Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-18
TRADE is EXPANDING
LARGER IN SPITE OF ADVERSE
SPECULATIVE CONDITIONS.
TIE EFFECT OF MOHopOLIES.
They Stimulate Business While They
Are Coming. but Tend to Ssfae IL
After They Have Come--Advance I'm
Pig-IrOn.
Pig-Iron.

NEW YORK. February l7.--Messrs. r.
G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review OF uaoe
tomorrow will say:
Beyond question, business is expand
ing. and in many branches II Is larger
Notwithstanding speculative conditions'
which tend to reduce IL. All monopohes'
or attempted monopolies, stimulate busi-
ness while they are coming, but tend to
stifie Il after they have come, ana the
throng of combinations and trusts whicn
havo been formed or proposed have given
a temporary but very questionable I'M
petus TO trade. But beyond the influence
OF these are a genuine and substantial
enlargement or business, due to the pros
perity of a growing population Inc
weeks output OF pig-ron February ISL
was 237, 500 tons. against 2i3,5l6 tons Janu-
airy list. and 235.52s tons December LIST.
The average weekly production thus indi-
Gated was about 1000 tons greater in JAM
uary than in December, and the unsold
stocks were reduced 1851 tons In Janu-
ary against 81 4i9 tons in December. so
that the apparent consumption In manu-
facture was in January 1,ll0,079 tons,
against 10ss,176 tons in December. The
stoppage of several furnaces for necessa-
ny repairs, at time when the demand is
most pressing, has caused some fear OF
famine, although quite a number or
other furnaces have started since Febru-
airy LIST, or are about TO start.
PIG-IRON ADVANCE.
P1g-iron has advanced, but the largest
consumption ever recorded In any month
Is in part due to the hasty purchase or
products about to be controlled or ad-
vanced in price by d combination. There
are so many of these in the iron and
steel industry that the present market
does not clearly indicate the magnitude
of demand, and disappointment in some
branches is not improbable. But the rise
OF 81 in steel rails, with the entire capa-
city of all works engaged until after July
LIST, Is not unnatural, nor the strength IN
plates, for which the legitimate demand
is beyond all precedent, and the same Is
true Of bars, the quantity required for
! cars, railway and agricultural implement
works being enormous.
THE RISE IN GRAIN.
No fictitious demand has caused the
rise in grain, for the exports continue so
heavy in wheat and corn that the adj
vance of Ia cents In wheat is abundant
ly justified, and the rise OF ga in corn
seems scarcely enough for the occasion.
Atlantic exports have been retarded by
the blizzard. but have been 2,265,7l5
bushels, -four included, against 3,l42,O57
last year, and for the crop year thus far,
the exports, including flour. have been
/ hal a1. aft,-e rot
year When it is remembered that the
exports Of corn are almost as large as
the largest ever known, there is reason
for establishment at the continued foreign
demand That 1t persists, In spite of the
strong advance in prices here since Sep
TENDER LIST, is most encouraging. II Is
obviously impossible TO judge how far 1t
may go.
DEMAND FOR COTTON.
Nor does the foreign demand for cotton
abate, though the price has again been
raised 3-l6 during the past week. The
exports have decreased some, but the
controlling fact is that remarkable
shrinkage in receipts from plantations
appear TO indicate a smaller yield than
| has hitherto been expected. 1t should De
remembered that the receipts have been
greatly hindered OF late by bad wea Their.
/
advance prices just now, although no
assurance can be given that the declining
prices will not presently check that de-
mand.
MORE INQUIRY FOR WOOL.
There is much more inquiry for wool.
and the manufacturers have larger de-
mand for heavyweight goods, but they
maintain that they cannot pay the prices
now demanded for wool, and most of the
purchases made appear to have been AT
! some concessions.
The minor metals have been running
weaker, with a reaction in lead although
| the industries have shown no abatement
Of demand in this country. and the rise
! in prices here is due largely to increased
| consumption.
Failures. 17s for the week I'm the United
| States. against POS last year, and Is In
| Canada, against 35 last year.