The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-03
THE CONDITION OF TRADE
Many Favorable and Few De-
pressing Features.
THE YEAR A BANNER ONE
Amount OF Business Has Exceeded Any
Former Year. but the Prices OF
Staples Have Not Held Up.
Big Steel Rail Orders

morrow will say: The business world
for the closing month of the year "Opens
with so many favorable and so few de-
pressing features In sight as to leave
little doubt that the year 1898, as a
whole. must hereafter furnish the basis
for estimate when comparisons OF large
business are to be made. Nearly all OBJ
tainable statistics and reports as TO the
volume of business point to the present
real having heavily exceeded n
former year in the amount of business
done and though comparisons as re-
CARDS prices are not as favorable as IN
earlier years. notably 1892 and 1896
when quotations of most staples were
considerably higher. still the
in trade, due to increased population
and enlarged foreign demand for our
products, has resulted I'm an aggregate
volume of business done considerably
i'm excess of any former year.
In the general business world the
leading event of the week has undoubt-
eddy been the placing of very large OF,
ders, estimated at between 5OO.Ooo ana
700. 900 tons Of steel rails, more IMAM
of the entire countrys an
nual production at prices WHICH III
not entirely satisfactory To the compet-
ing rail mills, are encouraging because
they indicate that no check caused by
combination of interests would De al
ministered To our growing export trdde'
which business. coupled with the POSI-
BILE demand next year for structural
steel for building purposes. Is likely ID
play "A most important part in the gov
nme of prices of steel products gen
rally. Nominal prices OF steel ralls
show little change from those rullhS
some time ago, but quotations Tor bes-
semer iron and steel billets reflect the
II - g.n -, 80 tho cornwall IN
the uncertainty regarding the placing
of this large volume Of rail business.
Foreign demand for our food products
has continued an encouraging feature
of the cereal situation and wheat prices
particularly are a little lower on the
week, Notwithstanding very heavy
farmers deliveries and increasing DO
mestic stocks. Exports this week are
the largest ever reported, rejecting
partly naturalization of early reported
business and partly Increased forelsh
buying at concessions earlier IN the
week. Corn and oats appear 10 nave
temporarily parted company from
wheat and are higher on the week on
improved speculative buying and en-
larged export trade.
The ocean freight situation Is signify
easier and the supply Of tonnage shows
some enlargement. The price situation
generally is encouraging and advances
largely outnumber declines. The carry
arrival of winter weather in the South
has tended to make smaller cotton
crop estimates more popular ana en-
larged speculative and spot purchases
have advanced prices for this staple.
Anthracite coal has been marked up IN
some markets largely owing 10 cola
weather. hut there are yet few new de-
velopments I'm the direction OF control
of output. Tin and copper are again
active. speculatively, and tin plates re-
fleet the formal. launching OF the new
combination in slight higher quota
tions. The boot and shoe situation has
been improved by the severe weather
lately experienced, as has the outlook
for rubber goods. Leather Is steadler
and hides are higher, an unusual tea-
ture at this time of year. n recent
advance I'm raw sugar appears 10 ave
| eliminated this week and a slight re-
action is shown. The advent Of winter
weather has tended to reduce the de-
mand for building lumber which, IN
some markets. particularly the East
was depressed during ne summer De
/ cause OF the inactivity I'm building. n
rather better tone is. however. now re-
ported and the opening of the new year
is waited with confidence. Recent ad-
yances in prices i'm pine and spruce
lumber are well maintained STOCKS w
dealers hands are, not AT all heavy ana
advices both from the yellow pine ana
cypress producing sections Of the south
and the white pine markets OF the
North and Northwest are that a heaNy
output has been. as "A rule. satlstactor-
iIy handled. The hard wood situation
maintains all of the strength previously
noted. The domestic wood working de-
mand Is Of good volume, while export
business is steadily increasing ana
prices. as a whole. are considerably
higher than they were at the opening oil
the year.
The general jobbing trade has beer
rather smaller thar usual at TINS tim.
Of year. and severe storms In the Eas,
have hurt distribution. hut the demand
for holiday goods Is Of an encouraging
volume and promises well.
Business failures are of no small vol
ume. numbering 2l2 for week, against
Is2 last week. $50 in 1897, 35s I'm 1896. I'll
in 1895 and 322 in 1894.
Wheat. including Hour. shipments fol
the week aggregate 7.iS3.959 bushels
gains 5.S2l.T2 bushels last week. g.
ta9. $50 bushels i'm the corresponding
week Of 1897. 1858, $50 bushels I'm 1896
3l5s.s2 bushels in 1895 and 3.Oll 30
bushels in 1894. Since July |, this year
the exports Of wheat were 96.l3>.l4
bushels. against lO7 ,93S. $50 bushels las
year.