The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-12

notice That the demand for dry goods
groceries hardware. iron and steel In its
various forms and building material is
relatively most active az the West seems
evident from the slight tone Of disappoint-
ment in reports from leading Eastern mar
keis, where business is reported moving
less rapidly than AT the interior Other
favorable features include the heavier for
eisn demand for wheat and -four. as lndi-
Gated by increased exports over last week
and last year, and bank clearings heavily
exceeding corresponding periods OF preyi-
Gus years though smaller than in recent
weeks. Less favorable features are few
numbering chiefly a weaker tone In prices
OF a few staples hitherto marked by ex-
IRENE fir:nness, but openly perceptibie in
quotations tor some makes OF coarse cot
ton goods, print cloths, raw wool the de-
nand for which is reported slower than
any previous time this year; wheat. which
mas been affected by war rumors, and the
growth of the impression that the world $
wheat supply at present prices will suf-
nee, cotton and sugar. The volume OF
business in the iron and steel trade is re-
ported very large, with relatively best re-
ports coming from the West Pig iron pro-
duciion shows further gain and stocks
slight Increase.
Large sales of copper are feature. and
prices are reported higher for the week
as are also the quotations for Indian corn
ana wheat flour. The industrial situation
seems likely TO be improved by the ending
or the New England cotton mill strikes.
Business is generally active at the West.
Southern and Southwestern buyers are
packing houses report a demand one-third
larger than last year. A peroeptible i'm
provement in distribution is noted in Chi
cago IN many lines or trade. An order
Tor lu,"u tons or steel rails is the feature
OF the weeks business at that center
Northwest. sssf
Export business in -four and wheat from
the Pacifie coast shows considerable
gain. Boat building is active on Alaskan
account. A good business is doing at the
South
PUSH failures In the United States
tbs week were az. against 232 last week
III IN the corresponding week of 1897: sS1
in 1895. 2ss in 1895, and 81 in 1894. Bust
ness failures in Canada this week were
81, against q last week. 30 in 1897, and IS
in 1896
Larger wheat and -four. but smaller
corn, shipments are feature OF export
wheat u,our included from the United
states and Canada this week aggregated
ifst' iel bushels. against 3,252 $50 bushels
last week J 90 Az ushels n 1896. 2.ssl $50
bushels in 1895, and 3,25s, $50 bushels in 1894
Corn exports are smaller. amounting TO
only 32s3,oos bushels. against 5,e54 600 BUSH
els last week.
Bradstreets Financial Review.
Bradstreet's review OF the stock market
tomorrow will say:
Speculation is nervous and very sensi-
1--WE 10 the influence arising In connection
with the Cuban situation and our relations
WIN spain The market is in the hands
or professional operators, and the public
is doing little or nothing. In fact. the IL
quotation of the last fortnight has been
very severe. and there is a disposition on
all sides to await developments After
lower market on Saturday, the week be-
gan with a violent break I'm the first quar-
ter OF an hour on Monday due 10 the re-
port that Spain had demanded the with
drawal OF our consul general at Havana
ana also TO the weakness of the whole Lon
don market on the news of Russia's ag-
gressive. attitude in China and the unfa-
favorable attitude of the London press
The decision of the supreme .outt in the
Nebraska maximum rate case in favor OF
the railroads had comparatively little eff
feet In fact, throughout the week the In
huence of the far Eastern question in Lon
don was reflected here and aided in I'M
settling speculative feeling and increasing
additional caution. Prices stesdied quick
ly on Monday. but failed TO regain their
declines, and the trading degenerated into
a dull. professional affair. On Tuesday
there was a general though not very
large recovery, due principally to the
prompt and unanimous passage of the $5O-
100000 defense appropriation by the house
OF representatives and the more pacific
attitude Spain was alleged to have assum-
ed. Irregularity followed on Wednesday.
an advance on the ready acquescence OF
the senate in the action OF the house Being
lost later In the day on reports that the
administration contemplated action which
would bring on a crisis in regard TO Cuba.
On Thursday the market was dull and
weak. in sympathy. with the unsettled for
eign markets. and vague rumors about
the intention of the president and the pos
sibility OF an unfavorable report on the
Maine disaster.
Bank Clenrings.
The following table compiled by Brad
street shows the bank clearings at the
leading cities for the week ended March
TO- with the percentages Of increase and
decrease as compared with the correspond
ing week last year: