The times., 1898-12-24
New York, Dec. 23.-Brad=,reet's tomor-

New York, Dec. 23-Bradstreets tomor-
row will say:
Current business conditions furnish
some sharp contrasts TO those usually
looked for or reported at this season of
the year. 1t is. of course. reasonable 10
look for exceptional activity in holiday
and retail trade generally at this date. AMI
in this respect the most sanguine expec-
tations appear to have been realized.
Probably never before at this time how
ever. was the course of business so ami
mated as at present. Speculative activity
is no longer confined To the stock market.
but includes wheat and corn among the
cereals and copper among the metals,
while the rush of business in iron and
steel seems little if any abated, and some
lines notably cotton goods and raw wool.
are displaying an activity and strength
which would have been welcomed at any
time for year past.
Prices of securities and of staples alike
furnish examples of aggressive strength.
which are so numerous as to deserve spe-
cial mention In the iron trade no signs
of tagging interest are TO be discerned,
but rather more pronounced activity in
new directions. The feature of the week
has undoubtedly been the placing of an
order for S0.0G9 tons of steel rails with an
Eastern mill to go to Siberia. All the old
some lines. notably billets wire rods.
plates and bars, further advances aye to
be reported.
I'm many lines the country's production
seems to be heavily sold ahead and the
utmost confidence is expressed as to
present values being maintained or still
further increased. In other metals too.
a sympathetic rise is to be discerned.
THE foreign demand for cereals con-
tinues undated, any slight price reaction
being taken advantage of by foreign buy
ers. Wheat closes the week with prices
well up to the highest OF this Autumn.
The strength of wheat has been enhanced
by sympathy with the growing specula-
tive interest in corn, for which the
highest prices paid for three years past
have been recorded.
Speculation in copper and copper
stocks has received an impetus this week
from rumors of a combination to control
the American production.
Cotton displays notable strength and
the market for the manufactured pro-
ducts is very firm at the recent advances.
print cloths, in fact, being higher than
for year past. The cheerful tone of this
industry and the steady demand from
abroad at the higher quotations conduces
to a more cheerful tone of business at the
South and predictions OF increased specu-
lative activity in the raw product.
Increased activity in speculative buili-
ing is regarded as foreshadowing an ac-
tive business in this industry with the
turn of the year. In other lines of gen.
eral trade and industry reports are, as
rule, favorable.
Business failures are of normal volume
and bank clearings make exceptionally
good comparisons with preceding periods.
Bank clearings in the United States for
the week aggregate N.673, 600 600. a de-
crease of less than 1 per cent from last
week and gain of % per cent over this
week of a year ago and 10 per cent larger
than In this week of 1882, which, up to this
year, was the heaviest week on record.
Business failures for the week number 212
against 234 last week and go in this week
a gear ago.