Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-01
Tho business situation.

Bradstreet's for this week srys:
winter storms and u holiday have
interferred with wholesale demand and
distribution, but later clear, cold
weather is a compromising feature,
inducing heavier retail business in
seasonable goods. In general business
circles most developments have been
favorable, notable among which might
be mentioned general advances in
prices of cereals. provisions, groceries,
cotton, steel and pig iron, the latter
chiefly at Eastern and Southern points;
continued heavy general export trade,
better tone in the market for hides
and leather, more firmness in cotton
goods. and active speculation, all of
which are reflected in very heavy bank
clearings totals. Unfayorable features
are few, prominent among which is
the continued duness at wholesale Of
wool and wooden goods. The situation
as to the country's export trade is a
flattering one, except for the scarcity
of freight tonnage, which is really be-
coming serious, tending to check ship
ments of goods, contracted for. and
thus to seriously hamper the develop
ment of American trade with abroad.
Wheat, including -four, shipments for
the week aggregate 1891, 1926 bushels,
against $3.50, l4l bushels last W ok,
5,dG5, 1853 bushels in the corresponding
week of 1897, 3,753,69S bushels in
1896, 2,460,306 bushels in 1885, and
2,G67, 500 bushels in 1894. Since
July LIST this year the exports OF
wheat aggregate sa,714, 1873 bushels,
against lOl, 43S.579 bushels last year.
| Corn exports for the week aggregate
$, 993, SAC bushels, against 1851, 72i
\ bushels last week, 1850, 705 bushels in
this week Il year ago, 1920, S02 bushels
in 1896, 1920, S93 bushels in 1895 and
1G5, go bushels in 1894. Since July
LIST this year corn exports aggregate
20, 0l3, 765 bushels, against 50, $40. l45
during the same period year ago. - I
r. G. Dun Il Co. s Review advances
4 the opinion that Thanksgiving in
1898 means more than for thirty years.
The Harvest Home has never recog
nized larger crops on the whole in. this
country, the general prosperity is
attested by the largest volume of bust
ness ever recorded. the peoples verdict
has given reason to hope that the
soundness of the currency and the
nations honor will not again be id
peril, and war not matched in his.
tory for swiftness of success with
smallness of loss has brought more
perfect union than ever between the
North and South, and closer bonds
than ever with kin beyond sea-
ending with the most important in.
crease of territory since California was
added to the Union. The year so en-.
ceptional in magnitude in variety Of
blessings draws near its end with YET
another good gift, a marked increase
OF confidence, in prospects for the year
which is to close the century. The
volume of business again exceeds
$3.50, 600, 900 per business day, being
for the week 27.1 per cent larger than
last year, and 90. larger than in 1892,
and for the month 22.2 per cent larger
than last year, and 1873 per cent larger
than in 1892. Frequently most of the
principal cities outside Now York now
show increase of 20 per cent or more
over the most prosperous year hitherto.
Liquidation of syndicate contracts here
released about SIT, coo, 600 in New York,
and the country is now sending hitheI
So, 250, 600 in week, while heavy de.
ferred exchange shows ready lending
in Europe of many millions which
could be drawn if wanted. Confidence
in trading is also strengthened by the
fact that failures in three weeks OF
November were for only Sc, 100, 800,
against IS, 1888, 1888 last year, and over
IS. 10000 in every othcr year since
1893, when the amount was ST., 600, 070. y