The times., 1899-03-04
New York, March s.-Bradstreets to-

New York. March 3-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
An enlarged volume of spring trade
particularly in dry goods due to spring
weather, special strength in the demand
and price for cotton fabrics, an immense
and urgent call at soaring prices for iron
and steel and all its products and substan-
tial advances in wages. chiefly affecting
the above mentioned industries and bene-
hting at conservative calculation 100 900
operatives are among features of the week
going 10 show that the producing elements
of the country's population are sharing In
the favorable conditions. In many cities,
East and West, come reports of an active
demand from jobbers for spring dry goods
From the cotton manufacturing industry
OF the East come reports of activity in
duciDg manufacturers to grant advances
TO their operatives. while the list of ad-
vances in prices of iron and steel products
whether OF crude or manufactured, or even
of old material, is, a virtual roll-call of
that industrys products.
An encouraging feature is the small
number of strikes for higher wages re-
ported. partly owing 10 advances being
already conceded as a result OF sliding
scale agreements, the only important labor
troubles being reported in the coal mining
industry in the Southwest
Additional proof that the export de-
mand for our iron and steel manufactures
will be checked by recent and pending
prices is not lacking. In the lumber trade
producers are likely 10 reap a long de-
layed reward while the outlook for build
ing trade activity is favorable. Our ex-
port trade in cereals is recovering from
the check administered by recent frigid
and stormy weather but reports of dam
age TO the winter wheat crop on the one
hand and estimates OF superabundant sup
plies of old crop in farmers hands have
about balanced each other. with a slight
advantage as regards prices secured by the
bears. Prices generally, aside from the
exceptions noted, show few important
chances.
Business failures are down to the mini
mum, numbering III for the week as
against 30 last week, 232 in this week a
year ago, 262 in 1897, go in 1896, and 252
in 1885
New York, March 3.-Dun's weekly re-
view tomorrow will say:
The business for the past month was
by far the greatest ever known in Feb
ruary. Clearing house exchanges were
about 81. 900, 600 900. against s., ,567 553 Si4
last year, and 54.2 per cent larger than in
1892 In all the years OF weekly CONNER
cial reporting there has been no other
week in which the reports from all parts
of the country have been on the whole SO
good they are this week. Moreover,
during the past week there has been a
general advance in prices immediate or
prospective. Iron works at Pittsburg and
in the valleys set the pace. which the
Pennsylvania Steel Company. with 5000
hands and the Sparrows Point Works with
2,G00. and the great tin plate combination
with many establishments have followed
The Fall River Cotton Mills agreed on
Monday 10 an advance of IL per cent. TO
take effect april l. and New Bedford and
Taunton mills have followed with the
AmOskeag, OF Manchester, having 10 0O0
hands. and the Pacific. at Lawrence hav-
ing 5,000 and many other textile works
Coal operators in West Virginia and some
other States have taken the same course
and in Arkansas and Indian Territory about
IL, 900 miners are demanding a similar ad-
vance.
In prices the striking feature has been
the rapid advance in iron and steel prod
ucts. resulting from demand greater than
the works in the country can supply All
works of importance have been crowded
with orders running to July l or later
But belated buyers have given life to con-
Germs long inactive and, as these can add
but little TO the output, the markets have
been entirely controlled by the buying de-
mand.
Holders of wheat have been looking for
the report OF the Agricultural department
regarding stocks held by farmers March
/ but commercial reports indicate that
such stocks are the largest ever held at
this date. Rarely If ever has there been
as great a demand for grain a this season
as now appears, but the price has yielded
! l-ic for the week.
The stock market returns for the week
81 As per share lower for the average of
railroads, with 80 cents higher for trusts
The textile industries are making progress
There has been strong increase in the
demand for cotton goods resulting in
further advances in the prices for some
while in wooden goods slight advance in
prices. notwithstanding a decline in the
prices of wool during February. The de-
cline has not been general in wool, nor
has the advance in goods.
Failures for the week have been, in the
United States. 1856. against 251 last year.
and A in Canada, against 81 last year"
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Washington stock Exchange.
Substituted States Is 1925, register
ed s. 900 at I29. United States Electric