Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-25
IS UNPRECEDENTED.
| 1t IL NOw-Can Such Pros
perity Lasts

perity Last:
Weekly Review Of Trade will say to-mor-
row:
"The situation is without precedent.
Business has never been better, on the
whole, and in some great industries the
gain is astonishing. Exports surpassed last
years as much as imports though the
excess over imports then was heavy. Fail
ures are smaller than last year and small
er than in either of six years past. Stocks
are stronger, the average for the active
railway securities being a little higher and
for trusts much more, owing to the ex-
traordinary advance of $3.50 In tobacco
Payments through exchanges show a
greater volume Of business than ever be-
fore at this season, and nearly one-half
larger than in the best of previous years.
The outgo of breadstuffs and cotton con-
tinues heavy. But there are some who
fear that such prosperity cannot last.
Popular Impressions have to be reckoned
with. because they control events. Yet at
every point Of danger except one the signs
are in every respect favorable. The up
ward rush Of 1876 per cent in the price Of
pig iron since January / and us per
cent in the prices of iron and
question whether exports of such pro-
ducts may not be temporarily checked.
but If they could be entirely stopped, as
they are not. the balance due this country
would still be large. The crush of de-
mand for finished products, at time
when nearly all the works are crowded
by orders covering production until July
/ or later. cause many to refuse to contract
beyond tnat date, except at higher prices,
and a rise .ar such circumstances may
prove the ons thing needful to sober buy
ers and to bring into the list of producers
other establishments heretofore idle
While a fairly large capacity Of production
Is still in reserve, the demand now press
ing for cars. vessels. bridges. buildings and
pipes Is partly to anticipate an expected
rise in prices. The best sign is that the
great producers appear to be anxious to
maintain their hold on foreign markets. al
though just now unable to take orders for
future delivery.
Nobody can Judge what the clothiers
may buy as yet and the woolen manu-
facturerers have very uncertain mar
ket ahead. but judge that there will be q
heavy demand for goods before long and
many Of the smaller mills are looking for
chances in the wool market. Little weak
ness is there seen. except for fleece, and in
quarter and three-eishts blood and comb
sere as d sapp fhe wn o
is some hesitation regarding the price Of
Of ali qualities. stiffening the prices Of
staples as well as of fancy goods. gives
the highest confidence to dealers: :,
have been 2.5s7 7.ss4 bushels. against s.oS5. Al
lat nHaDH, sssr s lac; exports
The exports have been 50 heavy that many
doubt their continuance. and yet grain
as soR Il sea aes ana
weeks have been ss7s.lss bushels, against
cents Cents with iil Smaller demand ana % for export az
though its outward movement will be quite
beyond precendent but for last year; In
bushels. a sag against iosssi. IA A 'ee'' ''i'''
the United states. against sss last year. and
Bradstreet's OF tomorrow will say:
Iron and steel and cotton goods have
shared in public interest this week because
buoyancy in prices. In the former indus
try. the striking feature has been the con-
tinued call for supplies, alike Of raw and
mestic, but even on foreign account, and
it is as yet too early to ascertain the eff
feet of the numerous and heavy advances
membered that iron and steel are in active
demand at advancing prices the world
over ard it Is encouraging to find that ex-
port buyers of pig iron are following up
their demands, notwithstanding recent adj
yances in this line. 1t is beginning to be
questioned, however, whether this country
can hold its export trade in some products
if present price tendencies continue. A not
able example of this is furnished in steel
rails. which are now up to parity with
quotations in other countries, and some
business Is said to have gone abroad be-
cause of this. Iron and steel, as a whole.
are from 15Aa20 per cent higher than they
were at this time year ago, and, consid-
ering the cost Of production and output,
it is asserted that profits are but little be.
low those Of $780,"