New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-20

n,ines 70 furnaces and then heavy movement
from furnaces OF finished products TO points OF
oxnor, Much attention Is called TO the small
decrease in the output of furnaces during Janu'
arv but the temporary stoppage of few for
repairs or new machinery is at this season not
important when other concerns are about to JOIN
the producing force: and meanwhile the evil
dcnce OF actual consumption. exceeding by ABOUT
forty thousand tons in January the greatest out
put vet reported. creates not little appreheh-
sion Of scarcity In some grades The demanu
last week included some heavy contracts for raiis
deliverable I'm the second half OF the year, ana
also for 900 tons Of plate at Chicago. NANNY
for car and railway works. The rise In prices OF
pig iron has continued. though not exceeding
about per cent since January l. and the APP
parent consumption was over 11OOooo tons IN
January and about 1.mJS.O00 in December.
The great activity which continues In COTTON
goods. with frequent advances in quotations. Is
evidently due in considerable measure to the
peculiar shrinkage in the receipts of raw ma
tcral from the plantations. \ short time ago
the receipts Stree September had Sc far ex-
ceeded those Of the last or any other year that
none expected the gain would be lost and yet
on Friday night the quantity which had come
into sight since the crop year began was only
u
date last year having been only 2ISGi1 bales
during the month OF February. against 6O3WD
last year The takings Of Northern spinners
were also smaller in the earlier weeks OF Feb
ruary. declining ~ 600 bales for this month. II
Is noted that the exports still continue larger
than last year. amounting TO about 6s.OO bales
In February thus far. although Mr.. Ellison's re-
port shows that British and Continental mill
stocks had again increased. and were SS9OO
bales on February l. against $4,000 a year
aco How far receipts Of cotton from planta-
lions have been kept back for a short time By
tho storms Is yet a matter OF conjecture. But
there Is no abatement in the demand for goods.
which warrants a somewhat more confident
feeling in goods and material markets
The wool market has been quite unequal,
with good sales AMI prices fairly maintained
for quarter and half blood and selections used
IN worsted manufacture and in cheviots. while
the demand for feeces is not active ana the
scattering quotations given appear to Indicate
some weakness The fact that the supplies OF
wool still held by manufacturers are very large
In some grades is becoming better appreciated
and with il goes much uncertainty In the de-
mand for some large classes OF goods, so that
while some favOrites have advanced other I'M
pcrtant qualities are weaker The wintry
weather has done much 10 help both clothlers
and manufacturers and In spite OF hesitation.
there IS on the whole a better feeling and out
look. In boots and shoes trading Is also de-
cidedly more active. although shipments are
not We, as large in February as In four OF the
last seven years. and the stronger tone In
leather and hides still binders transactions
somewhat.
The official returns published last week
showed that the exports OF wheat and flour 10
the end Of January were over 149OOoooO bush
els in seven months. against 1@tOOOOOO In the
previous year and returns for three weeks OF
February have been from both coasts. -four in
Guided about 15.S2O.6S0 bushels. against TO-
SST2S3 last year With allowance for little
lapping over. the accounts still Justify hopeful
expectations for the rest OF the crop year. The
Western receipts continue to surpass those Of
corresponding weeks last year I'm spite Of all the
customary accounts OF injury to grain and rap
idly diminishing supplies. and the price has
again risen "a, cents in answer to demand for
export The outgo Of corn has not been so well
sustained this month as In January. but includ-
ing meal, exports have been 4S01,32j bushels In
two weeks.
The arrival Of $500 6jS gold from Europe. with
tho announcement that another consignment OF
100000 has started from Sydney for San
Francisco. contrasts un Usually with the COM
narrative strength Of foreign exchange. Delay OF
steamers and tker advices has been one cause.
and 1t is still supposed that considerable settle
ments have 10 he made on stocks returned from
abroad But rarely. II ever. has there been SO
little apprehension about the monetary future.
and unless far greater changes occur In mer-
chandise exports than have yet been indicated
nothing seems likely TO cause disturbance for
months TO come. The storms have cut of part
Of the Government revenue FOR some days,
though presumably the receipts have been only
deferred until the course OF normal business has
been fully restored.