The age-herald., 1898-02-26
r-r@a PRICE SITUATION ONE OF STRENGTH Strain Of Political Affairs Has Reduced
 Values. COTTON CONTINUES FIRM Demand for Agricultural Implements EX- CeedS All Past Records. LARGE DROP IN BUSINESS FAILURES Acting Under the Influence of the Maine Dsas- ter the Stock Market Was Unsettled
 During the Latter Portion
 of the Week.
COTTON CONTINUES FIRM
LARGE DROP IN BUSINESS FAILURES

New York, Feb 25.-Bradstreet's to- morrow will say: While business of speculative nature has been quick to reflect the increasing strain 2, in political affairs in reduced values and withdrawals or curtailment of activity in some lines, there is lit tie to indicate that the volume of distri- button trade has been reduced and reports of Bradstreets this week. so far as the latter branch of business is concerned, are among the best received this year. With few important exceptions, the price situa- ton is one of strength, while the enlarged demand for coarse grains is taken to re- fleet the turning of attention from higher priced cereals to those of lower priced character.
 Cotton Situation Firm
 The cotton situation is one of firmness, ref1ecting alike the curtailment of pro duction growing out of labor troubles and the frmness of the raw material induced by a good export demand Wool is firm. but the demand has perceptibly slackened and there is less doing in manufactured goods
 Kansas City perhaps the most important market for agricultural implements in the country, reports the demand exceeding all records and sales limited only by the abil- ity to deliver orders. The demand Tor iron and steel at the west still continues large and prices are firm. The south seems to have shared in the trade inn provement to a notable extent. Collections are reported retarded in Texas owing to the holding back of cotton.
 Exports of wheat including flour, during the past week five days) aggregate S,722,- 469 bushels against 3,932,7H bushels last week and 1,S72,2 ,216 bushels a year ago.
 Corn exports amount to 3,692,7 ,792 bushels against 5506,575 bushels last week and 4,- 1858 bushels a year ago.
 very large drop in the number of busi- ness failures is indicated by reports to Bradstreet's this week, the total number being only 1S3 against 269 last week and 258 in the corresponding week of 1897.
 Dun's Review
 New York, Feb. 25.-R. G. Dun Co., weekly review of trade will say in its issue of tomorrow:
 Foreign possibilities have affected spec ulation and caused hesitation in some large business operations, possibly accounting il part for a check in the rapid advance o wheat But industrial production continue: larger than ever, a few more works being added to the active list, with decrease ir the number of hands on strike and re- newed evidence that the volume of business is larger than in February of any previous year. Nor Is there any symptom of sense- less craze based rising prices. Tho legitimate export and domestic demand presses closer to the capacity of works, and though there is no fiighty advance in any line, in all narrowness of profit is matter of complaint, new business for this dull season is unprecedented.
 Wheat Continues Upward
 Wheat continued its progress upward