The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-01

New York, June 2O.--Bradstreet's to-mor
row will say: Though seasonably quiet
in many lines, the strength of the gem
eral business situation remains appar-
ently undated and the half year closes
with the commercial and financial com
munity contemplating very satisfactory
returns In the recent past and manifest
ing tone of cheerful confidence regard
ing the outlook for the last half of 1899.
In the volume of business done the first
half of 1899 will certainly rank higher
than the best hitherto experienced, and
the notable rise in prices, which was such
a feature of the past spring, has done
much to reconcile traders to the admit
tedly small margins of profits which
modern business operations tend toward
making permanent.
Touching this matter, it might be added
that staple prices to-day are in a majority
of instances well above quotations ruling
for some years past the general level, in
fact, being the highest since early in
1888 In some instances, of course, notably
in iron and steel, recent advances have
brought the level of prices well above
anything reported since 1892, though it is
to be remarked that much of the business
done in that industry this spring was at
old levels, the most sanguine Observers in
this line having failed to accurately gauge
the real proportions of the late advances.
That the transportation interests have
shared to a large degree in the business
resulting from several years of large
crops and active demand, is proved by the
current good returns. the best probably
reported so far this year and indicating a
progressive gain over all previous records
for tie six months. Notwithstanding the
steadily lowering rates of transportation.
There Is little in the immediate outlook
that can be construed as unfavorable. The
iron trade, having finished the most
eYentful half year in its history and most
of its contracts secured at the old low
prices, faces very good outlook for the
balance of the year at prices which guar
antee large profits, providing adequate
supplies of raw and partly manufactured
materials can be secured 1t is not I'M
reasonable to look for some check, in fact
to business in the metal consuming indus
tries owing to the scarcity of these ma
ter ais. One of the latest instances of this
is the reported delay to the shipbuidine
industry, owing to the scarcity Of steel
plates.
The labor situation has been one of the
most satisfactory features of the hall
years business voluntary advances haV'
ing raised the compensation of thousands
of operatives and labor troubles being con.
spicuous by their absence till toward the
close of the period under review, wher
failures to agree upon wages and hours
in the Colorado smelling industry and in
the tin plate manufacturing rendered
a large number of workmen idle. In the
case of the latter industry, however, the
suspension, 1t Is hoped, will not exceed
the usual summer shutdown.
In agricultural lines the outlook, though
somewhat irregular, is in the main favor
able. The smaller yield of winter wheat
seems at the present moment likely to bC
partly made up for by an increased yielc
of corn, and spring wheat prospects
though impaired somewhat by too muct
rain, are regarded as encouraging.
Good weather throughout the country
has allowed a rather better out-turn II
winter wheat than was looked for earlier
and general rains throughout the SOutl
have helped the cotton crop situation
while rice and sugar have also measurabl!
| improved.
The closing week of the half year fms
| special strength and activity in iron, lum
| Der and wool and wooden goods, the latte
| industry having at last apparently begun
! to share in the prevailing prosperity. 4