The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-03-29
REVIEW OF TRADE.


No Cessation in the Demand for Iron combna.
ttons Have Not Affected Business
r. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of
trade reports as follows for last week:
Business is not frightened, either by
the great capitalization of new COM
panies or by the wild fluctuations in
wall street. No matter how much the
stock operations In New York may
count, business elsewhere IL large
enough to warrant n wonderful ex-
pansion of industries, and that is the
thing most important to observe. In
no considerable branch has production
diminished, but in practically all It
has been increasing during the past
week.
In iron and steel little lower price
Tor Bessemer pig appears at Pittsburg
but with gray forge 75 cents higher
there, and southern iron at Chicago
30 cents to 81 higher. There is no mar
ket for billets, as no works east or
west can furnish them at present. but
quotations range in price from $25 at
Pittsburg to S27 at Philadelphia. In
finished products there Is the same
trouble. Rails can be bought at s23 at
Pittsburg and $24 at Chicago, II s26 at
New York. Chicago is taking many
contracts for building in Boston, New
York and Washington, amounting to
1000 tons, but makers elsewhere are
overcrowded with work. No market
can deliver plates within any reason
able time and Pittsburg works are
sold to July on sheets, though instead
Of 80 40 there, so 65 at Chicago and 50 at
Philadelphia is paid. Plate mills are
all full and there is heavy demand at
Chicago for bars with one car makers
contract for 5000 tons, prices steadily
growing stronger.
The minor metals are all weaker,
with the reaction of London specula-
tion, though copper has declined to II
cents and Is yet so much above Lon
don that exports have been stopped
for the week. The February output,
both here and in other countries was
greater than last year's monthly aver
age, although Febrrrry is a short
month.
Wool is at the doubling point with
large sales ordered from the interior
by tired holders and some concessions
made to secure transactions at Phila-
delphia and Boston, though quotations
show only moderate decline and sales
at the three chief markets are almost
as large as in 1892.
Manufacturers make many inquiries,
but the prospect of combinations Is po-
tent to hinder transactions. The goods
are In rather better demand than
year ago. but no large class of mills
can claim to be fully employed.
The wheat market is just now some
what stronger. for although western
receipts for the week are $3.50 900
bushels, against 2.557, ,666 bushels last
year. and for three weeks 1900 900
bushels larger. the exports. flour in
cluded. have been for the week from
Atlantic ports 2,92O,467 bushels. against
l,S24,569 bushels last year. and from
Pacific ports 824,1s3 bushels. against
l.371.S26 bushels last year, other ex-
ports being 350920 bushels 1t is mot
possible to ignore the Importance of
so great demand. extending beyond
the middle of March. and sober traders
realize that II means a heavier outgo
than has yet been expected. Western
crop estimates are large and such re-
ports as appear OF the condition Of
wheat for the coming year are on the
whole favorable, but prices are S%
cents higher than last week, while
corn is 2h cents higher.
The market for cotton has been de-
cidedly weak. owing to somewhat bet
ter receipts at the South and also to
conviction that stocks on hand are
large enough to meet all demands.
Failures for the week have been eco
In the United States. against 25l last
year. and ~ in Canada, against q last
year.