listrlbutive trade are en-
coura.ing this week, in spite Of tue
advanced stage OF tho seaaun. hope
full feature ia the generally reported
good trade at retail. not only al tho
West, but also East, where unfavOrable
weather conditions have heretofore
checked demand greatly. The volume
of orders already received for fall de-
livery hy wholesalers is, however, of
such satisfactory proportions as to lead
to tho impression that the fall demand,
wheu it actually materiai2es, will be
the best seen for years.
Reports from other industries con
tinua, on the whole, quite good, The
movement of iron and steel is still of
an immense volume, and the demand
by agricultural implement makers,
already referred to in these columns.
has never been exceeded. The rather
better tone reported in some branches
of the cotton and wooden goods indus
tries OF late remains unimpaired, print
clotbs having advanced again, while
wool romans firm.
Wheat exports for the week reflect
a better export inquiry and larger ship
ments, uggregating ., 24S,0 S6 bushels,
against 4, 309, 600 hrshela last week,
2. go, 600 bushels in this week a year
ago, 3, 029, 900 bushels in 1896. g 99l, 900
bushels in 1895 and 2, 7A2, 600 bushels
in 1894. Corn exports are the largest
on record, aggregating G, Cos, 400 bushels,
against 6, l6i, 200 bushels last week,
2, 39G, 900 bushels in this week q year
ago, l, G23, 600 bushels in 1886, /. 1l0, 00C
bushels in 1895 and 01i, 600 bushels in
1924.
Business failures in tho United
States this week show sharp falling
otT, numbering only 17S, against 23l
last week. 1872 in 1897, 236 in 1876 and
1885, and 207 10 1894. Business failures
iu the Dominion of Canada number
II, against Is last week, 81 in this
weell a year ago, 30 in 1896, 81 in 1895
and 81 in 1894"
r. G. Dun IL Co.'S Review, issued
to. nay, says: MAY having been the
first full month Of actual war the fact
that the failures in that month were
smaller, oven though but little, than in
the corresponding month last year, aud
nearly 10 per cent smaller than in May,
1896. is somewhat encouraging. Large
failures were eight in manufacturing
for 50, $50, 600 this year, against - for
a., 800. 600 last year, and 10 trading five
for $500, 600, against 10 for 81, 572, or
in 1897. Hesitation in extending usual
credits soon after war began naturally
affected weak more than strong con
csrns, but it soon gave place to stoady
and increasing confidence.
"Of all the great industries, the cot
ton manufacturer only gives some sign
of shrinkage, cotton having dropped
sixteenth during the week. after rise
in goods averaging for tie month about
] per cent, thus rendering the market
ing of accumulated stocks somewhat
more difficult. But print cloths have
advanced, and In most staple goods the
demand is improving.
"Woollen mills arc encouraged by
somewhat larger demand for goods, in
part from government orders, and
averaging about per cent better prices
for goods than month ago. There is
not much demand for wool, which ia
still held in the main above the views
of manufacturers, ami prices have de-
clined an average of one-haf cent for
the month.
1.-The iron and steel manufacture
leads all others in gain over previous
years, its consumption of pig being
apparently more than million tons per
month. Works beyond the A lleghenies
are crowded with business, and, while
some Eastern concerus arc running part
time, mostly bar mills, the government
demand is felt most in this section.
Above all others in signi ficance ia the
wholly unprecedented demand from
agricultural implement works. Prices
of pig have bean somewhat strengthened
by enormous buying orders from BESSIE
mer and basic at Pittsburg and of char
coal at Chicago"