Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-12
LARCEDEMAND|
Productive Forces Covered by
Contracts Well Into 1900.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Prices of Pig Iron strongly Maintained
In the Face of Lorge Increased
outputs - Bradstreets and
Dun's Reports.

/
Dun's Reports.
New York, Dec. 9.-The approach OF
new year usually brings so much OF
hesitation in business that the small
shrinkage this year is surprising.
Probably never before have the produce
tive forces OF the country been so
largely covered by contracts at this
date, insuring employment and profit
far into the coming year. This results,
not from any mere speculative excite
ment but for actual demands for con-
sumption running far beyond the pro-
ducing capacity heretofore, and pushing
ittoremarkableeN The increase
in foreign trade has been insignificant
compared with the increase OF $24,00O,-
100000 in payments through clearing
houses. For the week the payments
have been 2O.3 per cent larger than
last year and 1871 per cent larger than
in 1892"
r. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review OF
Trade opens as above and adds:
Prices of pig iron are strongly main
tanned, though extraordinary efforts
promise increase of over a quarter in
producing capacity within year, be-
cause the entire output of most fur
naces for the first and in part of the
last half of next year has been solo
already. Sheet bars are shade lower,
owing to the closing of many tin plate
works.
Demand for cars and other railway
equipment is enormous, and also for
shipping, both lake and ocean. Tin is
weak at 27la cents, and copper declined
to 16A cents, but lead and spelter are
stronger.
| Hides are again stronger at Chicago,
although receipts of cattle at four chief
western markets in eleven months have
been 3 per cent larger than in the pre-
vious year, as the demand for COLI
sumption in manufacture has evidently
| increased much more. Thus western
production of boots and shoes has
gained more than eastern, yet ship
ments from Boston for the year have
been $4,000 cases, or 9.3 per cent more
than last year, and $4,000 cases, or
27.S per cent more than in 1892, when
l
| than this year.
Wool has advanced further, with
much speculative buying, though most
manufacturers have supplied wants for
the present and are less disposed to
purchase at prices now averaging high
| err than at any time since June Is, 1891.
Higher prices demanded in the interior,
and rising prices abroad give confidence
| in spite of the fact that goods have
advanced from the lowest point this
year only 1872 per cent.
Cotton is weakened by accounts of
large quantities held back, and has de-
clined an eighth, but reports are sutfi-,
GENTLY conflicting to make speculation
active. Notwithstanding the decrease of
s3O,v.0 bales, or 29.4 per cent in ex-
ports for three months of the crop
wear. Takings of spinners have been
large, the demand for cotton goods is
heavy and covers production Tar ahead
in many lines, while fears of important
strikes have been dispelled by a gen
eral advance in wages.
Wheat has risen 3 cents and corn
fraction, with decline in western re-
ceipts of both. Atlantic exports of
only 3,359,677 bushels, against 5,636,767
Il i
against 556,523 last year.
Failures for the week have been 221
in the United States, against 24s last
year, and thirty-three in Canada,
AGAINST twenty-five last year.
Bradstreet's says:
The last month of the year has open
ed auspiciously, finding trade and in
dustry generally well employed, de-
|mand treading close upon and even
passing supply, labor troubles averted
in some instances by widespread adj
4 vances in wages, of small Importance
Il except in one or two cities, and with
the general level of value of staples at
i the highest point reached for eight
4 years past. Holiday demand has OPP
ened well and collections from retail
trades therefore show some improve
ment.
Wheat, including -four, shipments for
the week aggregate 5,133,331 bushels,
+. against 3,699,4 bushels last week,
! 6,S6s,952 bushels in the corresponding
week of 1898, 6,266,159 bushels in 1897,
4,222,714 bushels in 1896, and 2,45S,994
bushels in 1895. Since July 1, this sea-
son, the exports of wheat aggregate
94,301, 1927 bushels. against 103,476,694
bushels last year and 114,204,79s bushels
in 1s97-1S9S. Corn exports for the
week aggregate 3,S13,699 bushels,
against 4,441,514 bushels last week,
4,33s.535 bushels in this week a year
ago, 3,125,554 bushels in 1897. 3,511, 2ss
bushels in 1896, and 1881, 1s4 bushels in
! 1895. Since July this season, corn ex-
: ports aggregate 100.4S3,701 bushels,
against 69,935,2s5 bushels during the
same period year ago and 67,251, sos
bushels in 1S97-189S.
Weekly Bank Statement.
New York, Dec. 9.-(By Associated
Press.)-The weekly bank statemen,
) follows: Surplus, reserve decreased
!. 81, SIT, 175; loans decreased, $695,500;
deposits decreased, $1,000, 800. The
! banks now hold $6,S59,525 in excess OF
legal requirements.
FEELING OF nIsLIEF.
Authorities at Manila Glad to Hear