The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-25

New York, Feb. 24.-R. G. Dun &
Cos. weekly review Of trade tomor-
row will say: The situation is wlta-
out precedent. Business mas never been
better on the whole, and in some great
industries the gain is astonishing Ex-
ports surDass last years as much as
imports. though the excess over I'M
ports then was heavy.
Failures are smaller than last year.
and smaller than in either of six years
past. Stocks are stronger, the average
for the active railway securities peihs
a little higher, and for trusts mucn
more, owing to the extraordinary ao-
vance of $4S.75 in tobacco. Payments
through exchanges show a greater vol
ume of business than ever before at
this season, and nearly one-half Larger
than in the best of previous years. me
outgo of breadStuffS and cotton con-
tinues heavy. But there are some VINO
fear that such prosperity cannot last.
Popular Impressions have to be reck-
oned with, because they control events.
Yet at every point of danger except
one, the signs are in every respect Ia
vorable. The upward rush OF Ii.5 per
cent in the prices of pig iron since Jan.
l, and 17.6 per cent in prices OF IRON
and steel products, does, indeed, raise
a question whether exports OF sucn pro-
ducts may not be temporarily checked,
but if they could be entirely stopped,
as they are not, the balance due this
country would still be large.
The crush of demand for finished
products, at a time when nearly all the
works are crowded by orders covering
production until July l or later, causes
many TO refuse to contract beyond that
date, except at higher prices. and
rise under such circumstances may
Il EsNl - ~
buyers, and bring into the list of pro-
ducers other establishments heretofore
idle.
While a fairly large capacity OF pro-
duction is still in reserve, the demand
now pressing for cars, vessels, bridges,
buildings and pipes is partly TO anticl-
pate an expected rise in prices. The
best sign is that the great producers
appear to be anxious TO maintain their
hold on foreign markets, although just
now unable 10 take orders for future
delivery.
1t is sign Of similar import that the
boot and shoe manufacturers just at
this time seek better markets by a
somewhat general reduction of ~ Cents
in prices, although leather averages
slightly higher. The shipments from
the east have been smaller than in
four of the past six years in quantity,
and only 16,756 cases larger than in 1892,
and having gained nothing during all
these years in proportion to popula-
ton. the eastern manufacturer natur-
ally seeks that business. The increase
in prices OF grain leather has no. hin
dered much, while a few large safes
Of hemlock sole are not necessarily at
quoted prices. A great many factories
have bene out of work, and sales at
reduction do not cover all grades of
goods.
Nobody can judge what the cloth:ers
may buy as yet, and the wooden manu-
facturers have a very uncertain mar
ket ahead, but Judge that there will be
a heavy demand for goods before long,
and many of the smaller mills are look
ing for chances in the wool markets
Little weakness is there seen, except
for fleece, and in quarter and three
eighths blood and combing wool prices
are generally strong, with scarcity of
supply, but sales for three weeks have
been 1S,059,2O0 pounds, against "a, 1885,
500 two years ago with free wool, and
II, COG, 200 pounds in 1892 The demand
for cotton goods increases, although
there is some hesitation regarding the
price of the material. The urgent de-
mand for goods of all qualities, stiffen-
ing the prices of staples as well as of
fancy goods, gives the highest conf
dence to dealers. Wheat has gained
only 1as in price, although Atlantic ex-
ports, flour included, have been 2,567,-
364 bushels. against 2,OSO,411 last year.
and, including other exports. 3,279, 735
bushels. against s,656,793 last year The
exports have been so heavy that many
doubt their continuance, and yet grain
comes from the farms and then goes
abroad as if such doubt had no basis.
The western receipts during the past
three weeks have been 1876, 473 bushels.
against 1886, 426 last year.
Failures for the week have been I91
in the United States. against 233 last
year. and 40 in Canada, against 80 last
year.