The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-14
THE CONDITION OF TRADE
Prices Strong of Nearly All the
Staples.
THE STRENGTH OF WHEAT
A Good Foreign Demand Tor Corn-Heavy
Shipments Of Cotton-Pig Iron
Production the Heaviest
Ever Known.

New York, Jan. 13.-Bradstreets to-
morrow will say; Perhaps the most
notable feature of the trade situation
| at present is the strength of prices Of
nearly all staples, but particularly of
! cereals, cotton, iron and steel, which
| have apparently gained further ground
| since the first of the year. Explanation
| of the strength of wheat is, Of course,
| found in the good cash demand, which
| seems to meet any slight reaction in
values and which has placed the price
| as high as at any previous time for
| three months past. This cereal and
| corn are both in exceptionally good de-
mand abroad, judging from the large
| export reported, and foreign demand is
likewise the secret of strength in cot
ton shipments of which continue heavy.
The feature of dealings in this staple is
the steady demand for good grades and
the Indifference manifested toward low
grades, which, owing to bad weather
at the South, has been larger than the
usual supply. Cotton manufacturers,
indeed, have been complaining for some
time of the low spinning quality and
waste of the present crop.
While large sales of iron and steel
are not so numerous as in recent weeks
further advances in prices, notably of
pig iron, steel billets, plates and rods,
bear testimony to the eagerness of buy
ers to secure supplies and the almost
corresponding Indifference of the trade
toward new business, the order books
of most of the mills being reported we'll
filled. Pig iron production is the heav-
lest ever known, but stocks show fur
Their depletion. The successful floating
of number of large consultations in
this industry of late has stimulated in
terest and discussion in further consid-
erations. The formation of syndicates,
however, is not confined to iron and
steel, because within the week there are
reports of projected great syndicate
having for it's object the securing of
control of the entire Cuban tobacco sup
ply this year. Among other rumors of
consolidation is the story from the Pa
cific coast of a proposed consolidation
OF salmon canneries.
Tin plate shows the effect of the con-
solidation in this line in an advance
from the lowest figure reached some
months ago. The strength of cotton
goods is still a feature of the dry goods
market, but the hoped-for advance in
raw wool has not yet materialzed and
the trade in manufactured woolens is
still slow. The feeling of confidence in
the lumber trade is undated, and an
active demand is looked for in the
spring, the strength of hardwood being
a feature. Prices for boots and shoes
are held steady, and the outlook is re-
garded as favorable. Leather, too, is
firm and hides are in sympathy. In
other industries activity is feature, a
notable instance being the heavy vessel
tonnage now being built both at the
lakes and on the coast, aggregating, for
mercantile and national purposes, to-
tai claimed 20 be far in excess of any
previous period in the country's history.
Wheat, including flour shipments for
the week, aggregate 5,647,711 bushels
against 6,680,263 bushels last week,
5,299,517 bushels in the corresponding
week of 1898; S,499,154 bushels in 1897;
3,2021 24 bushels in 1896, and 1864, 459
bushels in 1895. Since July /, this sea
son, the exports of wheat aggregate
34,O36,03S bushels against 1877, ZAP, sol
bushels last year.
Business failures for the week show
quite an increase over the preceding
week, numbering 1893 against 237 last
week, but compared with 1923 in this
week a year ago: APT in 1897, 412 in 1886
and 37S in 1885. Canadian failures for
the week number "a as-inst rs last week,
SIS in this week a year ago, 50 in 1897,
"A in 1896 and 60 in 1895.