The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-09
DUN AND BRADSTREET'S
Business Reports Are Of Increase 10 All
Lines.
ACTUAL DEMANDS FOR CONSUMPTION
Prices in Iron and steel Have Mn.
terialiy Increascd-An Factories
Sold Far Ahead.

New York. December s.--R. G. Dun g. Co &
weekly review Of trade, which issues to.
morrow, will say:
The approach OF new year usually brings
go much OF hesitation in business that the
small shriukage this year is surprising. Prob.
ably never before have the productive forces
OF the country been so largely covered by
contracts as at this date. nsuring employ
nient and profit far into the coming year.
This results not from any mere speculative
excitement, but from actual demands for
consumption running far beyond the pro
ducng capacity heretofore and pushing Il to
remarkable expansion. The increase In Tor
eign trade has been Insignificant compared
With increase OF 4ooc. ooo,oco In payments
through clearing houses. For the week the
payments have been eo.S per cent larger than
last year and 3Si per cent larger than in
1899
Prices OF pig iron are strongly maintained,
though extraordinary efforts promise increase
OF over quarter in producing capacity within
q. year, because the entire output Of mos.
OF the furnaces follows and part of the last
half OF next year has been sold already
Sheet bars are shade lower. owing TO the
closing Of many tin plate works. Demand
for cars and other railroad equipment are
enormous and also for shipping, both lake
and ocean, Tin is weak at 2iise and copper
declined to l6Ac. but lead and spelter are
strong
Hides are again stronser at Chicago al
though receipts OF cattle at the four chief
Western markets in eleven months have been
per cent larger than In the previous wear
as the demand tor consumption in manu-
taeture has evidently increased much more,
Thus Western production OF boots and shoes
has gained more than Eastern. vet sh p
rents from Boston for the year have been
Si2,eOO cases. or SO per cent more than last
year. and $4,000 cases, or 27.S per cent more
than in 1892, wher cattle receipts were s
per cent larger than this year.
WOOL has advanced further With much spec
ulatve buying, though most manufacturers
have supplied wants for the present and
are least disposed 10 purchase at prices now
averaging higher than at any time since June
10, 1881 Higher prices demanded IN tho
interior and rising prices abroad give conf
dence in spite OF the fact that goods have
advanced from the lowest point this wear
only 1s per cent
Cotton is weakened by accounts of large
quantities held back and has declined 80,
but reports are sufficiently conflicting to
make speculation active. notwithstanding tho
exports FOR three months of the crop year.
Iakines of spinners have been large, tho
demand for cotton goods is heavy and covers
production far ahead in many lines viii &
rear OF important strikes have bsen dlspolled
by the general advance OF wages Wheat has
risen Sc and corn a fraction OF the decline
on light Western receipts OF both Atlantic
exports for the week. flour Included, were
only S,3S9,677. against $500, 1857 last year, and
Pacific exports ss6l72, against 55e,52S last
year.
Failures for tho week has heen POI in the
United States, against 24s last year. and ss
IN Canada. against % last year,