Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-05
Trade Continues to Maintain
It's Heavy Volume.
CEREALS REMAIN WEAK
Business Continues in Healthy Tone
and OF Remarkably Large Extent
Despite its Steady Expan.
sion Since March.

New York, Dec. 2.-"Busiuess con-
tinues wonderfully large, prosperous
and healthy. AS the detailed state
ment of failures by branches of bust
ness cannot be made until next week,
it seems wellsto say that in four, weeks
failures have been reported amounting
to $6,S4s,590, against $s,11o,475 in the
same weeks of last year, 11,610,195 in
1897, and over $12,0o0,0OO in 1896 and
also in 1885, Yet the volume of sol
vent trade represented by exchanges at
the principal clearing houses has been
for the month 22.5 per cent greater
than last year and 46 per cent greater
than in 1892. Thus the ratio of de-
faults to business payments was $2.57
in 1000 for November, 1895, and 1915
for 1896, and S2.15 for 1897, but only
$1.25 for 1898, and only 80 cents in
$1,000 for 1899.
'sIn many lines the volume of bust
ness has been larger than in October,
Notwithstanding the extraordinary
food of buying ever since the begin
ming of last March,
After thus generalizingi on present
business conditions in the United
States, r. G. Dun G. Co.'S Weekly Re-
view of Trade, ISSUED soday, particu-
larizes as follows:
Wheat remains weak, yielding ~
cents, although western receipts We're
but barely half last years for the
week, and for four weeks only 81 ,743,-
sos bushels, against 3s,6O2,739 last
year. The great decrease in Atlantic
eNports-for the week only 2,41O,554,
against 6.123,066 last year, and for four
weeks 10,173,735. against 17,3ss,210 last
iyear-eNplains much weakness. Corn
declined cent, with slightly smaller
exports than last year for the week,
but for four weeks 15,265,745 bushels,
against 11,479,09s last year.
The cotton movement has not chang
ed much, but prices gained a sixteenth
for the week, closing at Isl cents,
against 562 last year. The larger tax
ings of spinners and the great demand
for goods have materially helped the
rise. Cotton goods have remained
strong, all coming forward not under
contract being snapped up quickly,
with contracts still untitled running
into next year.
In woolens strong demand contin-
ues for dress goods and cotton warp,
and all wool cashmeres tend higher,
but there isfnot much change in mems
wear, nor such rise as TO justify the
high prices paid for wool. Sales CON
tinue heavy, but largely speculative,
and stimulated by the rise in. London.
The excitement of speculation leads
many to overlook the fact that pur-
chases of goods are to some extent
hindered by the rise in prices already
made.
The iron manufacturer has to meet
a greatly increased cost of material
next year. Prices for 1900 have been
fixed at $3.50 for Bessemer ore at low
er lake ports, against $3.50 last year,
and $4.25 for nom Bessemer, against So
last year, while coke at S2.75 for fur
mace, with high rail rates in every di-
rection, indicates that iron will not be
made next year as cheaply as it has
been. Prices of pig still advance, ac-
cording to the Iron Age-Bessemer to
$25 at Pittsburg,with very small trans.
actions, and gray forge to $21.25, quo
tations at other points being unchang-
ed. Prices of some finished products
are still yielding as works run out OF
orders and compete with each other
for more business, and refined bar is
So per ton lower at Philadelphia, com
mon So per ton lower at Pittsburg, and
plates So lower at Philadelphia, with
further concessions in sheets because