Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-24
GREAT TRADE YEAR.
1T CLOSES WITH BIGGEST VOLUME
or BUSINESS EVER SEEN.
STORY Is TO IRON LIKE 4 DREAM.
orr Country Beating the World in
This Industry-Cotton Manufacture
Likely 10 Take Leading Place
The Prospect brighter.

NEW YORK. December 23.-Messrs. r.
c. Dun 6 CO.'S Weekly Review Of Trade
yI say in to-morrow's issue:
f. is q year beyond parallel. and goes
g. I-- close with the biggest volume of
business ever seen. Enormous transac-
tons at the Stock Exchange make some
difference, and heavy railroad earnings.
t-- when all the transportation and
speculative interests are eliminated there
i, s,l a much larger business than in any
C'.tr month Of the 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'
report shows an increase OF % per cent.
ssainst 9 per cent. in imports. which would
.-i.cate much more than $70,OOO,C 600 excess
G. exports his month. The payments
through clearinghouse have been for
'-e week 26.5 per cent. greater hi last
year and 124 per cent. greater than IN
ISL, and for the month us per cent.
llrser than in 1872. Until now no greater
volume Of business has ever been done
&. Che history Of this country thar in the
dosing month Of this year.
GRAIN SHIPMENTS.
Shipments Of wheat have been 3.2S5,7O 0
bushels flour Included at Atlantic ports,
against &69S .821 last year. although west
e-I receipts for three weeks have been
GUS5l bushels. against 1896. 929 last
year. "a fact which the believers in a
email crop may well consider. From Pa
Ct- ports the shipments have been for
the week 1.I6,0l9. against $4,000 bushels
list year. Considering the enormous eX-
ports from July LIST ia date, exceeding last
years, one can only wonder that the
ogtso this year has been so large, and
tie price has risen during the week a cent
and o half.
Corn exports also have been S,S2f.S6
bushels. against 4.5i0.6l3 last year. and
fr the month thus far HOBBS. against
, N7. +7 last year. The price has ad-
ylneed. but the continued foreign demand
.s a%stonishing.
COTTON AND WOOL
u cotton manufacture takes a leading
place this year. il Is not merely because
cotton is an eighth lower than a year
ago. but because prospects for buyers are
also good. The manufacture has been
much expanded by increased demand, so
that the prices of nearly all the goods
quoted in our reports have advanced more
up less, and there is a feeling that, with
unreasonable accumulation II print
cloths out Of the way, there is a brighter
prospect for all goods. Sales Of woods
lave been large-27, 1865, 100 pounds. against
g u5.20 pounds last year, and A,5@.2O
in the same week OF 1892. with
small. as we'll as large. manufacturers
very freely. which indicates a
General Improvement In the demand for
Goods. although not enough as yet to
III prices.
LIKE 4 DREAM.
The story Of the iron manufacture is
a dream. With 5000 tons Of Besse-
pig sold at P%lttsburg for 5000. and
8-.v Forge at 1910, and with Chicago
sales limited only by the capacity Of the
works. and eastern sales so numerous
and so large as 10 raise the price p
cents there is a demand for finished pro-
ducts which includes. at Philadelphia,
400 tons OF plates for export 10 South
Auei.. 5000 tons at Chicago, where
te works are crowded. 5000 tons OF steel
,..s ty the Maryland Steel Company
TIP Asa., Russia. 5000 tons for Aus
ITALIA. AGAINST British bids at Pittsburg.
and about 10000 tons domestic at the
East 500 tons structural work at Chi
oe1 and P%ittsburg, and 5000 tons for
l-r-hI.ders at Chicago. all the works
'.e-e being crowded. with heavy buying
% sheets and wire rods. and sharp COM
petition az the South in cotton ties, a
r1.as contract for 2O.OOO tons of cast
i.t- Tor YOkOhoma. and sales OF smaller
O. r.Ues in each class too numerous
t' mention. Prices Of iron and steel pro-
.-.t have not materially changed, al
ia'.ll tho price IS everywhere stronger
flr wire nails, quotations have been /
need 20 40 at P%ittsburg. But TINS 9
.-H'ry IS beating the world In this IN
c-st-y.
GREATER DEMANDa 20 COME
All this business is done with the full j
...s' that next years demand VIII be
Eeafer than ever before, and II is in
cable. especially in the iron and steel d,
-s.ress. that so little advance In the :
.rcs % finished products has been made. '
ne range Of prices is nearly 20 per cent I
'"er than IN 1892 indicating an aston I
AiHg Increase in the quantity OF pro-
..ts exchanged. Whether II will be able 7
, pay more than SIG. 600. 900 DUE on mer- :
dtAdise account for December. besides o
enormous balances due for Novem~ J.
~ ana previous months, is a question
'ieh the country can afford 70 consider .
MS leisure and with comfort. ,
D aIures FOR the week AVE been 25S, 1
z9Z. in the United States, last .
and 81 In Canada. against 80 last ),
q