The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-20
THE CONDITION OF TRADE
Business Expected to Boom With
the Return of Peace.
BETTER PRICES FOR IRON
A Steady Expansion In Bank Clearinss.
Little Change In the Situation
in Cereals-Outlook In
the West.

New YORK, Aug. I.-bIdusliet'
morrow will say Perhaps the most in
teresting feature Of the general business
situation at present is the air of conf
dence with which the mercantile com
munlty awaits the approach OF the faU
trade period. While. Of course, based
in some degree upon the favorable re-
suits already achieved in many lines IL
is unauestionably true that the Halter
ing crop outlook at home and the re-
turn of peace with the expectation OF
benefits to our export trade naturally
expected to accrue therefrom, makes
for much of the feeling thu expressed,
Reflection OF the growth of the fall
trade is found In the steady expansion
now going on In bank clearings, the I'M
proved demand at higher prices for most
makes of iron and steel. the generally
favorable year In earnings wnlch IN
default of a large movement or corps
10 market, points to a large return TRACE
in manufactured goods to the agrlcul-
tural sections, and the reports of con-
tinued activity in d~istributive trade
West and South, with signs of a moder-
ate increase in interest at leading East
ern markets. which hitherto have not
shared largely In the trade movement.
| The immense business doing in iron and
steel products at prices calls
attention to the proportionately less
notable expansion Of crude iron pro-
duction. pig iron statistics In fact point
to an even smaller output for the cur
rent month, some Of which curtailment,
| of course. is naturally based upon MD
summer conditions. Advances IN many
grades OF iron, notably Bessemer ana
Southern pig, are features OF the week,
as are also higher quotations TOT steel
biIlets at nearly all markets wire roos
~ N 1raat DnanV classes OF nnlSnlnR
iron and steel, particularly structural
material. Advances In copper, on the
strong statistical position, are among
the interesting ~eature in the metal
trade. At the West, iron and steel are
particularly active and the large num-
her of orders already booked make
manufacturers fairly independent IN
prices and favor an advance on future
business.
The situation in cereals shows but lit
tie change. The balance established De-
tween phenomenally reduced visible sup
plies. active milling demand at nome
and fair export inquiry on the one mana
and the very promising crop outlook on
the other hand tends TO steadiness III
prices and the other cereals sympathlze
with wheat.
REPORTS as to collections the country
over are very encouraging. From WIN
ter wheat sections especially reports
are very good. Some slowness Is noten
I'm at the Northwest, but TINS
is expected TO disappear when the sprihs
wheat crop moves.
BUSINESS failures are larger in num-
her than last week, ag~gregating 100,
against 157 last week, but compared
with 22i in this week a year ago; 26i
in 1896; 1872 in 1895, and PSI in 1894. Buy
ers are appearing I'm increasing num-
hers at leading Western markets. chi
-. ,.-,r4g fnrrauGad activity in 0lS-
tributive trade on country demand
with dry goods shipments especially
large. sales Of iron and steel are re
stricted by inability to deliver Tht
short pack of canned salmon has al
vanced prices. southern and western
buyers are arriving at St Louis anc
drv goods. boots and shoes. hats anc
CAPS are all active. Advances in struc'
tural iron are a feature. and tin plate
: and sheet mills are behind on orders.
Kansas City. ST. Paul, Omaha and
= Minneapolis report active trade. In th'
i, West reports of trade are not so nat
p tering, but a steady business Is report
= ed doing. with some slight improvement
= at a number OF markets.
: At Memphis the outlook Is for tn
! heaviest business in the history OF IN
!, city. but damage by cotton worms II
| Texas affects trade at Galveston, II
P the South Atlantic cities reports are o
a p%erceptible Improvement in trade. ol
the Pacific coast, while business !
quiet in California, large crops OF ore
> gon and Washington are expected 1
make fall trade lively. Oregon frul
: men are doing a good business and ar
II shipping to California points. Al IN
\ East more Is doing at Baltimore. south
ern buyers are increasing in numbe
and stocks are reported heavily re
duced.
- business is active al Pittsburg. iro
J. and steel being especially so. Al BIOS
ton and New York a moderate improve
ment is noted. In wool and woole
goods business is only moderate an
manufacturers buy for present requir'
ments. orders for mems wear gooo
l. for the spring trade are coming in be-
$ ter.
IL Wheat shipments for the week, IL
NJ GLIDING flour. aggregate 3~,795.93S busl
I. els. as against 3,S2S, coo bushels la
NJ week. and compared with 5,3l6, SOB bus
els in this week last year; 1891 .693 busl
II els in the corresponding week OF lSs
y, . 1893. $40 bushels in 1895, and 3,lS2,l
~ bushels I'm 1894.
Since July / this year the exports
wheat aggregate 2l.S50,666 busheI
against p, 4S2. 24o bushels last year.
Canadian trade is quiet. but the To
is one OF care, based primarily upon
ed expected yield larger than ever befo
MS in the dominion's history, In Britt
or Columbia a normal trade is doing, h
the salmon pack as a whole Is disa
pointing and prices tend upward. Blu
ne ness failures i'm the Dominion of Cana
soy number 70. against 30 last week:
"A i'm his week a year ago, 80 in 1896, a
81 in 1895.
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