Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-23


r. G. Dun e. Co. Is Review for last
week says: ''In business, this year can
not be compared with any other. 1t
can be said that payments through the
principal clearing houses for the past
week have been 81. per cent greater
than in 1892 and 459 per cent greater
than in 1898, but that exaggerates the
gain in some branches of business,
while in others it falls far short of the
gain. Thus the February exports of
manufactured products have about
doubled since 1892. Omitting New
York clearings, where speculation in
stocks is most active, payments through
the other principal clearing houses for
the same week show increase OF 37.6
per cent over 1892 and 81. per cont
over last year. But without regard to
such details oil realize that the volume
of business in all branches is the
greatest ever known. Such perform
ances as the rise in sugar have not
much to do with real business, but
show the inhammahle state of public
feeling. THE national prosperity rests
on more solid foundations. The ex-
ports of breadstuffs, provisions, cotton
and oil in February showed decrease
of $1,000, 600, but other exports, mainly
manufactured, were S36, 406, 943 in
value, against S3l, 275, 1906 last year,
and were sufficiently large to cover
more than 60 per cent of the entire i'm
ports. The merchandise exports ex-
ceeded imports for the month $685.
GA, III, the gold supply increasing,
and there appears no occasion for none
tary disturbance. Failures for the first
two weeks Of March have been S4, :
GIG, 226, against 81, FOG, 425 last year,
manufacturing ~, 40S, 421, against 81,
a49, 05S last year, and trading 50, 202, 672,
Sgainst So, lT2, $50 last year. Failures
for the week have been 189 in the
United States, against 20S last year, and
30 in Canada, against q last year. y
Bradstreet's in its issue of Saturday
notes: "An activity which in some
directions represents the continuance
Of pre-existing conditions and in Others
reflects a special impulse communicated
by the nearer approach of spring forms
the leading note of this week trade
adyices. In the iron and steel indus.
tries activity continues unabated, the
upward tendency of prices being strik-
ingly maintained, and the eagerness OF
consumers to take the product remain
ing unchanged. The more springlike
weather has induced greater keenness
in the demand for seasonable goods,
and from most sections Of tho country
come reports of marked activity in
jobbing les inhavIng to do with dry
goods, millinery and footwear. Cotton
fabrics generally are in q strong posi-
ton. Wool does not display any ami
nation, though prices are maintained.
The lumber trade exhibits every indi-
cation of activity, reports from widely
separated points indicating strong
demand, more particularly for hard
woods, which, in some sections, are re-
ported to be scarce, high and advancing
in price. The cereals weakened during
the week, probably in sympathy with
wheat, which experienced marked
drop on Thursday, in part as the result
of heavy liquidation in Chicago and
in part owing to reports of the break OF
the drought in California and better
news from other wheat growing sec
tions.
Philadelphia reports that there is
fair volume of trade in dry goods, and
that boot and shoe manufacturers are
feeling tho influence of changed
weather conditions. From Chicago
come accounts of great activity in all
iobbing and manufacturing lines, and
continuance Of the overtime work by
dry goods houses to keep up with
orders.n ~ 4r