The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-04
The BIGGEST WEEK IN TRADE.
IMPROVEMENT HAS CAUSED GEN
ERAL ADVANCE IN WAGES.

ERAL ADVANCE IN WAGES.
Striking Advance in Prices of Iron
and steel-Demand Has Brought
OLD Mills to the FrOnt-There Has
Also Been Heavy Demand for
Grain-Incrense in the Demand for
Cotton and Wool Is Holding Its
own.
New York, March s.-R. C. Dun & Co S
weekly review of trade will say to-mor-
row:
The business for the past month was
far the greatest ever known in February.
Clearing house orderings were about 81
OOO,OOOOOO against IS, 5e7, 55S, S4 last year. and
542 per cent. larger than in 1892
In all the years of weekly commercial
reporting there has been no other week m
which the reports from all parts of the
country have been on the whole so good
as they are this week.
Moreover, during the past week there has
been general advance in wages. imme-
date or prospective. At most points the
advance of 10 per cent. or more was en-
tirely voluntary. IL has averaged from
five 10 ten per cent. in tin plate works, and
about ten per cent. in other cases. and as
II affects much over 100000 hands it will
add greatly to the purchasing power of the
wage eaners.
The return of failures in February, willie
showing larger liabilities than in January.
are highly encouraging. A rather unusual
number of large failures In scattered
branches of manufacturing has sweled the
aggregate, including one concern for ST.
100000 in electrical apparatus, but in nearly
all branches the statement indicates a re-
markable healthy condition in spite of
these failures, while i'm trading the Gefault-
ed liabilities are smaller than in J4dtar
or any previous winter month for six Yeas
Heavy Advances In Iron.
In prices the striking feature has betu
the rapid advance in iron and steel Jrod
ucts. resulting in a demand greater than
the works in the country can supply An
the works of importance have been crowd
ed with orders running TO july and later
Buyers have given life to concerns long
| inactive, and as these can add but little
to the output, the market has been entirely
controlled by the buying demand
All sorts of prices have been paid. some
for early delivery and some for delivery
after July 1, but $3.50 is quoted for BESSIE
mer pig at Pittsburg. $3.50 for grey forge
| and at the East $l4.25 is quoted for anthra-
| cite No. l.
Prices of finished products have also
been advanced 50 per ton, FOR Eastern and
Western bars, plates and structural forms
and SO for wire nails The demand has not
| yet been checked, and some heavy orders
| have been taken at all points, even at the
| highest prices named, but The export bus
| mess is likely to be stopped for the pres
| ent.
Unusual Demand for Grain.
Holders of wheat have been looking for
the report of the agricultural department
regarding stocks held by farmers March l,
but commercial reports indicate that these
stocks are the largest ever held at this
| date. They have to support them the West
ern receipts from farms which have been
| larger than for past years In February
| for four weeks 12,571 600 bushels against
| lO,OO46O0 bushels last year. while Atlantic
| exports have been for four weeks u, 500 756
against 9,S8,636 last year. The Pacific ex-
ports have been sos 737 bushels for the
week against 6499S last year and from
other ports 1877 S29 bushels have been ship
ped during the past week
Rarely If ever has there been as great
a demand for grain at this season as now
appears, but the price has yielded nc for
the week, although corn has advanced nc
for SPOT, the receipts having fallen.
The Textile Industries.
The textile Industries are making pro-
gress There has been a strong increase
in the demand for cotton goods, resulting
| in further advances In the prices for some.
while in WOODEN goods a slight advance ap-
| pears Notwithstanding a decline in the
prices in wool during February. The de-
cline has not been general in wool, nor has
the advance in woolen goods
The heavy weight season has been dis
appointing and the manufacturers are will
ing to get on for the time as best they can
in the hope that larger demand viii come
from the clothiers a little later
Failures for the week have been i'm the
United States 1856, against PSI last year, and
a in Canada against 81 last year.