The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-21
THE CONDITION OF TRADE
A Continued Strength in Staple
Values.
SOME ADVANCES IN IRON
Confidence in the Outlook for the Com
ing Year-Encouraging Reports
Received-Higher Prices
for Cotton

morrow will say: The continued
strength of staple values, accentuated
by further advances this week in iron
and steel and other metals, in cotton at
the South and lumber at some Western
points, has undoubtedly added to the
confidence with which the outlook for
the ensuing year is regarded. That
this confidence has foundation in fact
will be gathered from the reports re-
ceived from the iron and cotton goods
trades, the firmness in cotton goods
being of considerable interest, in view
of the depression ruling throughout the
latter part of last year. Good reports
from abroad, reduced movement from
the South and a tendency to pare down
estimates are reflected in the slight gain
in raw cotton values this week. The
advance shown, however, hardly reflects
the urgency noted in the demand for
the better grades Of cotton, which this
year are scarcer than usual, owing
to bad weather during the picking sea-
son.
The iron trade situation remains, as
for some time past, a feature of abb
sorbing interest. Large as the produce
ton of pig iron is, eager buyers are
found apparently for every ton offered
The most furnaces are reported booked
ahead on orders and small advances are
frankly stated to be due to the desire
of the makers to discourage orders in
capable Of fulfillment within any rea-
sonable period. A strong side light
upon the strength of iron and steel the
world over is offered by the statement
that iron in Glasgow this week reached
the highest prices noted for 10 years
past. Features of the domestic market
have been gains in price of Bessemer
and Southern pig, steel billets, wire rods
and steel rails, and, in addition, cop
per, Lead and tin are all higher.
Little change is reported in the mar
ket for cereals and the market for cash
wheat still reflects the commanding po-
s1tlon held by the United States as the
supplies Of the worlds wheat, notwith-
standing the predictions of near APP
preaching competition from Argentina
and from Russia, shipments from
which, particularly the latter, do not
at all accord with the liberal estimates
OF production published some little time
ago. The lumber trade at most mar
kets Is In satisfactory condition The
strength of prices is unimpaired and
advances in white pine are reported
from the West, while in hardwoods
values and confidence are alike un-
tribution trade are quite favorable
Raw wool is dull, but steady. At the
London sale prices have opened higher
and the prediction is made that present
American stocks of wool will have to be
replaced at considerable higher range
OF values. The outlook in the boot and
shoe trade is regarded as good and a fair
business is doing at steady prices in
hides and leather
Wheat, including flour, shipments for
the week aggregate 5,19s,671 bushels
against 5,647071 bushels last week
3,726,O64 bushels in the corresponding
week of 1898, 2,916,706 bushels in 1897
2,S49,271 bushels in 1896 and 2.s4O, $50
bushels in 1895. Since July 1, this sea-
son, the exports of wheat aggregated
l39, 234, 719 bushels against al, 468, s65
bushels last year.
Business failures in the United States
show quite decrease from last week
numbering 1852 against 3O4 a week ago
SoS IN this week year ago, 429 in 1897
al in 1896 and 312 in 1895.
Business failures in the Dominion of
canada number 80 against "a last week.
as IN this week year ago, 81 in 1897 81
In 1895 and SS in 1895.