Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-29

". VI. DuN ~ W. ItppleW III ieet
week says: sit is a year beyond
parallel and goes to its close with
the biggest volume OF business ever
seen. 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
show an increase Of % per centagainst
per cent in imports, which would
| indicate much more than $40, COO, 600
cxcess Of exports this month. The
| payments through clearing houses have
been for the week 26. 3 per cent greater
| than last year. and IL. per cent greater
than In 1892, and for the month, IL. 8
| per cent larger than in 1892. Until
| now no greater volume of business has
ever bpen done in the history of this
country than In the closing month
OF this year. Weekly reports show
railway earnings AS per cent larger
4 than in November, and 81 per cent
4 in December, thus far, than last year,
and II per cent larger in November
and A per cent in December than In
1892, with only part of the roads re-
porting. 1t alsp appears that the east
hound shipments from Chicago have
been 1877, f07 tons for three weeks,
against 200, 1914 last year, and 203, 08a
in 1892 The building Of new roads
Is reported by the Railway Gazette
at 1851 miles, more than in amy othel
year since 1892, though its reports
obviously do not include part of De
cember. But the car famine crowds
both railroads and works to the ut
most. The story OF iron is like {
dream. With $1,000 tons Bessemer pit
sold at Pittshurg for $40 10, and gra,
forge at 90, 40, md Chicago sale
limited only by the capacity OF tn
works, and Eastern sales so numerou
, aud so large as to raise the price 9
cents, there il demand for finishe,
products. which includes at Philadel
phia, 1000 tons of plates for expor
tn South America, 3,O00 tons at Chi
4 cago, where works are crowded 50, 90
tons steel rails by the Maryland Stst
Go. for Asiatic Russia; 5000 ton
i fcsi Australia, against British bids
/ ut Pittsburg, and about 10000 tor
8 domestic at thu East; 0,G00 tor
structural work at Chicago and Pitt.
burg, and 5000 tons for car buildei
e ut Chicago, oil tho works There bein
|. crowded, with heavy buying of shee
IL and wire rods, and sharp competitic
g at the South in cotton ties, u pendir
|, contract for 10000 tons east pipe Il
!, Yokohamn, and sales OF smaller quaint
W ties in ennh class too numerous
|, mention. Tho range of prices Ia near
70 20 per cent lower than In 1892, ind
~ eating IN astonishing increase in Il
Is quantity OF products exchanged. y
Iy Bradstreet's in its review al busine
u conditions states, Current busine
IN conditions furnish SOME sharp contras
id to those usuully looked for or reportt
e. at this senson Of tho year. Ii is.
ie course, reasonable to look for o
rs ceptional activity il holiday and +
In tt.l rated gonaraly ut this date, ~
tie 10 this respect the most sanguino q
Of pectations appear to hnve been realize
te Probably narer before MT this dat
OF however. was tle course of gener
o. business 50 sningted ~ 1t is
s., present. Speculative activity Is
er longer confined to tho stock mark,
no but has widoned to include wheat al
le- corr among the cereals and copp
among the metals, while the rush
business in iron and steel seems HIT
il any, abatnd, and some lines, nutal
n, cotton goods apd raw wool, iro d
playing an activity and strength viii
". would have heen welcomed at any tin
no for year past. Prices OF securit
M and Of staples alike furnish nxamp
M of aggressive strength, which are
numerous MS to observe special innntic
,re Bank clearings in thu United Sta
for the week aggregate 81, GTS, 900, o;
Ia. I; decrease OF less than ! por cent fr,
Y last week, and gain al 21 per ii
nd. over this weck q year ago, Of 80 |
nn cont over 1896, Of - Ier cent d
M 1895, very nearly twice AZ large as
1924 and 1885, and IN pot can't larJ
than this week Of 1901, which M
this year was the heaviest week
II, record, Business failures fnr the va
her number 2l2, neainst 23l last week,
sh In this week " year aga, 32T in II
COO and BIG In 1893 Wheat, includi
MI, -four, shipments for tho week agg
md gate 3, 5l5, 2ll bushels, against 6,2I8,t
ma bushels lust weak, revisod to incll
Portland, Me-, 4.IJI,5 800 bushels in
corresponding week Of 1897, ALL,
Pc. bushels In lSng, ., 45T,eDl bushels
,ial lal5 and l,nll,nAi bushels In Is
no Since Jnly lat this year the experts
has wheat aggregate ll5, aiS, QSi bush,
Md against lsl, 5S5.Gl7 bushels last ye
In Corn exports for the wcek aggreg
!. a,l03.9T8 bushels, against 3.25l,
bushels last week, 4,S19 oil bushels
this week u year ago, =, 46s, 100 busi
Ore, ID 1896, i,s36, aa3 bushels In 1895
!. n 6ln,SI7 bushels in 1884. Since j
the LIST this year corn exports aggrea
eed II. $50, 9Bi bushels. against 10, 361,