Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-30
lUN'S REVIEW OF TRADE.


NEW YORK, September 29.-R. G.
Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade
will say tomorrow:
September is the twelfth consecutive
month in which the volume of business
both at New York and outside of New
York has been greater than in the same
month of any previous year. In these
twelve months payments through the
clearing houses have been $50, SOC, 000,-
900, against SCI, 200, 200, 600 in the
twelve months ending with September,
1892, an increase of $23, 400, 000, 600, over
46 per cent. When the tremendous
expansion began men called it replen-
ishment of long depleted stocks; then
for a time it was called a crazy out
burst of speculation, and when demand
still expanded, some permanent in
crease of business was recognized as a
result of increased population earning
better wages. But the demand still
grows, o ranging about 60 per cent
greater than in 1892, while population,
according to treasury estimates, is Is
per cent greater and wages are not yer
20 per cent greater. A reconstruction
of business and industries Of producing
and transporting forces is in progress
throughout the land with results which
none can now measure.
Iron consumption, instead of 760, 900
tons per month in 1892, is now e
1900, 900 tons per month, and yet is so
far behind the demand for products
that the capacity of most works is sold
far on into next year. With sales of
10000 tons at Pittsburg, Bessemer pig
rose to $3.50. Chicago coke and south
ern pig again rose 81, and new furnaces
are sold many months ahead before
they begin work. Bars are hard to get
any price, the whole output of the Re-
public Company being sold to January,
and 2.25 is quoted for common at
Pittsburg, while at Chicago the great
demand for car building falls on works
overcrowded. Contracts for 5000 tons
plates have been placed at Pittsburg,
and at all points the price is rising
with astonishing demand. Sheets are
also higher with the demand intensified
by renewed efforts for consolidation.
Shipments of boots and shoes from
Boston in nine months have been s.
50O,676 cases, against 2,S33,6S2 in 1892,
and in four weeks 390,622 cases against
36O,699 last year, 376,771 in '97, and
less in any other year. Here the in
crease is more nearly proportional to
population and wages, but works are
all a month or more behind their or
ders for the season. Spring orders are
fair but restricted still by unwilling
ness of makers to contract largely at
prices now obtainable, which average
about five cents advance where makers
deem ~ necessary. The wool market
is active with a general advance aver
aging about 415c on washed fleece
combing and some unwashed; the en-
tire list quoted by Coates Bros. prob.
ably averaging about Ac higher.
Heavy weight woolens are well cleaned
UP and of spring worsteds many lines
are withdrawn, the clays being nom
inally advanced to s1.45, with some
fancy worsteds 5 per cent. higher.
Stronger demand for cotton staples
causes an advance of &c in brown
sneetings and drills and 1ae in some
bleached goods. A broader selling ar
rangement at Fall River seems likely
to prevent the proposed consolidation.
Cotton opened the crop year at SIS