The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-17
CENTURY BEST YEAR
Has Been 1898, With Novem-
Der the Best Month.
BUT DECEMBER BETTER
So Far as Gone--WonderfuI
Facts of Trade.

say:
December is adding a surprising close u
q most surprising year OF American his
tory. November surpassed all other
months Of the century in volume OF bust
ness and production, and thus far. De
cember is doing even better in payments
through clearing houses, in railroad earn
ings. in foreign trade, in output of pig
iron, in activity and strength of securi-
} ties.
But that is saying great deal. for in al
these and other tests November was by
far the best month Of Americans financial
history. December began with a pig
iron output of 225.52s tons weekly, against
%, sS5 November /. and with Stoke OF
unsold iron diminished 2s.9ss tons in No
yember, which indicates a consumption
of 24,313 tons during the month Not
only is the output the greatest ever
known, but il has increased PIG per cen;
since 1892, which developed the greatest
monthly record then ever known-Besse-
mer pig was then selling for s147 - a Pitts
burg but until the middle of November
sold at 1910 this year. 1t has since risen
| with enormous demand and sales 20
Sl055 there. with grey forge Ss3S, but the
Chicago market is also strong, with sales
Of 10000 tons, besides $500 tons OF bill
lets, which had risen az PittSburg with
big transactions 10 SIG With scarcity OF
pig iron feared. both east and west, there
r yet no rise whatever in finished pro
duct, although the demand IS far beyond
f,FI
81 per ton at the east, although the
Lackawanna company has taken orders
/ for 10000 tons at the west, both the Pitts
/ burg and Chicago works being sold far
| ahead, and bide for 32.Ooo tons for Aus
/ traIia are to be opened today, while Chi
cago has pending a bid for 10000 tons
( deliverable in two years in Asiatis Rus
STA. In other lines the demand Tor fin
/ ished products is Of the same surprising
magnitude. especially in plates and in
sheets.
] The wooden industry has come TO the
| front with every extensive purchase of
wool by large houses and small, helped
by material concessions at Boston, so
that sales at the three chief markets
have been 1868 700 pounds. OF which 3D.
$50 200 were domestic against 1901 100
last year. of which 7.443,OO0 were domestic,
and 16504. 100 in the same weeks of 1892.
Of which 23S9, 900 were domestic.
The transactions show a demand fair
ly up to that of the most prosperous
years heretofore. Philadelphia has good
business but seems inclined 20 ask &C
more than Boston prices for fine fleece,
Ohio Xxx being offered at Boston for
2sikc much improved deman d for
goods has started many mills long idle
and the prospects for the next season,
with wool at more reasonable prices. has
decidedly improved.
No man can say that the advance In COT
ton. with a strong minlcg demand at
home due to orders for goods which left
prices generally little higher Is not war
ranted IN view of the heavy export trade
The foreign demand Is really inexphcable
considering its volume in comparison with
movements of goods from rieat Britain,
but dealers abroad are doubtless seeking
10 protect themselves for the future.
The exports Of wheat continue heavy
from Atlantic ports. -four included. 5. 4e2. SO
bushels, against 3.5Ss. sos last year. and
from Pacific ports IA. ss1 bushels. against
I.520. So last year. so init for two weeks
the outgo has been 11.s71.540 bushels. as
against 9. 401 $50 last year. As the wheat
outpue in December of last year was
close TO the largest on record. the gain
this year IS really surprising. While
prices have been cents stronger for cash
the western receipts for two weeks OF
December have been about 5000 90 bush
els greater than last year.
The corn movement Is the most aston
ishing feature Of the business. The ex
ports for three weeks have been 1882
bushels. against ss25.ss4 bushels last year
and the price has advanced / cent FOR
the week. Should such a demand FOR
American corn continue. it would be OF
enormous value 70 western farmers
Failures for the week have been PSI IN
the United States. against - last year.
and 81 in Canada. against 3 last year.
BRADsTREETs
New York. Dec. I6--Bradstreet's to
morrow viii say:
Lkening the general business OF the
country 10 that OF a water course i may
be authOritativeiy stated that nearly ali
the channels OF easonable trade are AZ
the present time running fun, and IN some
ms OF business the se<eam i virtually
overlooking This i particularly the ease
in iron and steel. where production and
consumptive demand are alike going on
AZ an unprecs dentei rate. at q time. 700
when il i usual 10 hook for quie.uess n
this industry Nothing Ike the present
activity IN this branch OF trade has been
seen for many years past. Il. indeed. II has
al ---.T
ing centers 81 iron production are Of *
eager demand for the crude I
and manufactured products and o. ac- /
vsncinG prices. the only anxiety expresses (
beng that by buyers desiring early deliv- {
cry Probably never before IN ne cou1- |
trv's history has It been possible for an I
American steel company 70 refuse I
profitable order for rails tcr foreign &C
count. On the plea that IS 1niHs were al /
ready fully occupied - FAR ahes1 - 20 4
preclude itS trying for he business Hiza- i
81 prices for pig iron. steel biiists. soft 4
SEED and az sorts q car material az -
ported while the prcdusction % raw raaisr- 4
a. : AZ is maximum Ship5aEdinx. too.
Contributes it, portion q activity 20 TIE /
ron trade BY Us urgent calls for ma
.=-tsl-
n other Enss q business the situation 4
as regards p-sces Is a favorable ore, aoiz-
BE among he advances reported beng 1
-ssriy ali the cereals. eotton- cofss. iuus-
-. copper. lead and = variety q otas-
sss prominent staples
Following he sigh, recession shoEa f.
xheat valuss % last WEEK. an improved
ienans Cor export szs again ssve.op-t.
Ehtrn Is evidence % TIE fact TAT stories
z keen cozPetitioz from Arzeafizz AID
Russia have ben more er i-ss sesu-;s1.
IL 1ltsc States remaining as Ger sone
iz.e past he principal source q ssr2iy
Z TIE Eo-sd rcreasea interest . helzE