Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-04

SO good as they are this week. More
over, during the past week there has
been general advance in wages, i'm
midiate or prospective At most
points the advance of 10 per cent or
more was entirely voluntary. 1t has
averaged TO 10 per cent. In tin plate
works ard about 10 per cent. in other
cases, and az 1t affects much over 100,-
600 hands 1t will add greatly to the
purchasing power OF the wage earners.
The return Of failures in February,
while showing larger liabilities than in
January. are highly encouraging. A
rather unusual number OF large fail
ures in scattered branches Of
manufacture has swelled the aggre-
gate, including one concern for 81 ,000,-
600 in electrical apparatus. but IN near
~ all branches the statement indicates
a remarkably healthy condition in
spite OF these failures while in trading
the defaulted liabilities are smaller
than in January or any previous win
ter month for six years.
In prices the striking feature has
been the rapid advance in iron and
steel products, resulting from de-
r1and greater than the works in the
country can supply. All the works OF
importance have been crowded with
orders running to July and later. Be-
lated buyers have given life to con-
Germs long inactive and as they can
add but little to the output the markets
have been entirely controlled by the
buying demand. All sorts Of prices
have been paid, some for early de-
livery and some for delivery after July
l. but $3.50 is quoted for Bessemer
pig at Pittsburg, $3.50 for grey forge
and at the east 3l425 IS quoted for an
thracite No. l. Prices of finished pro-
ducts have also been advanced 50 per
ton for eastsrn and western bars,
plates and structural forms and So for
wire nails. The demand has not yet
been checked and some Of the heavy
orders have been taken at all points,
even at the highest prices named, but
the export business Is likely to be
stopped for the present.
Folders OF wheat have been looking
for the report Of the Agricultural De-
parcment regarding stocks held by
Farmers, March /, but commercial re-
ports indicate that such are the largest
ever held at this date. They have TO
support from the western receipts from
farms, which have been larger than
for past years in February for four
weeks 12,571 900 bushels against 49,
004,600 bushels last year, while Allan
tic exports have been for four weeks
12,S29,756 against 9,67s,e56 last year.
The Pacific exports have been 605.757
bushels for the week asainEt G4,933 last
year and from ether ports 197.S25
bushels have been shipped during the
past week. Rarely II ever mas there
been as great demand for grain at this
season as now appears, but the price
has yielded IL cents for the week al
though corn has advanced nc for spot
the receipts having fallen.
The textile industries are making
progress. There has been strong in
crease in the demand Tor cotton goods,
resulting in further advances In the
prices for some, while in Hoolen goods
a slight advance appears, notwith-
standing a decline In the prices Of
wool during February. The decline
has not been general in wool, nor has
the advance IN goods. The heavy
weight season has been disappointing
and the manufacturers are willing to
get en- for the time the best they can
in the hope that large demand will
come from the c!oth!er3 little later
Failures for the week have been in
the t. S., 1876, against 251 last year and
AZ In Canada against the 81 last year.