The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-31

In All Lines Of Business; A steady Mise
I'm Prices and Increased oman for
Commodities = Ousburss OF Speeula-
Ave Interest A Craze for Conabtna-
lions

New York. January 27.-Bradstreets
of tomorrow will say: The apparently.
steady rise in the tide of general bust
ness has been diversified this week by
an outside OF speculative interest in a
number OF staples. notably cotton and
wheat, which heretofore have regis
tered steady gains on actual consump-
tive demand rather than on the devel-
opment OF marked hullish speculation.
Large Transactions and buoyant prices
"a been features In these staples. and
signs are not wanting that sympa-
thetic, though smaller, movements in
a number OF other lines are either under
way or contemplated.
Exceptional Industrial activity, par
ticularly in the iron and steel trades.
is another feature of note, and here.
too, price advances are all but general.
rejecting so AR as can be seen chiefly
the urgency OF consumers require
ments, the claim i'm fac. being made
nat speculation has not as yet enter
ed into the buying in this branch OF in
, dustry. The same claim, however, can
hardly be made as regards a number
of movements toward consolidation In
this and other industries, wherein, In
fact, the movement oward combina-
ton is described as approaching a vir-
tual craze. In the regular channels OF
d~istributive trade, conditions continue.
in the MAN,, satisfactory, the volume or
spring orders at most market being re-
/, ported as larger than in any recently
, preceding year at this time.
! While it is hardly possible 10 fix the
I entire responsibility for the bullishness
in wheat and cotton upon the move
{! ment which so far has proved SO sue
cessful in stocks, the claim is freely
made that considerable profits realized
F; in the stock market have sought ex-
. nracSinn I'm the channels of gfnnla food
and textile distribution. Color Is given
to this claim by the fact that the stu
alton of actual wheat shows but little
change from recent weeks. 1t is true
that the tendency TO pare down alleged
! Official estimates OF Russian crops n
some weather reports from the west
have been more encouraging to the
holders OF actual wheat, but the mag
, nitude OF the oUtburst OF new buying
shared in by former persistent shorts in
wheat. alone can hardly explain the ac-
tivity in this market, which has re-
suited in the highest prices reached
since the collapse Of the Letter deals.
Activity in demand for nearly every
classes OF iron and steel Is reflected in
advances for nearly every class of
pig iron and in steel billets, rails.
wire and plates. Announcements OF
a large number of consultations
and combinations, projected or under
way, are also a feature. In the domain
of other metals notably copper n tin,
speculation and actual demand alike
make for higher prices.
Better reports are received from the
lumber trade in a number of cities,
and all the old advances are maintain
ed with confidence In the outlook for
spring business.
Some Improvement i'm the dry goods
trade is To be noted at eastern points.
notably Philadelphia and Boston, where
in cottons are maintained.
The general industry is reported ac-
| tice, notably soft coal and coal mining
and ship building. An encouraging fea-
ture in the former trade has been the
wag settlement made with loo. 900
western coal miners for another year.
Wheat. including -four. shipments for
the week aggregate 4,997,572 bushels.
against 5,19s,en bushels last week, s.
026, 1924 bushels in the corresponding
week of 1898. 2, So, 40s bushels In 1897.
1850, 206 bushels in 1896 and 2,4S3, S5S
bushels in 1895. Since July LIST, this
season. the exports Of wheat aggre-
gate 144, 232, 291 bushels, against 1885,
494, $50 bushels last year.
Corn exports for the week aggregat-
ed 1885, 1913 bushels, agains. 2,92s, 1871
bushels last week, 1926, $50 bushels In
his week a year ago 3,011 ,60z bushels
in 1897. 3,197,0S6 bushels in 1896, and 942, =
fs1 bushels in 1895. Since July LIST, this
season corn exports aggregated 95.-
tl5,y23 bushels against 96.s93, 73s bushels
during the same period a year ago.
Cuisines failure are fewer in number
a~ggregating 246, againt 262 last week,
2ss In this week a ear ago, 326 In 1897,
1893 in 1896, and 312 In 1895.