The age-herald., 1899-09-23

several weeks past the markets continue in healthy and stable condition.
 Prices, as rule, maintain all their former strength, decreases being few and relatively small. In some lines, notably the cereals, cotton, petroleum, iron and steel, the tendency of the range is toward higher level. Cotton has been notably strong and active. Short crop estimates are becoming current and bearish esti- mates of maximum yields have been prac- tically discarded, more especially as it is claimed that agents of English spinners are heavy buyers at the south, and domes- tic manufacturing conditions are known to be in high degree favorable. Steady de- mand for export, and confidence in all of the years crop being needed, have proved stimulating, in the fact of heavy receipts and admittedly large present supplies.
 Possibility of war in the Transvaal has been additionally strengthening to certain features. Iron and steel are higher on a moderate volume of new business, and the steady placing of orders indicates con fidence in present values well on into the middle of next year. Pig iron, however, Is nearer parity with consumption, the ul- innate effect of enhanced quotations upon demand is not yet settled, and imports from abroad, while not likely to be of heavy volume immediately, are feature
 
 year.
 The scarcity of beef cattle is reflected in still higher prices and strength is shown in domestic hides which feel the inn petus of 9 steady demand from manufac- tories. No signs of abatement in the sugar war are 10 be seen, price cutting is active, and prices are demoralized. Old groceries, however, are firm, as are most others with the exception of cheese and tin, which note some change in the prices in the recent ad- vance.
 Most lines Of manufactures return strict ly good reports, notably cotton and wooden goods. Complaints of backward deliveries of cotton goods are common, while in wooden goods number of mills report their order books filled for spring delivery and nave withdrawn from the market. Wool is higher at London and sympathetic reports come from ether centers in this depart ment.
 The coal trade reflects weather and trade conditions in still further improved demand and predictions are of further advances later in the season. The demand in lumber, thou~h interfered with by strikes at a numper of markets is reported very strong and scarcity of cars and of boats is re- ported quite generally in the west This scarcity of transportation. however, is not limited to the lumber trade, similar reports coming from tne coal and iron industries
 Wheat including flour. shipments for the Wtek aggregate 4boO, ibo DuShelS aSalnSt 4- 526.5 .552 bushels last week, 224 ,927 bushels in the corresponding week of 1898, 5,70SS S25 bushels in 1897, .l66 bushels in 1896 and 3.1I,907 bushels in 1895
 Since July this season the exports of wheat aggregate 46,643, ,56O bushels against 4 94,01S bushels last year and 50,30, ,525 bushels in 1S97-9S.
 Corn exports for the week aggregate B. 19i,965 bushels against 3,2S2. 751 bushels last week, 2,695, POP in this week year ago, 4,- 022142 bushels in 1897, 2,6lO479 bushels in 1896 and .360327 bushels in 1895.
 Since July this season corn exports aggre- gate 53,15552S bushels against 333, ,565 162 bushels during the same period year ago, and 37,399, ,991 bushels in 1S97-eS.
 Business failures for the week number 141 as compared with 149 last week, 1S2 in this week a year ago. 237 in 1897. 3H in 1896 and 19S in 1S95 Failures for t'ne week in the Dominion of Canada number 13 as against A last week, 34 in 1897 and S5 in 1896