The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-25
BUSINESS BIG ENOUGH
TO Stand Any Amount of In
dustriaI Expansion.
NO LETTING UP IN METALS
Wheat Stronger = Cotton
Weaker, Situation Hopeful.

New York, March 24.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade will say tomorrow:
business is not frightened, either by the
great capitalization Of new companies or
by the wild fluctuations in Wall street.
No matter how the stock operations in
New York may count, business elsewhere
is large enough to warrant a wonderful
expansion Of industries, and that is the
thing most important 70 observe. IN no
considerable branch has production dimi1-
ished, but in practically all ii has oeen
increasing during the past week.
In iron and steel a little lower price
for Bessemer pig appears at Pittsburg, but
with gray forgge Toe higher there and
southern iron at Chicago 80 cents to 81
lower. There is no market for billets, as
no works east or west can furnish them
at present, but quotations range in prices
from S25 at Pittsburg TO 81 at Philadel-
phia. In finished products there is the
same trouble. Rails can be bought at
$23 in PicJsburg and S24 at Chicago, Il al
all, but small lots have been sold at S2S
at New York. Chicago is taking many
contracts for building in Boston, New
York and Washington, amounting TO 1000
tons, but makers elsewhere are overcrowd-
ed with work. No market can deliver
plates within any reasonable time and
Pittsburg works are sold TO July on sheets,
though instead of $2.40 there, S2.65 at Chi
cago and $500 at Philadelphia is paid.
Plate mills are all full and there is heavy
demand at Chicago for bars, with one
carmakers contract for 5000 tons. prices
steadily growing stronger. The minor
metals are all weaker with the reaction
of London speculation, though copper has
declined TO lie here and is yet so much
above London that exports have been
stopped for the week. The February out
put. both here and in other countries. was
greater than last years monthly average,
although February Is a short month.
Wool is at the doubling point. with
large sales ordered from the interior by
tired holders and some concessions made
10 secure transactions at Philadelphia and
Boston, though quotations show only mod
crate decline, and sales at the three chief
markets are almost as large as in 1892
Manufacturers make many inquiries but
the prospect of combinations is potent to
hinder transactions. The goods are in
rather better demand than a year ago,
but no large class Of mills can claim tos
be fully employed. The demand for cot
ton goods is still strong, but this week has
not materially advanced prices. Cotton
is decidedly weaker, though many believe
that short supplies will in time insure
higher prices, but mill and commercial
stocks are about 100000 bales larger than
last year abroad, and mill stocks here
must be heavier, because the mills are
buying very little, although crowded with
work, while the commercial stocks here
are quite large.
The wheat market is just now somewhat
stronger, for. although the western re-
cepts for the week are 3.359,0D0 bushels,
against 2,557, s66 asst year. and for three
weeks 100000 larger, the exports, -four
included, have been for the week from
Atlantic ports 2,92O,46 bushels, against
], S24, $50 last year. and from Pacific ports
S24. 1S3, against 1.371.S37 last year, other ex-
ports being S5O,920 bushels. 1t is not posi-
Bile 10 ignore the Importance Of so great
of March. and sober traders realize that IL
means heavier outgo than has been yet
expected. Western crop. estimates are
large. and such reports as appear of the
condition OF wheat for the coming year
are on the whole favorable, but prices
are 32sc higher than last week, while corn
is PIC higher. The market for cotton
has been decidedly weak, owing to some
what better receipts at the south and also
TO conviction that stocks on hand are
large enough TO meet all demands.
Failures for the week have been 200 in
the United States against PSI last year,
BRADsTREETS
New York. March 2i-Bradstree.' week
" review Of trade tomorrow will say, in
part: The iron situation IS stiH one OF
great strength. though the volume Of bust
ness IS Concededly smaller than for some
weeks past. and one grade Of pig Besse-
mer = lower on the week. Nearly every
other grade OF pig iron IS higher on the
week. however: steel billets and rails are
firmly held and nearly ali classes Of fin
ished material are higher, reecting the
earlier advances in the cruder forms. The
boot and shoe situation with jobbers Is
quite encouraging; hides though dull, are
firm. and the same IS true Of leather. while
the current demand for the fn.shed prod
uct keeps manufacturers busy. Cotton
goods retain all their old strength. though
somewhat qu.eter in demand at first hands.
while the talk Of com bination n the man
ufaccur.ng branch Of trade has seriously
unsettled the price II raw wool. which is
weak and lower. Sugar reects steady buy
tng in practically unchanged quotations.
Lumber - feeling the stimulus q the
approach OF active building operations.
wh.e pine and spruce are highe- a; nearly
all markets. Win hardwood sympatAizng
and even outstrtpplng these Classes O:
material i1 ,he.r upward movement
Industr-a..y. the situation Is satksac-
tory. While actual advances IN wages are
as yet confined % the cotton ma1utac-
turing and the iron ard steel MINISTRIES.
The current Of work IN other lines = run
ming fun and the number % operatives
wa3 have gained some advantage from tae
activity II az industrial lines totals ezsc.y
5s7.0a
Wheat lzc.udins four shipments fo-
the wek aggregate 3.74s7s3 bushes.
against 4l1sls5 bushels lssE week. Q - rs
bushes in the CORES p0o5 ~ week o ls.s
! .-isIss bushels IN 49,. la - bushels IN
Ks. and . - - bushels Iss5 Sfrce July
! tbs season tEe exports u wheat zrEr--