The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-09
SHR|NkACE IS SMALL
In Business, Though Usual at
This Season.
FORCES OF PRODUCTION
Employed to an Extent Never
Before Known.
FORCES OF PRODUCTION

| New York, Dec. S.-R. G. Dun & Co. s
weekly review of trade. which issues to-
morrow, will say: The approach of a new
year usually brings so much of hesita-
! ton in business that the small shrink
age this year is surprising. Probably
never before have the productive forces
of the country been so largely covered
| by contracts at this date ensuring en-
ployment and profit far into the coming
year. This results, not from any mere
| speculative excitement but from actual
demands for consumption running far be-
yond the producing capacity heretofore
and pushing it to remarkable expansion.
The increase in foreign trade has been
Insignificant compared with the increase
of $24, 900, 100000 in payments through
clearing houses. For the week the pay
ments have been POS per cent larger than
last year and ISL per cent larger than
in 1892
Prices of pig iron are strongly main
tanned, though extraordinary efforts prom
Use increase Of over a quarter in produc-
ing capacity within a year because the
entire output of the most furnaces for
the first and in part of the last half of
next year has been sold already. Sheet
bars are a shade lower owing to the
closing of many tin plate works Demand
for cars and other railway equipment is
enormous and also for shipping both
lake and ocean. Tin is weak at q 1-2c,
and copper declined to 16 3-4c but lead and
spelter is stronger.
Hides are again stronger at Chicago,
although receipts of cattle at the four
chief western markets in eleven months
have been per cent larger than in the
previous yeaR as the demand for con-
sumption in manufacture has evidently
increased much more. Thus western pro-
duction of boots and shoes has gained
more than eastern, yet shipments from
Boston for the year have been $4,000
cases, or 9.36 per cent more than last
years and $4,000 cases, or us per cent
more than in 1892, when cattle receipts
were 7.8 per cent larger than this year
Will hos arvanced further, with much
speculative buying, though most manu-
facturers have supplied wants for the
present and are less disposed to purchase
at prices now averaging higher than at
any time since June Is, 1891. Higher
prices demanded in the interior, and ris-
ing prices abroad, give confidence, in
spite of the fact that goods have adj
vanced from the lowest point this year
only 1872 per cent
Cotton is weakened by accounts of large
quantities held back, and declined an
eighth, but reports are sufficiently con-
flcting to make speculation active not
withstanding the decrease of $50, 900 bales,
or 29.4 per cent, in exports for three
months Of the corresponding year. TAX
ings of spinners have been large. The de-
mand for cotton goods is heavy and COW
ers production far ahead in many lines,
while fears of important strikes have
been dispelled by a general advance in
wages.
Wheat has risen three cents and corn
a fraction, with decline in western re-
ceipts of both. Atlantic exports of wheat
this week, -four included, were only
3959,677 blshels, against 5,636, 767 last year,
and Pacific exports SS6,172, against $685.
523 bushels last year.
Failures for the week have been POI
in the United States against 24S last year,
and 80 in Canada, against % last year.
BRADsTREETS
New York, Dec. S.-Bradstreet's tomor-
row viii say: The last month of the
year has opened auspaciously. finding
trade and industry generally well en-
ployed, demand treading close upon and
even passing supply, labor troubles avert
Cd in inc NV, 4 I
vances in wages, of small Importance
except in one or two cases and with gen.
eral level of values of staples at the
highest point reached for eight years
past Holiday demand has opened well
and collections from retail trade there
fore show some improvement. The
strength of cereals, notably wheat, this
week, is a reflection largely of decreased
receipts at the northwest. Increases in
November business were not as large
either in this country or abroad as they
were year ago, and to this extent the
outlook is less bearish and owing to the
smaller worlds production this year,
hopes of well maintained prices have not
been abandoned.
Cotton has lost most Of the notable
strength displayed in the past weeks,
owing chiefly to a portion of the specu-
lative element becoming tired and sell
ing freely on slightly increased receipts.
Toward the close strength was noticed
on improved foreign buying and the net
change for the week IS net serious.
After year Of unprecedented activity
and advancing prices. iron and steel are
quiet with few significant changes. and
partly because the season of the year
does not favor new work. and partly
also owing to the fact that the producers
are very generally sold o. to the middle
OF next year. Prices show no marked
change, plates and sheets being relatively
weaker among the finished products.
while bars are strong. Copper shows lit
tie change but tin is lower again. af-
fecting decreasing speculative interest
and smaller consumptive demands. Ac-