The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-18
LIKE No OTHER YEAR
Oun'S AbandonS Efforts at
Trade Comparisons.
IRON AND STEEL RISING
Cereals Have Weakened
Spring Trade in Sight

weekly review Of trade will say tomor-
row: In business, this year cannot be
| compared with any other. 1t can be said
that payments through the principal clear
! ing houses for the past week have been
57.4 per cent greater than in 1892 and $50
per cent greater than in 1898, but that ex-
aggerates the gain n some branches OF
business, while in others il 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 an increase OF 37.6 per cent over
1892 and 27.1 per cent over last year. But
| without regard TO such details all realize
! that the volume OF business in ali branches
is the greatest ever known. The national
prosperity rests on more solid foundations
The exports of breadstufs, provisions,
cotton and oil in February showed a de-
crease Of Sc. O00,0 900 but other exports, ISlin-
ly manufactured, were $50, 4O6.943 in va.ue,
against 81, 20, 1896 last year. and were sufi-
GENTLY large TO cover sixty per cent of
the entire imports. The merchandise ex-
ports exceeded imports for the month
$50. 624, III, the gold supply increasing, and
there appears no occasion for monetary
disturbance The treasury recorder its
first payment Of the S59, 900, 600 for the Cen
trail Pacific railroad, having previously re-
ceived s59. 600, 900 for the Union Pacific and
over Sc 100000 for the Kansas Pacific.
Swiftly rising quotations for iron and
its products would mislead if il were not
kept in mind that more than nine-tenths
Of the iron manufacturing capacity is en-
gagged, and will be until July or later, IN
the execution of orders taken months ago
at low prices. If million tons of prod
ucts go out this month, 100000 at such
prices as $11S TO $40 for steel rails at which
tn centre output of the Illinois Steel COM
pany this year was sold some time ago, It
hardly indicates the true character of the
iron business that less than 10000 tons
are going out at such prices as S26 to SIS
per ton for steel rails made here for smon
lots this week. Belated buyers now have
TO pay fancy prices to get orders accepted
at all. Withdrawals or postponement Of
business because OF high prices begins to
be d significant feature and much foreign
business is evidently lost, though there
are still sales for export, $500 tons Of pipe
for South America and 5000 tons bridge
material for Burmah. The Connelisyiue
coke works. with an output of 1920 tons
weekly, and many operating sundays to
catch up with orders, have advanced prices
only Is cents.
Wool sales at the three chief markets
have been only 4,3O5, 800 pounds, of which
?, 76l,O 900 were domestic, against 5.O7S.2OO in
the same week of 1892, Of which 3.507. 200
were domestic; but prices are soft. and
some dealers are said to have yielded as
much as TO 3 cents per pound clean be-
cause nobody can guess what effect the
new combinations may have. Prices are
largely nominal, and yet there Is a some
better demand for goods. Nor has the
strong demand for cotton goods been
helped by the weaker market for cotton
which has fallen to 6.37 cents in spite of
volume of reports about the bad coondi-
ton of late-picked product. The price OF
goods has been strongly advanced. and
is held. but yet depends on the price of
cotton.
The market which has lost most is that
which has least statistical reason TO lose, |
because no estimate Of wheat in farmers
hands March ! would provide more than
about last years exports and domestic
demand TO July !. The actual exports, !
-four included, from both coasts during
the past two weeks have been :, 759 939 /
bushels, against 7,367,S92 last year. But |
such exports imply a foreign demand |
which is not unlikely to exceed last years, !
and the corn exports are also a little larger |
than last year. The western receipts for |
the week have been 3,S35.000 bushels, /
against 2257,666 last year.
Failures for the week have been $50 in |
the United States, against 2o9 last year, I
and % in Canada. against p last ysar.
BRADSTREET'S
New York. March 17-Brads;reet's TO- (
will say: An activity which in .
some directions represents the continuance /
OF pre-exis;ng conditions and in others I
reflects q special impulse communicated I
by the near approach Of spring, forms the
leading note of this weeks trade advices.
In the iron and steel Industries activity
continues uuabated the upward tendency .
Of prices being s5rikinsIy maintained and
the eagerness Of consumers 70 take the
product remaining unchanged. The more
springllke weather has induced a greater
leeuness in the demand Tor seas1ua5Ie
goods and from most sections of the c1un-
" come reports Of a marked activity in
obb.ng lines having 10 do with dry goods.
millinery and footwear. Cotton fabrics
generally are in strong position. Wool
loes not display any animation. though
prices are mainta ned. The lumber trade
exhibits every indication Of activity. re-
10r-s from widely separated points irdi-
,atng a strong demand. more particularly
-or hard woods. which. IN some sections.
IRE reported % be scarce. high and ad-
-aHcing in price.
The cereals weakened during the week.
probably in sympathy with wheat. who
experienced d marked drop on Thursday.
L part as the result Of heavy liquidation
n Chicago and n part owing % reports
Il The break OF the dr0u;a in California /
md better news from other whes--c-0wing
sections Wheat GncludinE G0u-l ship
ne1ts for the week aggregate 4Il4ols
'ushels against 5.SsS.Szl bushels as, week.
.6s7.o56 bushels in the correspond week
Z lSo, las 454 bushels N ISL L5l.l-2
'uShels IN - and 2eS - bushels IN 1Ss5
since JAY tais season -le exports NJ
wheat aggregate l-7---s 81 bushels. agai2s,
=. Se0.570 bushels last year.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
2l1G5 5asHsls. against s.-e5ss bushels
lst week; 2sil74 bushels In ,h.s week q
ear age. 5s3s-5lS bushels in $50. So So
ushels II 1SaS and ~ - bushes In 1s.5 (