The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-09-20
TRADE REVIEW.
The Volume Of Business Now in Progress Has
Never Been RivaIed.

r. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of
trade reports as follows for last week:
Better than all other news, the record
Of August commerce shows the relation
of United States business to that of
other countries. Exports were s20,-
0S2,SI5 larger than ever before in August
and exceeded imports by s37, ,929, ,699.
partly because exports of staples were
$9,366,9IS larger than last year, but also
because exports of other products.
mainly manufacturing, were $10,349.000
larger than last year and larger than
in any other month of any year. Fears
that great advance In prices might
shut off exports Of manufactured pro-
ducts have not been unnatural, and 1t
Is most gratifying to find that such ex-
ports stlll continue and expand. The
excess of exports over imports gives
fair promise of as large balance In
foreign trade to the benefit of this
country during the winter as has ever
been seen. That manufactured ex-
ports do not fall off, but are larger than
ever, is both surprising and gratifying.
The volume of business now in
progress has never been rivaled
The great movement of grain, in
wheat and flour. little larger than last
year in August, and in two weeks of
September 5.920.273 bushels, flour in
cluded. from Atlantic ports. against
5,423.O76 last year and from Pacific 755,-
559 bushels against S6i.144 last year Is
far more effective in preventing a
decline in prices than any official or
unofficial estimate of yield. Govern
ment reports indicate wheat crop of
only 516.000.000 bushels. but last year
September report indicated 5s5,000,000
bushels, and afterwards the official re-
turn made 1t 900 bushels, and
none would be surprised to see like
revision this year. The price, in spi
l..g.. L.. l.lI
of a cent, for western receipts had
been 1869, ,455 bushels in two weeks'1
against 1869. S95 last year. and corn
exports, 6,0s3,2l2 bushels, against 4,351,-
331. The feeling Is not unreasonable
that foreign needs are just now well
indicated by the corn movement. At
this season cotton shipments are al
ways small, and hopes or fears rule
the market. but prices have declnied
during the week a sixteenth, with lit
tie less buying on foreign account.
Extraordinary efforts TO increase the
iron output failed in August partly be-
cause stoppage of few large furnaces
for repairs more than balanced the ad-
dition of 13 small furnaces to the pro-
ducing force and partly because hot
weather prevented full production. The
reported output. 261.335 tons. against
2s7672 August l. with decrease of 22,-
347 tons In unsold stock indicates q con-
sumption of 1.209,0l2 tons during the
month. Purchases of 10000 tons
bessemer and 10000 tons other iron are
reported. with advance of bessemer to
S23 25 at Pittsburg, but quotations are
wild because of premiums paid for
early delivery. Plates at the East and
common bars at Pittsburg are 81 per
ton higher. and wire nails have again
been advanced So per ton. Orders for
plates include several for export and
one for vessel in the Delaware river,
with one for Venezuela at Pittsourg,
but many for all forms are refused be-
cause the works are unable to I'LL them
on time. and some orders of much i'm
portance have been withdrawn at the
West on account of the delay unavoid-
able and the high prices charged.
The heavy sales of wool. 12.056, 300
pounds for the week and 2l,2s2. 100 for
two weeks. against 36.629.400 in 1897,
are largely due to heavy manufacture
ing purchases In Boston. Prices here
are stiff and the demand for wooden
goods of all sorts Is strong.
Failures for the week have been 149
In the United States. against 174 last
year. and 81 In Canada against 20 last
yer.