Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-04-07

Washington, April 2.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly trade report says that in
spite of foreign conditions since the
destruction of the Maine, failures in
the past three months were smaller
than in the first quarter of any year
since 1886. The war cloud which
many inferred would most greatly eff
feet commercial districts, does not ap-
pear to have any such effect as yet
and While there is some decline in new
orders nearly all live works are COW
cred so far ahead that the difference
is not felt. The rate for money has
advanced; 8 per cent. which used to be
the ruling rate in active times again
prevails, which compels many specu-
lators to Iiquidate. Imports of gold
go far to prevent any real anxiety.
The outgo of breadstuffs continues,
Atlantic exports being 2,516,220 bush
els (fiour included) for the week,
against 2,1S5,37S last year; and Pacific
exports 542 ,147 bushels against $4,000
last year. For the past five weeks
from both coasts exports were 16,592,-
917 bushels against S,226,2 last year.
Wheat has declined slightly; but corn
advanced quarter of a cent for the
week. No one imagines foreign trOu-
bles can check the outgo. The smallest
sales of wool for many years are
reported at Boston and at three of the
| chief markets the sale were only
l 1860 pounds for the week,
about fifth of last years first quar-
ter. The iron and steel market shows
! no decrease, for the works ar
fully employed and some additional
works were put into operation for
government purposes. Pig iron is no
lower anywhere and at Pittsburg
prices for bessemer rule shade high
er, because of an agreement by valley
producers. Purchases OF ore at
| Cleveland were over a million ions
for the week. Failures for the
! week in the United States were 220
against 260 last year.
New York, April 2.-Bradstreets
rather quieter general trade, and
smaller distribution, due to easily ex
| plainable causes, closes a quarter em
| iEently satisfactory to nearly al
| branches of trade and productive
unprecedented business in many ia
vCred lines The heavy foreign de
mand for products, particularly in ag
ricultural staples and the active dis
tributive movement in most lines ar
| evidenced by the heavily increase
! bank clearings reported for the quar-
| ter. Little or no Improvement
found in the coarse cotton goods trade
The anthracite coal trade is sufferini
! from the usual spring complaint, bus
mess being inactive and prices weak
Freight rates are reported weak on
the Pacific coast, trade being rathe
quieter in most cities. The price sit
uation is, on the whole, quite encour
aging this week. Oats, flour, prin
cloths, hides are most prominen
among the decreases mentioned, an
wheat, corn, lard, coffee, cotton an
sugar among the higher. Exports of
wheat (f1our included) were smaller
than for some weeks past, but much
larger than for corresponding periods
in previous years, aggregating $780,
664 bushels, against 2,464,645 for the
week last year.
The total bank clearings of the prin-
cipal cities of the United States for
the week were $1,106, O58, JAP, an in
crease of 1913 per cent. as compared
with the corresponding week last year.