The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-22
VOLUME OF BUSINESS.
GENERAL CONDITIONS MORE "a
ORABLE THAN FOR TEARS PIST.
Small Number of FaiIures-Increase In
Railroad Earnings and Rise in the
Price of Wheat.

NEW YORK. January H.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review OF Trade will say
tomorrow:
With volume OF business remarkable
for the time of years. per cent. larger
than year ago and l0.4 per cent. larger
than in 1892 in payments through clearing
nouses-it is not discouraging that one
or two industries are tagging. The de-
mand for most goods is more heavy tor
the season, manufacturing works are
better employed, and orders booked and
prospects for the future are moro en-
coCraging than at this season in any
other year Of which equally definite lie
cords exist. Exports OF products con-
tinue surprisingly heavy in spite o. some
rise in prices. Treasury receipts from
customs were larger In twenty days Of
January than IN the entire month of Oc-
tober or November. and apprehension re-
garding the monetary future IS ho longer
felt outside Of Speculatiove circles.
FAILURES.
Failures are considerably smaller than
were ever known az this season-both
manufacturing and trading less than half
last years.
Ra.licad earnings IN January thus far
reported have been l7.6 per cent. larger
than last year and 1896 per cent larger
than in 1892.
The rise 81 wheat above n dollar I'm
regular sales was not accompanied ny
signs OF speculative ecitcment. In fact,
the continuance Of extraordinary exports,
2.95.750 bushels flour incuded) for the
week from Atlantic ports against l,53,2l5
last year and for the three weeks 9,oo2 1913
bushels against 5.559,532 last year. besides
4.03G $40 from Pacific ports for three weeks.
would give excuse for the high prices even
If the corn exports were not enough 10
suggest great foreign need. amounting %
9.270. lS5 bushels aainst lO.nl25j Tor three
weeks. The fact that cargoes Of corn
were shipped during the week to Egypt
and Russla-the very countries upon
which Europe most relies for breadstits
next 10 the United States-affected trade
not unreasonably.
IRON.
Just when unprecedented production or
mig iron was causing weakness extraor-
binary demand for finished products APP
pears. For thif season at least tho
general demand is beyond precedent, In
Guiding 10000 tors steel rails for the
week and 10000 already this year: or
ders for plates so large that Pittsburg
works send away some to other concerns
unable 10 fill all they receive, or
ders FOR bar being such that
many concerns are Obliged 70 re-
fus, more. an excellent demand lot
sheets and fair for structural forms. Nor
does this demand spring from efforts 10
combine makers OF wire and its products
and makers OF tin plates. Prices OF All
finished products are sustained by the
demand though Bessemer pig Is I'VE cents
lower at Pittsburg. but pig at Chicago Is
strong with some production OF hnished
forms delayed by its scarcity
TEXTILE WORKERS.
The yreat strike Of operatives in cotton
mills of New England seems as convent
ent to mill owners with their heavy stocks
unsold as If they had ordered It, Prob
ably il will last long enough TO work
of stocks and the print cloth market is
already about one per cent. stronger
while a slight advance IS noted In some
other Gotten goods With very stagnant
market for wool 5955.20O pounds were
sold at the three chief cities which
reached over Is, 10000 In one week OF Sep
tember. The enquiry for round lots Is
mainly for three-eighths and quarter
blood. suitable FOR cheviots. The mills
have taken satisfactory orders for such
goods probably not without knowing
where they could get the wool.
And the goods movement is distinctly
encouraging though quotations for the
higher priced heavy weights are sim de-
ferred. But a very large business for the
coming season is already assured. ac-
cordlng 10 reliable accounts entitled to
confidence.
Failures for the week have been 3d
I'm the United States against 400 last year
and SO in Canada against 65 last year