Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-22
THE BUSINESS SITUATION.

Bradstreet's for this week Save.
"eatner ana cror conditions figure
10 greater extent than usual This
week, not only in the domain of actual
uistrlputlon, but in their effect upon
values OF staples, particularly agricul.
turai products, majority of which are
higher. Noteworthy in this respect il
Wheat, which has advanced oil govern
'nent and other reports, pointing. &C.
cording to some, to $50, 600, GOO bushels.
anu by others estimated as low as 500.
ouo, oOO bushels. The possibility is also
presented OF spring wheat, for the first
tinle on record, equaling, if not exceed
ing, IN yield that of the winter sown
grain, owing to the severe weather last
winter and insect damage to the latter
crop since then. Particularly helpful,
however, In advancing prices have been
tthe reports OF widespread damage to
tne Russian crop, less glowing spring
wheat reports from the Northwest, and
tentative estimates OF the world s orops,
pointing to $50, 0O0,00 to 800, 600, COO
bushels smaller yield than in 1898.
oats and other ANAL cereals havo sym
pathized with wheat, particularly as
ncreage and condition figures point
Likewise to diminished yields.
bessemer and other grades of pig
iron, steel billets, steel rail and many
makes of the finished product, have
advanced from sc cents to 81. 50 uer
ton. Predictions Of further advance
IN the price OF rails are made, based
upon the fact that old contracts at very
low rates have now been nearly filed,
understanding these advances, there
IS still some export inquiry, and a
feature reported has been one on Con-
tlnental account for American coke.
Iron ore shipments, although the season
10 three weeks late, nearly equal those
OF a year ago. Long abandoned Eastern
ore mines are being reopened, and ship
ments OF Alabama steel and Texas pig
iron to Pittsburg disprove the truth
of the old proverb that there is little
profit in carrying Goals to Newcastle. ="
II. G. Dun & Co.'s Review today
notes the scarcity Of iron and the rise
IN prices, also again in woolens, and
adds:
The cotton market has not changed,
doubts about the coming yield being
held in check by certainty of large
stocks on hand, and the decrease in
acreage reported by the Financial
Chronicle hinders faith inIthe govern
ment estimate of larger reduction in
acreage of about per cent. Shipments
of boots and shoes from Boston we're
over two million pairs for the week,
and for two weeks 1S6, 093 cases, ex-
ceeded in the same week only in 1895
and slightly in 1894. 1t is growing clear
that manufacturers are accepting large
contracts ahead, the talk of further
advance in prices doubtless helpinp
them. Jobbing orders for quick de-
liveries on fall contracts show sales
beyond anticipations, so much that
retail overstocking is feared by some,
but excepting the drouth in some
sectiops nothing hinders large CON
Stunning demand in this as in other in
dustries. Manufacturers using copper
find near options for lake good at IS
cents, and spelter has fallen to cents,
but the Colorado strike of smelters,
threatening to involve 10000 miners,
makes lead firmer, at 4. As cents, and
tin is slightly stronger at 25.6 cents. T"