The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-15
A FEW COMPARISONS
COMBINE OF SOUTHERN COTTON
MAKERS PROPOSED.
WOODEN MILLS BUYING MORE LARGELY
Wheat Has Advanced, But Were the Worst
Stories Of Injuries II Has Received Trae,
Spring Wheat Seeding Would
Wipe Out DEFICIENCIES.


New York, April 14.--R. G. Dun's Il
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade will say
tomorrow:
There is still increase in all legit
mate business, and the productive power
of great industries increases, even
though some of their stocks decline.
The sharp reaction in speculation week
ago in no way affected the producing
capacity of furnaces or mills. and has
been in part recovered. while the dis
turbance of business caused by the for
nation of great combinations has in
large measure ceased. The money
market is in safer and more wholesome
condition, and i'll spite of four heavy
payments by large syndicates, amount
ing to about S50000.000, has grown
easier. The only stringency has been
in call loans.
1T is not owing to speculation alone
that payments through the chief clear
ing houses have been 80 per cen, larger
than in the same week of 1892, and
1893 per cent. larger than last year.
New York transactions far exceed
those of any previous week, 81 ,46S. 502,-
700 in amount. but outside New York
the clearings were 41.5 per cent. larger
than in 1898, and 44.6 per cent. larger
than in 1892. The truth is that no such
expansion in the general business of
the country has ever been seen before.
and if such records only were considered
there would be no ground for fear that
a wild passion of trading had again lift
ed the whole business community off its
feet But instead there is found sur
prising increase in the chief industries.
Naming first some of which only re-
turns of raw materials imported give
definite indications. raw silks imports in
creased 81 per cent for SSmonths of
the fiscal year over last; hides, 40 per
cent: India rubber. 26 per cent; tin, u
per cent, and fibres, 10 per cent
.'The output of pig iron April LIST was
245, 746 tons weekly, against DDS, 195
tons March 1st, with 115.11S tons de-
crease in stocks unsold and $1,000 in
warrant stocks, indicating a consump-
tion i'm Manufacture of 1,056,043 tons
in March. The haste Of forty other
furnaces to get into operation, with their
possible output of 10000 tons more
weekly, has helped to keep prices of
pig quite steady. although strong. but
the demand for finished products is far
from satisfied
pilates have sold at $40 for shear
ed at Pittsburg. but the leading mills
there and mills elsewhere are crowded
for months, and many will not quote at
all. Large contracts were closed in
structural works, one for 5000 tons.
just before the advance in prices, but
Chicago orders this week cover 5000
tons building work and everywhere
there is much business in sight.
bar and sheet mills are hindered by
prospects Of consolidation. but though
few orders for bars are taken just now
ut the west. the Philadelphia market
is more steady
'.'Ihe Connellsville Coke product, 10.
1913 tons for the week, surpasses all
records, and prices are steady as before
quoted.
Lake copper is strong at 1Slac. and
scarce, and tim went up swiftly with
London declining to only 2515c.
''In spite of some strikes because
wages were not raised as much as had
il very good demand, and most of the
mills are working satisfactorily. A
Southern combination Of fine goods
makers is proposed, like that of Fall
River mills which has kept prices qaite
steady of late. Wooden mills have begun
TO buy wool more largely. though n
prices much of their own making. but
there is improving demand for goods
with light weight purchases continuing
surprisingly for the season. Sales of
wool at the three markets have been
16.192,0000 pounds in two weeks
against 1886, 900 last year.
Wheat advanced about half a cent
accounts of injury discoverai since
April LIST, supplementing the govern
ment report Were the worst Of thI
stories true. there is yet spring wheat
seeding TO make mp for deficiencies
though the season is getting, rather
late Exports have been reduced AT
lantic -four included, amounting K
3,960.3S0 bushels, for two weeks
against 5.2S5. 1913 bushels last year, and
Pacific to 564.362 bushels. against 2,
093.942 bushels last year, with Other
exports SO6,577 bushels.
Corn is a shade stronger, and in two
weeks exports have been 6,1S469;
bushels, against S,146,6S1 bushels las
year.
Failures for the week have been iSs
in the United States. against "a las
year, and % in Canada, against IS lasl
year."
Our consuls who were obliged to leave
their posts in Spain on the breaking out
80 al ,yor haya haan ,liraafa1 ~ pattIr