The record-union., 1899-04-01

ing since January 1st to anticipate the
market, partly caused by the uncer
tainty about the operation of many
ccm mbinations, and shade of doubt
about foreign affairs also had some in
fiuence. The new rule of the Clearing
house banks at New York about taxa
tion of country checks also causes some
shifting of accounts.
A perod of transition from one own
ership to another and from one man
agement to another and from one in
dLstrial system to another, where it
affects many hundred establishments
throughout the country, inevitably
causes some hesitation in business. A
little later the many hundred concerns
may be doing more business than ever
But at the point of transition nobody
kEows just what to expect. There is
much withdrawal of iron business be-
cause the continuance of high prices is
doubted, because the great purchases
made by works have not been met by
orders and because works affected by
many other combinations proposed are
not inclined to buy more largely.
Prices are strongly maintained at
S15.15 for Bessemer pig at Pittsburg,
the Valley Association having sold 13O,-
900 tons for delivery in the last half of
the year at $14.50, and Grey Forge is
stronger at $14.40, but hesitation ap-
pears at Philadelphia about mainten-
ance of future prices. Chicago is in
active compared with recent weeks.
With no sales reported except 10000
tons at Chicago, rails are quoted 81
higher there, and as much at Pitts
burg, and the sale of 250,O00 tons of
steel billets to the tin plate company
sets the price for 100-pound plate at
S405 after July 1st. Structural de-
mand increases, but bar mills in the
West and South are consolidating, and
ere not disposed to take large con-
tracts, although the Pittsburg mills are
asking 81 so because behind their or
ders For plates the demand far ex-
ceeds the supply at Philadelphia and
Chicago, and the leading mills at Pitts
burg are full until August or later. In
hops, cotton ties, tubes and other pro-
ducts, expected consolidation affects
business. Minor metals are stronger
for tins at "a cents, with consuming de-
mand, and for copper at 111a cents
owing to London speculation.
More evidence appears that the WOOL
en- manufacture is not helped as yet by
new combinations or the prospect of
them, and the buying demand has been
disappointing in many ways, though
ir dress goods active. Sales of wool
were 20,S01 200 pounds at three chief
markets in four weeks, against S,SI1,-
$40 pounds last year. when prices were
held at the top; 55,SS6, 200 in 1897,
when prices We're being rushed upward,
ard 30.93e,576 pounds in 1892, when
manufacture was normal, indicating
fair, but not extraordinary trade.
The boot and shoe business is again
halting because of diffidence between
buyers and sellers as to prices
The fluctuations of the wheat market
have been large, and tend on the whole
toward higher quotations Exports at
Atlantic ports, flour included, have
been for weeks II ,679, ,512 bushels,
against 1892, ,495 last year, and Pacific
8. .963 .6S7 bushels, against 2,774, 112; and
the other exports, not given last year,
make the total 1877 .0S9 bushels.
Western receipts have been 12,949,S15
bushels against 9,966,373 last year.
Railroad earnings for three weeks of
March have been Al per cent. larger
than last year, and 9.S per cent. larger
than in 1892, and the east-bound tom
mage from Chicago in four weeks has
been 459.43S tons, against 622.901 last
year, and 356, ,365 in 1899, which indi-
Gates quite clearly the remarkable de-
preston in rates a year ago.
Failures for the week have been 149
in the United States, against 22O last
year, and 26 in Canada, against p last
year.