The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-11
WAGES On IaE RISE
And This Is the Feature of the
Week in Trade.
NOTABLE AS A SYMPTOM
Besides, an Enormous Trade
Factor in ITSELF

New York. March 1o-R G. Dun < cos |
Weekly Review of Trade wiz say tomor-
row; BY far the best assurance Of good
business in the future is found in the
general raise in wages. The advance IN
earnings of cotton mill operatives, in most
cases 10 per cent; Of iron and steel work
ers, generally 10 per cent and tin plate
and sheet workers, from TO 10 per cent,
and coal miners in some large districts,
about as much, has set a pace which most
establishments Will follow which have re-
duced wages in the past years Of depres-
sion. Those who fail 20 comprehend what
such move may mean have 10 consider
that tenth increase in the wages OF al
labor would put into tine markets new
buying demand in amount about three
quarters of the entire value of exports 70
all countries. The volume Of business
shows no signs of decrease and for the
first full week of March has been about
ST. per cent greater than in the same
week of last year and 60 per cent greater
than in 1892 Most people would not ex-
poet the production of pig iron TO be af-
burg district alone the furnaces running
are said to have produced 1900 tons per
week less than their January output, so
| that the decrease in weekly production Of
all furnaces, Us, f91 tons March l. against
237. 639 February 2 does not mean any
thing mora than bad weather. The
shrinkage Of supplies of iron in February,
! just when increased supplies were eX-
pected and needed contributed much to
! the extraordinary advance in prices, 81. 70
| in anthracite No. /, February; $3.50 in
| Bessemer pig at Pittsburg and S2.75 in
| grey forge The unsold stocks were a,So
reduced in February 46.431 tons so that
the the apparent consumption was 977, 919
| tons in the short month. Nearly all the
work done, of course, is at the compara-
! lively low prices made in the great con-
! tracts three TO four months ago. but the
few works which are still able to con-
tract for early delivery are charging about
what they please, and these quotations
appear in the published statements; in
many cases 81 to s. per ton premium is
paid for delivery within sixty days. Plates
are in special demand and higher; in
rails, bars and structural forms the de-
mand and prices are not yet much
changed. Tin is firm at 1885 cents. with
consumption of $500 monthly, and copper
is scarce for spot at 1875 cents. with lead
| weaker at s4.59 The trust refuses quota
! tons for tin plates. The demand for
coke exceeds the transporting capacity
for the Connellsville region, but the output
has ben los, 679 tons for the week. furnace
being quoted at SL60 and foundry at s.
per ton.
The wooden manufacture has been ham
pered by doubts about the price of wool.
| Now a big combination of worsted pro-
ducers has been formed, with several 9TH
er combinations proposed in goods of other
kinds. but these do not encourage buying
and the season continues Disappointing
In wool markets sales are barely equal
TO the ordinary consumption of the mills
dependent on them. but prices are rather
weak. Cotton goods have been advanced
about per cent during the month and
are still rising, although the advance il
raw cotton has stopped. From unreasOn-
ing belief in the highest crop ever known
the markets have passed to unreasonins
belief in a smaller yield than usual. ant
men are reckoning that the supply is abOu
exhausted. But there is pr y bly, enough
cotton yet available to prevent any
famines
Exports of wheat do not vet fan below
last years as many have for som.
months expected. and the Atlantic ex
ports. -four included. have been for tn
week $500 .O92 bushels. against 2.s99.7s9 las
year and Pacific exports G03.107 bushels
against 1.2S0.6OS last year. with other ex
ports of 407. $50 bushels. Western receipt
were 4.407651 bushels, against >, 7529lS 70
the same week last year, and the Outpu
from the country goes far 10 check appre
hension as TO deficiency of the crop. TIL
price is about cents lower for spot. an,
corn is about l cent lower, with western
receipts 1859 i4 bushels against 5.4S7, 20
last year. while exports have been for III
same week 1851. SS7 bushels, against 1885,,
sol last year.
Failures for the week have been 1S2 i
the United States, against 24s last yeaI
, and 81 in Canada. against IS last year.
BRADsTREETS
New York March 10.-BradsTeet's o
tomorrow will say: Industrial and trad
activity IS still a prominent feature Of IN
TOO. is notable, especially in view Of III
midwinter rise Of February. except in IN
case Of the leading cereals and WOOL:
In manufacturing lines the situation is on
of great activity. Additional advances
waaes announced this week seem likely g
. swell the number Of workers whose wage
; are reported advanced. 70 c-ose 10 100.
The iron and steel trade IS stu excited b
a feversh demand, Inadequate supple
and further advanced quotations. Saul
downs for repairs and other reasons nav
- reduced the pig iron output materially al
current production = said 10 be conslc
erably below that Of January / The nun
, her u old furnaces being furnished up an
put in operation Is steadily increasing
but the effec; Is yet in production is "a
very marked.
;, An easier tendency in wool Is one II m
. diaaopointing features OF the week. q
outgrowth particularly Of unsatiSfactor
: demand for mems wear goods but as
a reflection OF reports Of projected comb
:. nations in the finished goods trade. u
demand for cotton goods = very active ar
4 not advanced u the same extent as q
i crude stocks. Cotton remains steady az
the reduced movement al the south
: making the minimum estimates ta- m9'
: fashionable.
=. Lumber i active al mo-, markets ar
pr.ces are firm because 81 wei clean.
!; MAKE PERFECT HEE
DO %0T DESPAIR. T. uof $