The times., 1898-12-24

mated there Is still a much larger busi-
ness than In any other month of any year.
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 shows an increase
of % per cent. against per cent in i'm
ports, which would indicate much more
than GTaoO0.coo excess OF exports this
month.
1.-THE payments through Gearing houses
have been for the week 25.5 per cent great
er than last year, and 1924 per cent greater
than in 1892 and for the month lIS per
cent larger than in 1892. No greater vol
ume of business has ever been done in the
history of this country than in the closing
month of this year.
Little need be said of the stock mar
ket. which has been so strong this week
and for weeks before that none could lcse
except the sellers. The average for rail-
way stocks has risen from s65.5l per sha-e
to $3.50. in spite Of all the stories which
could be devised TO cause q break. and for
trusts the average has risen from S1 to
$72.I0 per share.
Shipments OF wheat have teen 42s5. .10i
bushels. flour included. from Atlantic
ports. against 369s. .321 last year. From Pa
cific ports the shipments have been for
the week 1,3l6,019 bushels, against $500
last year. Considering The enormous ex-
ports from July to date. exceeding last
years. one can only wonder that the out
go this year has been so large, and that
the price has risen during the week a
cent and a half Corn exports also have
been 3,S2i. .s3s bushels. against 4.5ils last
year. The price has advanced about g 1-Sc
but the continued foreign demand is as
tonfshing.
Cotton manufacture has been much
eyDanned hy fnrraacaI dan hat
prices Of nearly all the goods quoted in
our report have advanced more or less
and there is a feeling that with un-
reasonable accumulation of print oths
out OF the way, there Is brighter pros
pect for all goods. Sales of wool have
been large with small as well as large
! manufacturers buying very freely, wLicn
indicates general improvement in the
demand for goods. although not enough
as yet TO lift prices.
THE story of iron Is like dream.
With SEQ tons Bessemer pig sold at
Pittsburg for 5000. and gray forge at
$40, and Chicago sales limited only by
| the capacity OF the works, and Eastern
sales so numerous and so large to
| raise the price % cents, there is a de-
| mand for finished products, which in
| cludes at Philadelphia 4.o00 tons of plates
| for export to South America. 1903 tons
| at chicago. SOUJO tons steel rails by the
| Maryland Steel Company for Asistic Rus
| sia. 25.oo0 tons for Australia against Brit
| ish bids at Pittsburg, and about 10 9el
| tons domestic at the East 6.sf0 tons
structural work at Chicago and Pitts
burg. and 5000 tons for ear builders at
| Chicago. with heavy buying Of sheets and
wire rods, and sharp competition at the
| South in cotton ties. a pending contrac
for 5000 tons cast pipe for Yokohama,
and sales OF smaller quantities in eacl
| class too numerous to mention.
Prices Of iron and steel products have
not materially changed, although the tone
| is everywhere stronger, and for wire nails
| quotations have been advanced 10 13o al
| Pittsburg.
Failures for the month thus far have
been In amount. s].172.63S; manufactur
ing. S3.6I2, ,109. and trading, s. 0Ie.;SS.
Failures for the week have been %
| against 2a2 in the United States last year
and 81 in Canada against 3s last year