Griggs courier., 1898-12-22
BUSINESS It nO|D nll
MOST SURPRISING yElR n sUa aisIulY


New York. Dec. N.-Bradstreet.s sayss
"ldkening the general business Of the coun-
try to that Of water course, It may bos
authoritatively stated that nearly all the
channels Of seasonabls trade are at the
present time running full. and In some;
lines Of business the stream ID virtually
out Of the banks. This IL particularly the
case In iron and steel. where production
on at an unprecedented rate, ;at3a time.
too. when 1t Is usual to look for Quietness
and even dizziness in this Industry. Moth
ing like the present activity In this branch
Of trade has been seen for many years past.
If, indeed. 1t has ever been equaled. Ad-3
vices from all the leading centers Of iron
production are Of an exceptionally eager
demand for the crude and manufactured
products and of advancing prices. the only
anxiety expressed being that by buyers
before in the country's history mas It been
possible for an American steel company
to refuse a profitable order for rails for
foreign account. on the plea that its mills
were already fully occupied 10 far ahead
as to preclude its trying for the business.
Higher prices for pig iron. steel billets.
soft steel and all sorts Of car material are
reported, while the production Of raw ma.
tertal Is at it's maximum. Ship building,
too. contributes its portion Of activity to
terial.
Situation an Other Lines.
''In other lines Of business the situation,
as regards prices. is a favorable one. nota-s
BILE among the advances reported being
nearly all the cereals. cotton. coffee. lum-
less prominent staples. Following the
slight recession shown in wheat values Of
last week. an improved demand for export
has again developed, which IL evidence Of
the fact that stories Of keen competition
from Argentina and Russia have been
more or less discounted. the United States
remaining. as for some time past. the prin-
cipal source of supply Of the world. In
creased interest is being taken In cotton At
the advanced price. and the situation Of
strengthened by skillful management Of
the print cloth situation, which In turn has
induced a more liberal demand for kindred
products for the spring trade. seasonable
but prices retain all their old strength.
and an active demand Is looked for with
the turn OF the year. Holiday trade IL re-
ported extremely active at most markets.
The country's export trade is Of the largest
volume ever known. that for November
surpassing the total for December year
ago. with the Indications favoring total
trade for the calendar year at least one,
sixth larger than year ear age, o. and our sales
dollars worth we buy"
A Surprising Year.
n. ". Oun q NOs IN tnelr weekly review
of trade say: December is adding sur
prising close to the most surprising year
Of American history November surpassed
all other months Of the century in volume
Of business and production. and thus far
December is doing even better in payments
through clearing houses. in railroad earn
ings. in foreign trade. in output OF pig iron,
in activity and strength Of securities. But
that is saying great deal. for in all these
and other tests November was far the best
month Of American financial history.
Failures for the week have been PSI in
the United States. against 329 last year.
and 81 in Canada. against % last year,