Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-01

Dun's Review for last week an
nounces that 1.-The volume of business
is rising, and the weeks payments
through the chief clearing houses are
62, l per cent larger than last year and
6S per cent larger than in 1892, More
over, this week and every other brings
larger wages to many, and increased
purchasing power, and the demand for
products is consequently expanding in
all branches Of consumption. Western
receipts Of wheat have fallen to about
half last years, and exports in four
weeks from Atlantic and Pacific ports
have been 1880, 1853 bushels, flour in
cluded, against 1861, Ss2 last year !;
while from Northern lake ports
1926, 037 bushels have gone out this
year. Corn exports, though only
10, 267, 662 bushels, against 20, 2S5, 097
last year, were also but $3.50, 091 In
1897. Exports from New York are for
three weeks 49, per cent less than last
year, while imports are 1913 per cent
larger than last year, but a heavy de-
crease in exports of staples is to be
expected. Failure returns for two
consecutive weeks having been the
smallest ever reported, the third week
raises the amount of defaulted liabili
ties TO 50, 800, Ill, against 50, TIA, 563
last year, 1888, 664 in 1897 and
50, SOB, 46S in 1896. Manufacturing were
81, 056, 1877, against 81, 1874, COS last year,
81, OTIS, 270 last year. Failures for the
week have been 142 in the United
States, against 245 last year, and 16 in
Canada, against 81 last year"
Bradstreet's in its issue of Saturday
says; Favorable features of current
trade still, as for a long time past,
largely outnumber those of an opposite
character. Wholesale distribution is
naturally less active as the season adj
vances, but comparisons with last year
are still very satisfactory. Much is
hoped for from better weather con-
ditions stimulating retail trade,
hitherto held in check by the back
ward spring season. Industrial activity
is widespread, and the prices of most
staples are either very firm or tending
upward, except in the cases of products
affected by weather conditions. That
often relied upon barometer of general
business conditions, the iron and steel
trade, reports increasing rather than
lessening activity, notwithstanding the
approach of warm weather.
1.-THE market for manufactures of
cotton Is good second to that of iron
and steel, strength being feature in
nearly all branches, and a number of
advances being registered for the week.
Wool is rather less active SO far as
new business is concerned but reflects
recent heavy speculative buying and
relatively higher prices at interior
points than at the seaboard in firm
quotations. Tho demand for lumber
and building materials generally con-
tinues unabated, and there is talk of
brick manufacturers following ex-
amples set by other trades and COM
bining to regulate output. Raw sugar
is firm, and the opening of the fruit
season gives confidence in steady prices
for the refined article. Boots and shoes
hold recent advances, and hides and
leather are firm in sympathy.
1.-The trade situation is, however,
not entirely without its drawbacks.
Reports from winter wheat become in
creasingly unfavorable. conservative es.
Inmates pointing to 100, 600, 600 bushels
smaller crop, owing to insect damage,
and near futures are higher on the
week. Cash wheat naturally reflects
the ending of the Buffalo strike and
consequent freer movement of supplies
to the seaboard, however in slightly
easier prices. Export trade in several
lines is smaller than of late, partly
owing to less urgent demand for our
food supplies and partly to smaller
oh te of foa1s