The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-21
ACTUAL BUSINESS
ON THE INCREASE.
The Country Growing Accustomed to
War Possibilities,
THE KEY TO THE SITUATION.
Is Prosperity in the West Caused by
the Unprecedented Marketing OF
Breadstuf's-Great Iron Out
put, and Bessemer Higher.

NEW YORK, May 2o-R. G. Dun g.
Co.'S weekly Review Of Trade will say
tomorrow:
Growing accustomed 20 war POSSIBILITY
ties. which are mostly far from prooa-
bllties Of evil, and finding the nation
moving along steadily in its industries,
people are grasplng the idea that 1t Is
throwing away some months OF active
and profitable life 10 wait until war
clouds have passed. Western prosperity
has so greatly overbalanced timidity OF
Eastern capital that actual business
done increases; railroad earnings promise
better for May than a month ago Tor
April. and payments through clearing
houses for the week in May show gain
OF S6 per cent. over last year and 10 per
cent. over 1892. while a month ago the
increase over last year was $50 ana
compared with 1892 there was decrease
of ~ per cent. Several large contracts
kept back FOR some weeks because OF nos
tilities have now been placed, and IN
stead OF works closing or reducing torce'
returns show the starting OF some WORKS
long Idle and increase Of force ana OF
hours at others. Government work &C.
cupies many establishments, but II counts
for little compared with other demands
WESTERN PROSPERITY.
The KEY of the situation is the pros
peritv OF the West which altogether un-
precedented marketing OF bread-stuifs
has caused. with the prospec OF good
crops to come. These prospects, and &C
tual receipts OF wheat amounting TO D.
S76.7l6 bushels for the week. against p
43g 1863 last year, with advances also in
other grain and cattle, have produced n
demand for rails, cars, car-materials,
fencing agricultural implements. boots
and shoes and all textile goods, which
was not anticipated from Eastern indica-
lions. Exports OF wheat do not d.
minish. but in three weeks from Allan
tic ports -four included. have been =
955 SIS bushels against 4.Us.7i2 last year
and from Pacific ports. l13s.l23 bushels.
against 6lO637 last year. The price OF
May wheat fell A. cents on Saturday.
rose Z cents Tuesday, and closed 81 high
er for the week
ADVANCE IN IRON.
In iron. Notwithstanding the greatest
output ever known. The demand has caus-
ed some advance in Bessemer pig. with
only a slight decline in the price OF Grey
Forge at Pittsburg. but full quotations
are obtained at Chicago and Philadelphia.
The textile works are doing rather bet-
ter, even the cotton MUS III spite OF lheir
over production, for some OF large i'm
pOrtance have recently started again, and
print cloths are sixteenth higher. Nu-
merous woollen mills have been pushed
20 new activity by government orders,
and prices for a few grades Of goods are
better. with a stronger tone in the mar
ket generally, although some mills OF
Importance have stopped, as their orders
for the season have run out While sales
OF wool are small. 633S. 900 pounds for
the three weeks past. against q 963. 100
last year the manufacturers have ample
stocks, although some are obliged by
government orders 10 seek in the marke,
grades OF wool which they had not ex-
pected 10 require.
Failures for the week have been "a
in the United States. against 2iS last
year. and p in Canada, against 81 last
year.