Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-01-27
THE BUSINESS SITUATION.

TO say with respect to the
business situation throughout tue
country: "a large measure of activity
in business and industrial linss, With,
in 6ome instances, previous records sur
passed and very general stoadiness in
prices of staples, ia perhaps the most
notable feature OF the trade situation
this week. Quotations of cereals show
the most aggressive strength, while
those OF some makes of pig iron betray
rather more decidpd weakness than
they did week ago. Mild weather is
frequently mantiorni aB an influence
tenIing to check rotail distribution of
ssasonahle goods chiefly because OF the
effect on country roads, Spring trade |
opens slowly, IA usual at this time OF |
the year but confidence is still IN !
impairnd. As already intimatcd, the |
immense current production Ut pig |
iron, amounting TO fully 1000. GOO tons |
per month, has begun 10 exercise an |
influence upon the price oil that staple, |
but decreases reported are still only |
fractional. The outlook in the steel
rail trade is reported as u fiattering
one. Large orders for railroad account
already booksd have been increased
within the week, On example OF this
being furnished by snles Of ID COO tons
reported from Chicago at full pricea.
Higher pricas for wool abroad, based
partly on short yield Teports, ara ro-
tlectBd in ihe iirmneAs OF domestic quo
tdtions, although demand, while con-
pairing vol with most preceding years,
is smaller than II was at this time in
1897, when ariif changes we're being
anticipated. The industrial aituation
with the Gingh exception OF tho cotton
industry, is one Of exceptional strength.
As yet the strites in this branch Of
trade, however, he largely confined to
Massachusetts. At the East boots and
shues reiuct tho ahength of hides and
| leRther ia an ndvanes on heavy weight
| gnods. Meme wear wuolens are also
moving fairly well. At the West dis.
tributiye trade ia sltwy improving,
whie at the South far January trade
is reported, particularly in the Missis-
| Hippi Valley. Good returns from last
years Louisiana sugar Cup find ex
preston in higher prices for sugar
lands. The good export demand for
cotton procludes too heavy accumu-
lations at primary points in apith oil tue
crop movement. Mild weather III the
Northwest affects trade TO some eStant.
punt of interest, however, IL the re-
purt that fur goods mRnnfact urers,
uHually shut down at his season. are
running full tins on AlRskan ORDERS
business is active On the Pacific Coast.
California crGp prospects, have been
improved by tho recent rains, and ship
and boat building are very active
along Puget Sound and at Portland.
Quite shriuIiage in cereal exports is
| oN..,l 49, in
shipments Of wheat flour included)
from the United States and CauaGa
amounted to only 3.92G, 0G0 bushels,
against ., 229. 600 bushels last week,
9, DlG, 900 bushels in this week year
arc, 3,S19,000 bushels in 1896 and
Q, $40, OOO bushels IN third week ot
January, 1895. Indian corn exEortt
also showed a heavy falling off. amount
Ing to only 8, aS6, GOO bushels this week,
against 4,46i, 900 bushels last week,
3, $50, 600 bushels last year, and 3, 1872,
coo bushols In the corresponding weeh
Of 1896.
r. q. Dun g. Co. IS Review for tht
last week says; with q volume o
business remarkable for the time o
year, 80 per cent larger than year ag'
and l0.4 per cent larger than ia 1892
|
is not discouraging that one or tw,
Industries are tagging. The demand
for most goods is more heavy for tn
season, man ufacturing works are belts
employed, and orders booked and pros
poets for the future are more en-
couraging than at this season in an.
other year OF which equally definit
= records exist. Exports Of products con
Y tinue surprisingly heavy in spite O
D some rise in prices. Treasury receipt
Q from customs we're larger in twent
y days OF January than in the entir
q month of October or of November, an
!. apprehension regarding the monetar
{ future ia no longer felt outside {
/. speculative CIRCLES, Failures are cor
y siderably smaller than wero ever know
J at this season, both manufacturing an
q trading less than half last years. Raj
i road earnings in January thus far RI
e ported have been 1T.G per cent large
than last year, and 10. 8 per cent large
than in 1892. Nor are mischievou
proposals In Congress supposed TO hay
u any chance OF SUCCESS. The rise Z
70 wheat above dollar in regular sail
y was not accompanied by signs
~ speculative excitement. In fact, Il
!; continuance of extraordinary expor
u would givs EXCUSE for high prices eve
's if the corn exports were not enough
~ suggest great foreign need, The fa
that cargoes of corn were ehippt
10 during the week both TO Egypt ar
D. Russia, the very countries upon whiC
Europe most ROLES for breadstuffs ne
to the United Statea, affected trade n
=, unreasonabiy. Evidently the marke
~ of tho world arc this year quite at Il
y, mercy of American supplies, and il
e fortunate for this country that the pr
- - vailing disposition is to market gra
-, :, in large quantities rather than to for
:, UP speculative prices aud lessen foreiI
I. consumption. Just when unprecedent
,s production Of pig iron was causil
:" weakness extraordinary demand I
finished products appears For th
season, at least, the general demand
vo beyond precsdent, including $50. 0
adj tons steel rails for the week al
nv !, 200 600 already thla year. orders
OF plates SO large that Ptrsburg wor
ed send away some to 0thor concerns, u
n. abls TO fill all they receiye, orders
of bar such that many concerns q
rs Obliged TO refuse more, an eXcelle
ne demand for sheets and fair for atru
turnl forms.
In their excellent regular letter
the public, Messrs Hambleton g. c
.p' OF Baltimore, this week. say; "Wh
be the Teller resolution-to pay the
&C. terest on the governments bonds
lr. silver--which was fayorahly report
RI by the finance committee of the Sena
is a shame and disgrace to the natl
and people, we consider it not an L
:. mixed evil, as it may nrousu tht
LEl