The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-04
TREND OF TRADE.
Business for Past Month the Great.
est Ever known
FOR ANY SIMILAR PERIOD.
The Immense Gain in the Clear.
ing House Exchanges. &,
REPORTS FROMFAlL SECTIONS
Ofthe Country tho Past Weel, Of tho
Most Encouraging Characteristic
Striking Feature has Been the
Rapid Advance in tho Prices for
1ronnnd Steel Products-Continued
Great Demand for Grain.

NEW YORK, March 3.--R. G. Dun q
Co.'s weekly review OF trade will say
tomorrow:
The business for the past month was
far the greatest ever known in Febru-
ary. Clearing house exchanges wero
nbout s7oOo,OOo.O0O. against s5.567, ,553,s44
last year, and 54.2 larger than in 1902.
In all the years of weekly commercial
reporting there has been no other week
In which the reports from all parts OF
the country have been on the whole so
good as they were this week. More
over, during the past week there has
been general advance in wages, i'm
mediate or prospective. At most points,
the advance Of 10 per cent. or more
was entirely voluntary. It has aver
aged to 10 per cent. In tin plate works
and acout 10 per cent. In other cases. i
and as &, effects much over 100000
hands It Mtll add greatly to the pur-
chasing power OF the wage earners. Tho
return Of failures In February, whilo
showing larger liabilities than in Janu-
nry. are highly encouraging. A rather
unusual number of large failures In
scattered branches Of manufacture has
swelled the aggregate. including one /,
concern FOR $1000.000 in electrical ap-
paratus, but In nearly all branches the
statement indicates n remarkably
healthy condition in spite of these fall
ures. while in trading the defuulted la
bilities are smaller than In January, or
any previous winter month for six
years.
Tho Striking Feature.
In prices the striking feature has
been the rapid advance in iron and steel
products. resulting from demand
greater than the works In the country
can supply. All the works OF import
aEcc have been crowded with orders
running to July and later. Belated buy
ers. have given life to concerns long In
active, and as they cnn add but l:ttle
TO the output the markets have been
entirely controlled by the buying de-
mand. All sorts OF prices have been
paid, some for early delivery and some
for delivery after July l, but sl3 so is
quoted for Bessemer pig Mt Pittsburgh,
Sl2 90 for grey forge and at the east
N1 % Is quoted for anthracite No. !.
Prices OF finished products have also
been advanced 81 per ton for eastern
and Western bars, plates and structural
forms and 50 for wire nails. The de-
mand has not yet been checked and
some heavy orders have been taken at
all points. even at the highest prices
named. but the export business Is likely
TO be stopped for the present.
Holders OF what have been looking
for the report of the agricultural de-
partment regarding stocks held by
farmers March l, but commercial re-
ports indicate that such are the largest
ever held ut this date. They have to
support them the western receipts from
farms. which have been larger than for"
past years in February, for four weeks
l2.51 900 bushels. against 100000 900 B
bushels last year, while Atlantic ex-t
ports have been for four weeks 12,S29,-
75G. against 9.s7S.G36 bushels last year.
The Pacific exports have been 605.737
bushels for the week against 64.993
bushels last year, and from other ports
lS7.S29 bushels have been shipped dur-
Ing the past week.
Great Demand for Grain.
Rarely IL ever has there been as~great
demand for grain at this season rs nows
appears. but the price has yielded ~
cents for the week, although corn has
advanced &c for spot. the receipts hav-
Ing fallen.
The textile industries are making
progress There has been a strong in
crease In the demand for cotton goods.
resulting In further advances in the
prices for soEce, while in woolen goods
slight advance appears, notwith-
standing a decline In the prices Of wool
during February. The decline has not
been general in wool. nor has the ad-
vance in goods. The heavy weight sea-
son has been disappointing and the
manufacturers are willing to get on for
the time as lest they can in the hope
that large demands will come from the
clothiers little later.
Failures for the week have been lS6
In the United States. against 25l last
year, and AZ in Canada, against 50 last
year.
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