The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-08
An Unprecedented Volume
of Business Predicted.
HEAVY IRON BUSINESS
DEMAND IN IRON kEElS u
WITH PRODUCTIONS.
FEWDECREAsEs IN PRICES ARE N0Ito
Cotton Goods Display Strength--pecIdedIy
Cheerful Tone to Adyices from Southern
Section Failures 232 Against
262 Last Year.
262 Last Year.

262 Last Year.
Now Work. March 4.-R. G.. Dun AMI
Company's weekly review OF lFa"e W."
say tomorrow:
Stories of the most reckless sort, dl5'
proved promptly, and many OIL 'nell
for. they are told, affected speculatloh
in stocks much last week, and at tih'N
this week, but they have not dlStorp'"
thn industries and the trade OF the couh-
trv at all. There is ii confidence that the
authorities are doing what Is proper To
nroyide for public defence, and business
is moving on with the assurance tlat / !
VIII not be seriously disturbed.
In grain. cotton, meat products ahH
nptrolqum. markets have been strong,
with gradual increases in the delnail'l
for manufactured products.
roiiures in February have been small
or than in any other month, except threc
of the previous fifty two months, with
remarkable decrease in the failures 1of
100000 and over, though III number
and amount the smaller failures SHOW
less change than might have been eN-
pected. indicating that III good times or
bad a large proportion Is due to causes
gD1rt from the general tOItltIoll VI u
ness. The ratio of defaulted liabilities
10 payments through clearing houses IS
but Sill per $1,000. a lower rate than
has appeared i'll the first quarter of any
wear. except 1880 and 1881, Of the past
twenty three years.
The best evidence of general improve
ment is the fact that payments through
clearing houses for the past week have
been $50 per cent larger than in 1892.
and outside New York. with its sptcu-
lative interests 1I.6 per cent. Com
pared with last year the gain has been
56.2 per cent for the week and 1913 per
cent for February.
Production of pig iron is the greatest
ever known.
Foundry at the east is slightly lower,
basic pig having been offered in Il sharp
competition at about $40 though South
trn makers in Alabama and Tennessee.
excepting two, have agreed upon a plan
of sales through Il commission. The de
mand for finished products covers work
far ahead in plates, structural forms,
sheets, pipe and rails.
The Strike in cotton mills does not
spread. but helps to a slightly better
demand for some goods, while in wool
ems the business is slow i'll some of the
finer qualities, which have been much
IuNdltttl Ill price,. anu Ill tIltSb l1lQ otllci
grades as well cancellation have often
exceeded recorders, indicating less dis
tr;bution than was expected at the adj
vanCed prices. Wool has yielded a little.
wheat has grown stronger. exports
continuing at u rate which threatens eX-
haustion of supply, if trade reports ot
farmers stocks are correct. From At
lantic ports 2,426.24O bushels went out
flour included, against 1.36S, 40 last
year and from Pacific ports SOL 1913. Il
gainst 1899 bushels last year. Th,
price has risen one cent but it is posi-
bic that the estimates of last year.
stocks. though 81 5000. 900 bushels in eX
cess Of the government estimates, ma,
prove too small.
Corn has declined only one quarter o
Il cent, with exports of +. I4S,S43 bushels
against 5,221 ,1S5 last year.
ailurcS for the week lave been %
in the United States. against 246 las
year and - in Canada, against 50 las
year.
BRADSTREET'S REVIEW.
New York, March 4.-Bradstreet's t.
morrow will say:
Nearly all signs point to an unprec(
dented volume of business being done 9
arranging for at the present time. Th
aggressive strength of prices, recor
breaking bank clearings and continue
large exports. particularly of the lowe
priced cereals, Il very heavy volume {
business in iron and steel and kindro
lines, and generally satisfactory report
as to the volume OF spring trade at lea,
ing dl6trlbutlye centres are among tt
visible features of trade development
Nearly all of the country'S cereal pr
ducts are higher in prices this week
also some varieties of provisions. Be
Semer pig iron, copper, raw cotton al
TIN. The further advance in pig iron til
week would seem to indicate that Il
immense current production is as V
without visible effect on values. Il!
price of copper showed an advance
nearly 1 cent per pound during Fcbr
airy, while the ~cOnsumptive demand III
statistical position are such as to lie;
10 confidence. at least i'll the maintenan
OF present prices, If not OF n further Il
vance. Few decreases in prices n
noted, sugar being the most importal
While the list of staples steady and II
hanged, numbers pork, coffee. lead a
print cloths. The strength of raw cottt
has had an encouraging effect ND
Southern trade, which is generally /
ported better than usual at this Sc
son. The expert of corn from Southe
ports is an additional favorable fc;
IRE while the practical agreement
southern iron producers as to pric,
with generally satisfactory collections
most points, has impaired a decided
cheerful tone to adyiccS from that s,
ton. Trade is larger than usual at t
central west. particularly in dry goo,
groceries. boots and shoes. hardwa
lumber. and agricultural implements +
demand for the latter being a nOta
feature at nearly all markets. Spri
trade has opened up we'll in tho nor
west and the jobbing trade is uu
active. signs are accommodating that
rush of all sorts of vessels to the Pac
coast to take part in the Klondike tn;