The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-10
AN ASSURANCE
OF CONFIDENCE.
Business Has Not Felt the Uncertain
ty Usual at This Season.
OUR BUSINESS ON A SAFE BASIS.
The Domestic Demand for Our Pro-
ducts is Gratiiyingly Large. and
Foreign Demand Larger Than
Ever Known Before.

NEW YORK. Dec. Or. q. Dun q
Co.'S Weekly REVIEW OF Trade will say
tomorrow: The most Significant tnihs
this week has been the entire absence ol
the customary nervous frlgnt ptlore VI
after the meeting of Congress, the frss-
ident's message and the Treasurer re-
port. No one showed the least altrHi'
and nobody could find occasion for any.
Money and stock and grain markets
moved on exactly as IL the Gohcrhhich,
We're automatic, certain to 90 orders, ana
no more than the country hdu uecsucu
and expected a gradual bettermen, slhee
October continues. There Is Larger ue-
mand for products In nearly ar tne
great industries; larger export derhai.u
for foreign needs, more heaithy ~
nestle demand since seasonable weather
arrived, and a comforting conviction that
November business IS the biggest ever
done. Exports last year Ia December
were marvellous. but this year are|start-
ing ahead
GRAIN EXPORTS.
The Atlantic wheat exports. -four in
cluded. have been for the week 5,5s0' '9l
bushels, against 1872 49, last year, and
Pacific exports 556,13 bushels, against
9l3.0s3 last year, and prices have declined
DC. for cash. but western receipts OF
lo.l50.lS9 bushels. against G.2l34u from
last years great crop, stops argument.
The wheat does not come out AT low
prices IL the people have less to sell than
hst year at 20c. more per bushel. so
the corn exports were 41ij.qI bushels,
against 3.2l3os6 last year, and such
foreign demand at prices much higher
than last year, and with wheat cheaper,
t. proof OF a state OF things abroad
which Americans hardly appreciate. The
price declined only lie. with enormous
receipts.
THE COTTON MARKET.
Cotton shared I'm the export movement
fully. and. nevertheless. has risen 3-l6
in price, with a feeling that estimates
OF May have been achieved. Extremely
low prices yet quoted European buyers
do not stop 10 cavil at commercial and
mill stocks on hand. The consumption
In this country Is not very large, being
but little changed by troubles about
wages at the South. Although there has
been voluntarily curtailment in New Eng
iand the price OF print cloths have been
Htted an l-bc., and other goods shade.
WO0LLEN GOODS.
WOolien goods have been I'm much bet
ter demand and many of the smaller
mills have been buying after concessions
secured by the larger. The much broader
market Is more healthy and promises
TAR more for the industry and sales of
i6.6552c0 pounds in two past weeks at the
three chief markets against TO- $50 700
pounds In the same weeks Of 1892. are
quite in line with demand in prosperous
years. Prices yielded about ID a cent
~ Af'H 'iAiN'As tAiNih lAlS W lNV 'lNDAdAiVhH
by Coates Brothers and from Philadelphia
dispatches appear 10 be about a cent
lower this week.
IRON AND STEEL.
The rupture of the Inchoate Rail com
bination, IL appears resulted In lower
prices and larger sales In the first week
Of sharp competition than were realized
4 week ago. Prices were made In some
transactions much lower than We're then
cor are now quoted. and while 81 at Pitts
burg Is now named, special orders are
said TO command lower figures The pur-
chase of 10000 tons Bessemer pig at
so at Valley Furnaces. and 10000 tons
billets for Pittsburg works at $l550. OF
which 1900 tons went to a hoop mill
with HOO tons rods at Chicago at $50.
and 22oO0 tons plates for one concern at
Pittsburg. besides enormous orders FOR
bars and plates I'm car and shipping. and
Il steamship contract on the Delaware
and a contract for 5000 for bridges at
Chicago, give some idea OF the heavy
business coming forward, just when the
works usually expect a season OF idle
ness and waiting. Pig iron Sll.50 At the
East and quotations average Tor pig
throughout the country a shade higher
than at any time this year though prices
for finished products have recently been
declining and are lower than in the early
months Of the year This week. fall
ures have been 2iS in the United states
against 23l last year, ana y IN CANADA
AGAINST % last year.