Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-23
THE STATE OF TRADE.


BradStTeet S.
The excellent foreign demand at good
prices for most products Of American ag-
riculture constitutes, as for some time
past the leading feature Of the country's
trade Second only to this and OF neceS-
Sity forming an important INK IN me
chain Of good trade may be mentioned the
almost uniformly good crop, situation,
furnishing the best evidence that foreign
demands now and in the future Will be
adequately met. The immense balance
OF trade already piled up in this country
favor Of course constitutes an element Oh
strength, which in it's effect on the money
market can hardly be exaggerated. Nat
urally dependent upon and merely phase
Of the foreign demand is the activity
visible in nearly all lines of transporta-
ton. showing that this industry like 9th
ers is sharing TO the full In the proportion
of business having its rise in our heaVy
export trade An increased Willingness 10
regard the existing war as merely an IN
cident in the country's business seems eY-
ident in the trade reports received TINS
week. The volume of bank clearings, re-
ports Of railroad earnings, the NOV ement
Of prices and the reports received from
the iron and steel trade all seem TO con-
cur in indicating a maximum volume OF
business for the period of the year, with
even greater hopefulness manifested than
for some time past as TO a continuance
OF favorable conditions.
There are. it is true, some few features
going to indicate that the present trade
conditions are not universally favorable
While the reports to the winter and
spring wheat crops both as regards acre
age, condition and prospects, seem to ia
vor unprecedented yields, advices from
the corn crops are hardly as favorable,
owing to continued cold and wet weather
tending to check termination. The re-
ports from the cotton crops are also rath-
er irregular, the backward spring and the
lack Of moisture In some sections being
complained Of. There seems little
doubt. however. that the acreage in corn
will be very large this year, and that its
increased value as food product Will be
more universally recognized both at home
and abroad. In manufacturing lines the
reports from the wooden goods trade are
no more favorable. except where the
stimulus Of army orders imparts activity
to some lines of manufactured products
and raw materials. Rather more tone
is visible in the cotton goods industry,
and there is firmer tendsilcsr in prices,
print cloths having recovered slightly
from their unprecedented low quotation.
Some checks to our export trade in man
ufactured products is reported az a result
of the higher freight rates ruling, but
offsetting this, there are reported large
orders received at interior points for steel
plates, said to be on a foreign. government
account. Rather more irregularity is Wis
ible in prices this week than for some
time last. but declines. where noted, are
of a small volume. While wheat. pork,
beef, cotton, printcloths and Bessemer pig
iron are all higher, corn, oats, -four cOf-
fee, butter, cheese and steel biliets are
slightly lower. The advance in raw sugar
is of course traceable to the check to Gu
ban shipments, and an improved demand
at higher prices is foreshadoNed for beet
sugar.