Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-12-27
Year Closes with Greatest Volume
Of Business Ever Known.
THR TRANSACTIONS ARE ENORMOUS.
nxoess Of Exports for December Over
e7O,O00.0OO - Unprecedented Ao-
tivlty Noted In the Iron
Industry.

some QlUoConCe, OUT Wnen ail the tF8n8pOrt-
ing and speculative interests are eliminat-
cd there Ii still much larger business than
In any other month Of any year. Last year
the exports were IN volume greater than
IN any previous month In the history Of the
country. but this year the three weeks re-
port shows an increase OF Is per cent.
against per cent. in imports. which would
OF exports this month. The payments
through clearing houses have been for the
week 2s.b per cent greater than last year
and 12.t per cent. greater than in 1892. and
for the month lib per cent. larger than In
w: NO greater volume ~ 70 Of bu.i.
this country than In the closing month Of
Wheat and Corn.
Shipments Of wheat have been session
bushels. flour included. at Atlantic porta,
against 8.sss.s21 last year. although western
Isl bushels, against 1o.s0S 929 last year, q
fact which the believers in q small crop
may we'll consider. From Pacific ports the
shipments have been for the week 1.818,0l9
bushels. against $4,000 bushels last year.
Considering the enormous exports from
July to date. exceeding last year, one can
only wonder that the outgo this year has
been 70 large and tho price has risen during
the week ~ cents. Corn exports also have
been s.sA. s5e bushels. against <,640,e13 last
year. and for the month thus far II oil, 1Ss,
against 1851. 4W last year. Tho price has
advanced about ~ cents, but the continued
foreign demand 10 astonishing.
The Iron Industry.
The story Of the iron manufacture IL like
dream. With 5000 tons bessemer pig
sold at Pittsburgh for $10.60 and grey forge
at 1910 and Chicago sales limited only by
the capacity of the works and eastern sales
20 numerous and SO large as to raise the
nrfC To a
products which includes at Philadelphia
1000 tons Of plates for export to South
America. 5000 tons at Chicago, where worka
are crowded. $1,000 tons steel rails by the
Maryland Steel company for Asiatio Rus
ola. 5000 tons for Australia. against Brit
tsh bids at Pittsburgh. and about 10000 tons
domestic at the east, $500 tons structural
work at Chicago and Pittsburgh and s.GOI
tons for car builders At Chicago, all the
works there being crowded, with heavy
buying OF sheets and wire rods, and sharp
composition at the south in cotton ties. .
pending contract for 10000 tons cast pipe
Tor Yokohama and sales of smaller Quauti-
ties In each class too numerous to mention.
Prices OF iron and steel products have not
materially changed, although the tone ID
everywhere stronger and for wire nails
quotation. have been advanced to $3.50 at
Leads the World.
"But this country IL beating the world In
this industry. All this business Is done
With full belief that the next years demand
Will be greater than ever before, and It Is
ereditable. especially in the, iron; and steel
business. that 30 little advance in prices
Of finished products has been made. The
range OF prices is nearly % per cent. lower
than In 1884, indicating an astonishing In
crease In the quantity Of products sx-
changed. How Europe VIII be able to pay
more than $e.oo 900 due on merchandise
account for the month OF December, be-
sides the enormous balances due for No.
vsmbsr and previous months. Is question dor
which the country can afford to consider at
IL leisure and with comfort.
Failures for the week have besn aSS,
age4nst ~ In the United States last year
ana u In Canada. against q last year.
BraAstrest's View.
6radstreet's says: Current business
conditions furnish some sharp contrasts Ia
those usually looked for or reported at this
season OF the year. 1t Is. OF course, reason
able to look for exceptional activity in holi-
day and retail trade generally at this date
and IN this respect the most sanguine ex-
pectations appear to have been realized,
Probably never before at this date. how.
ever. was the course of general business
20 animated a. 1t 10 at present. Speculative
activity Is no longer confined to the stock
market, but has widsned to include whaat
and corn among tho cereals and copper
among the anetR4s, while the rush OF bust.
ness in iron and steel seems little. II any
abated, and some lines. notably cotton
goods and raw wool. are displaying an
activity and strength which would have
been welcomed at any time for year past.
Prices Of securities and Of staples alike fur.
nish examples OF aggressive strength
which are 80 numerous as to deserve sne.
cial mention. In the iron trade no siena Of
tagging interest are to be disoerned. hi,
rather moro pronounced activity in rev
directions.
THE foreign demand for cereals con.
tinues unabated. any slight price reaction
being taken advantage OF by foreign buy.
ors. Wheat closes the week with Quota
lions we'll up to the highest paid thi,
autumn and short sellers Of December de-.
livery are reaping the benefit of indiscreet
speculation. The strength of wheat ha
been enhanced by sympathy with the grow.
Ing speculative interest in corn. for which
the highest prices paid for three years No -,
has been recorded. Strength and flrmnes.
II feature also of the lumber market
with the possible exception Of yellow MIN
whore keen competition tends to check the
advancing tendency shown by other wood
In other lines Of general trade and industry
rAporta ara q r,,1n ~ ~, III .