The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-05
FIGURES FOR JANUARY
Highest Clearings and Lowest
Failures on Record.
GAINS IN MANUFACTURES
Grain Markets and Move
ments are Weeks Features,

houses in January made d remarkable
showing, being much larger than in any
previous month, S6.S per cent larger than
the same month last year, and II per
cent larger than n 1892. The failures in
January were smaller than in any pre-
vious year of which there is record, and
were probably smaller than in any other
January since 1881. The statement by
branches of business given this week
shows a surprising gain in most depart
ments of manufactures this week. Mean
while the money market is as conhdent as
ever; gold does not come from Europe
in large amount only because bankers
find it worth while to lend American
money abroad, and the commercial bal
ances are heavily in favor of the United
States, as heretofore.
Perhaps the most striking feature or
the week has been the decline in wheat.
With exports of 1904 81 bushels. against
1,770, SAG bushels last year, -four included
from Atlantic ports, and 7I6,S4O bushels
from Pacific ports, against A4,3i3 bushels
last year, the temper of the market has
been weaker. The report of the agricul-
tural department has some influence, al
though its figures are not generally cred
tied as reliable The wheat market has
turned largely upon the operation of a
Chicago Spectator, but the fact remains
that the price depends largely upon for
eign needs and upon the comparative
scarcity of American supply. The outSo
of corn continues heavy, 379S,7S6 bushels,
against 3,S43, 400 bushels for the same week
last year. and the excess over last year.
when exports were much the greatest ever
known, indicates a very heavy foreign de-
mand. The spot price of cotton remains
unchanged, but the fact that receipt con-
tinue larger than during the same week
of 1895, after the heaviest crop ever known
checks speculative operations for an ad-
vance.
The iron and steel manufacture is stead
lily gaining in consumption of pig iron,
although the production of the material
is still in excess if immediate demands,
but not enough to cause decline IN
prices in Pittsburg or Chicago Even the
southern producers are able to get falr
price at Chicago, and at the east and
anthracite pig is unchanged. The demand
for finished products has been very heavy
and includes for structural work 5000 tons
for the state capital building in Pennsyl-
vania: 1900 tons for the court house at
Denver; 5000 tons for elevated railways
at Chicago, and numerous small build
ings in various parts of the country. The
demand for car building has been very
heavy. both at the east and west, and
the plate demand greatly increased at the
east on account of orders from ship yards.
For plates the demand from tin plate
works has been very active. The pros
pect Of a combination of wire manufac-
turers has stimulated the demand and
raised the price for wire rods. OF Con-
nellsville coke 1903. ovens are in blast,
with an output Of $4,000 tons weekly. and
| the quoted price is $50 for furnace. Tin
| is quiet and steady a $13.S5, with visible
! supply on February l of 3L12O tons
against 90, 3S2 a year ago. EXorts OF cop
per in January were about 1925 tons
against 9,066 last year, and the price Is
| held at IL cents for lake.
| There is a better demand for cotton
| goods since the general stoppage Of works
| at the east, but there is no indication as
vet Of material gain as respects unsolc
| stocks on hand.
| In wooden goods. the demand is alto
| eether more satisfactory, an advance oil
about 20 per cent being paid on mos
grades of the finer woolens and worsteds
| and nearly all the mills are active The
sales of wool at the three chief markets
were 6,961, 400 pounds, Of which $4,000
pounds was domestic. against 13,563Ic
| pounds last year, Of which S,493, 800 pound!
was domestic.
Failures for the week were 335 in tn
United States. against 3i1 last year. ant
50 in Canada against GO last year.
BRADsTREET'S
New York. Feb. 4.-Bradstreet's tomor
row will say:
Severely cold weather, accompanied b!
| high winds and heavy snow, has been
featu1 exercising considerable influence
upon the movement and distribution o
STABLE goods this week. TIL northern an
eastern states appear TO have felt the ef
fects Of the storm most severely. In spit
of this interruption Of business, a salts
factory trade for the season is reports
in most lines. with special activity re
ported in the iron and steel trades an
kindred lines. In the east. the distribu
ton Of dry goods and wool has bee
| checked and the movement OF prodUc
greatly intertered with, but the tone o
the cotton goods situation IS. II anything
improved. In the middle states and I
the central west, the movement Of iro
into consumption is still very large. bu
nervousness as TO possible over-produc
ton affects that market. Steel is slight
lower at the east. but firmly held at Chi
cago. which also reports advances in iro
bars, wires and nails Western mil
will not agree TO deliver steel rails. billet
or rods on new orders before July / I
the northwest better trade Is reported an
cold weather has helped the Distribute
of seasonable goods. At the south, trad
is reported improved at several importaT
centers. and the total Of January bushes
is said 70 be above the average Alaska
business on the Pacific coast is stiH yer
active. but trade in cereals IS small Raj
is needed in California or crops VIII
considerably shortened Steadiness
nrices has been a feature of the weel
the only decrease noted being IN whea
corn and -four on q speculative Reaction
and in lead. while the prices Of oats. pori
beef and coffee are higher.
The export movement OF cereals show
a heavy falling of for the week but
stiI ahead OF the same week Of precetiE
years. The total shipments Of whea
-four included. amount 20 : iS3.7s4 bushel
| --.-.-. ~ L., 1911. L. ,s-a..s- !.