The age-herald., 1898-02-05
CLEARING HOUSES MAKE GOOD RECORDS \ Gain in Manufacturing Department Of
 Trade. PRICE ON WHEAT DECLINES While Cotton Spots Remain Unchanged
 Large Sales. BIG CONSUMPTION OF PIG IRON By Steel Manufactures Snow and Wind Has lnterfered With the Movement of Staple
 Goods Gives Failures
 335- Bradstreet 295.
PRICE ON WHEAT DECLINES
BIG CONSUMPTION OF PIG IRON

New York, Feb. AR. G. Dun company's weekly review of trade will say in its issue tomorrow:
 Actual payments through clearing houses in January, made remarkable showing, being much larger than in any previous month, 36.S per cent. larger than the same month last year, and Fl per cent. larger than in 1892. The failures in Jan uary were smaller than in any previous year of which there is record, and were probably smaller than in any other Jan uary since 1881. The statement by branches of business shows a surprising gain in most departments of manufacture and trade. Meanwhile the money market is as confident as ever; gold does not come from Europe in large amounts only, be- cause bankers find it worth while to lend American money abroad, and the commer- cial balances are heavily fin favor of the United States, as heretofore.
 Decline In Wheat
 Perhaps the most striking feature of the week has been the decline in wheat. With exports of 3,O94517 bushels against 1,770,546 last year, flour included, from Atlantic ports, and 776,S40 form Pacific ports, against S44,S43 bushels last year. the temper of the market has been weaker. The report of the agricultural department has had some influence, although its figures are not generally credited as. re- liable. The wheat market has turned largely upon the operation of Chicago speculator but the fact remains that the price depends largely upon foreign needs and upon the comparative scarcity of American supply. The outgo of corn con- tinues heavy, 3,79s,7S6 bushels against B. 343, 400 for the same week last year. and the excess over last year, when exports were much the greatest ever known, in- dicates a very heavy foreign demand.
 Price of Cotton Unchanged
 The spot price of cotton remains un- changed, but the fact that receipts con- tinue larger than during the same week of 1895 after the heaviest crop ever known, cheeks speculative operations for an ad- vance.
 The iron and steel manufacture Is steadily gaining in consumption of pig iron, although the production of the ma tertal is still in excess of immediate de- mands but not enough to cause a decline in prices in Pittsburg or Chicago.
 Even the southern producers are able to get fair price at Chicago and at the east and anthracite pig Is unchanged. The de- nland for finished products has been very heavy and includes for structural work 5000 tons for the court house at Denver; 5000 tons for elevated railways at Chicago and numbers of small buildings in various parts of the country. The demand for car building has been very heavy both at the east and the west and the plate demand is increased at the east on account of or ders from ship yards. For plates the de- mand from tim plate workers has been very active.
 Big Wire Combine
 The prospect of a combination of wire manufacturers has stimulated the demand and raised the price for wire rods.
 Of ConnellsviEe coke. 5,099 ovens are in blast with an output of 155.O 900 tons weekly and the quoted price is $1.5o for furnace.
 Tin is quiet and steady at $13s5 with q visible supply February 1 Of S1.120 tonc against S2, S32 a year ago.
 Exports of copper In January were about 1o.225 toa,s against 9,o66 last year and the price is held at Il cents for lake.
 There Is a better demand for cotton goods since the general stoppage of works at the east, but there is no indication as yet of material gain as respects unso.d stocks on harad
 In wooden goods the demand Is alte- gether more satisfactory. an advance of about 20 per cent. being paid on most grades of the finer woolens and worsteds and nearly all the mills are active. The sales of wool at the three chief markets were 6,S61 400 pounds. of which ,97S,0O0 pounds were domestic, against 13.5GS, FOG pounds last year, of which 400 pounds were domestic.
 Failures for the week were S35 in the United States, against 311 last year, and 39 in Canada against 63 last year.
 Bradstreet's Trade Review
 New York, Feb. 4.-Bradstreet's tomor- row will say::
 Severely cold weather, accompanied by high winds and heavy snow, has been a feature exercising great influence on the movement and distribution of staple goods this week. The northern and eastern states appear to have felt the effects of the storm most severely. In spite of this interruption of business a satisfactory trade for the season is reported in most lines, with spe- cial activity in iron and steel trades and kindred lines.
 In the east the distribution of dry goods