The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-11-15
REVIEW OF TRADE.
Great Pressure Of Consumers Keeps Up Prices
Iron Market Grownu Steady.

II. q. Dun e Co.'S weekly review OF
trade reports as follows for last week
The most noteworthy feature of the
time Is the rise I'm prices Cotton rose
on Wednesday to 7Sl cents with much
excitement, putting the price 2ia cents
higher than II was year ago, and yet
II was still higher in September, 1897
Wool has risen relatively more, about
10 per cent In two weeks, and the aver
age OF 100 quotations by Coates Broth
ers Is higher than 1t has been at any
other time since May, 1893. Pig iron
has risen further, s25 being quoted for
anthracite No. |, the highest price
since January. 1888. But hides are at
the highest point since January, 1878,
having risen all the year with very
little reaction. Leather and boots
and shoes were higher In November,
were higher In January, 1896, woolen
goods In July, 1894. and even the pro-
ducts of iron, though greatly advanc-
ed are not as high as they were In
January, 1890.
such wide discrepancies In advance
cause much embarrassment. but are
the natural characteristic of rise
which Is mainly due, not to concerted
action In any trade, but to the pressure
or a consuming demand. the greatest
ever known, which for the time ex-
ceeds supplies. though very unequally.
Its results begin to justify the conser-
vative feeling which finds expression
In many branches of business.
The iron industry, which has led ali
years In the advance, now leads the
way toward readjustment OF values.
While contracts for pig cover the en-
tire product of the most important
districts for six to nine months In ad-
vance, many of the consuming works
In some lines approach the end OF their
orders. and have new competition tc
meet, so that sheets have fallen 81 pei
ton at Pittsburg, and 50 from the high.
est point In September, and plates are
50 lower there and 81 at Philadelphia
A. the same time bars are 81 per ton
higher both at Philadelphia and Pitts.
burg, the demand being enormous, and
at Chicago very heavy contracts have
been made for car and implement
works. A bridge combination IL
thought likely to affect future business
In structural shapes. which continues
large for the season. A break in the
London market depressed tin, and
sales were made at 2S cents.
Boot and shoe makers are generally
getting about the 10 cents per pair ad.
vance they have held necessary. and
nave as large contracts in most lines
as they now wish to close in view OF
the uncertainty about materials
Leather continues very strong, and In
that also dealers are not anxious foi
greater commitments. but consuming
demand causes large sales In advance
Of production.
Wheat has not been very active nor
strong, although western receipts have
much declined, being 4,931,a07 bushels
for the week. against 9.92i,0i5 bushels
last year. Exports are also smaller
the Atlantic 2.563,6S7 bushels. flour in
cluded, against 3.SsS.509 bushels for
the week last year, and Pacific 1,1SS,69C
bushels. against l.016961 bushels last
year. The decrease In foreign demand
may be ascribed in part to heavy pre-
to the great movement of corn, 1855. .10t
bushels for the week. against 2062, ,33i
bushels last year. Corn advanced
about as much as wheat fell, though
with prospect OF a heavy yield.