The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-04
ADVANCES N WAGES
Added to the Lengtheping
List of Good Things
IN THE TRADE SITUATION
Lines SIoWest to Pick Up are
Now Moving Along.
IN THE TRADE SITUATION


morrow viii, say: An enlarged volume OF
spring trade, particularly in dry goods
due to spring weather; special strength IT
the demand price for cotton fabrics; an
immense and urgent call, az soaring prices
for iron and steel and all its products, and
substantial advances in wages, chiefly at-
fecting the above mentioned industries and
beneftting, at a conservative calculation
10000 operatives. are among the features
Of the week, going to show that the pro-
ducing elements Of the country's popula-
ton are sharing in the present favorable
conditions. From many cities east and
west come reports of an active demand
from jobbers for spring dry goods. From
the cotton manufacturing industry reports
of activity, inducing manufacturers to
grant advances 10 their operatives, while
the list of advances in prices of iron and
steel products is virtua. roll-call of that
industry's products. An encouraging fea-
ture is the small number of strikes for
higher wages reported, partly owing TO the
wage advance as result of scale agree
ment, only unimportant labor troubles be-
ing reported in the coal mining industry
in the southwest. Additional proof that
the export demand for our iron and steel
manufactures will be checked by recent
and pending price advances is not lack
ing In the lumber trade the producer
seems likely also to report a .ong-delayed
reward, as buyers become familiar with
the fact that available supplies are well
controlled while the outlook for building
trad eactivity is favorable. Gus export
trade in cereals is recovering from the
check administered by recent f-igid and
stormy weather, but reports o. damage
TO the winter wheat crop on the one hand,
and estimates Of superintendent supplies
of old crop in farmers hands, have about
balanced each other, with sight advan-
tage as regards prices, secured by the
bears. Prices, generally, aside from the
exceptions noted show few important
changes. Corn is slightly higher. while
oats are fractionally lower The move
ment Of cotton at the south has proved
smaller than anticipated and as the cur
rent consumption is heavy both at home
and abroad, quotations are slightly high
err Lead and copper continue the retro
grade movement noted last week and
coffee also is lower Talk of new combina-
tons in many lines of trade continues &C
tive, but signs are not wanting that pro-
motors find It harder to place shares Of
companies not widely known.
Business failures are down to the mini
mum. numbering III for the week, as
against 300 last week. 232 in this week a
year ago, 262 in 1897; go in 1896 and 252 in
1895.
Wheat Gncluding four shipments for the
week aggregate 5.Sl5,5 $50 bushels, against
3.S44, 259 bushels last week, S,262.Oo3 bushels
in the corresponding week of 1898; 2,O75.-
4S5 bushels in 1897: 2,407.569 bushels in 1896
and S.272527 bushels in 1895. Since July l
this season, the exports Of wheat aggre-
gate 16S. 712 9S4 bushels, against 164, 456, 753
bushels last year.
Corn exports 70 rthe week aggregate
;. 794. $50 bushels against Psi ,057 last week;
5.O54. 6e4 in this week a year ago; $3.50 7S5
bushels in 1897; 2,775.O49 in 1896 and 1885,
67S in 1895. Since July l. this season, corn
exports aggregate 1135o6,4O1 bushels,
against 11a $40, 739 bushels during the same
period a year ago.
BUSINESS failures III lile ltplillllSlA u
Canada this week number 81, as compared
with 80 last week. q in this week a year
ago: 81 in 1897: 66 in 1896 and SO in 1895.
RRADSTREETS FINANCIAL REVIEW.
New York, March 3.-Bradstreet's Finan-
cial Review tomorrow will say: 1rregu-
larity in prices at the beginning of the
present week was followed by an increas-
ing weakness and evidences Of speculative
liquidation, with a sharp upward erally in
FRIDAYS transactions. Exceptional
strength was shown by the stocks which
most easily reflect the current boom in
the iron and steel industries In spite of
this and evidences Of support in some other
parts of the list, the market acted as il
the recent advances and the speculative
buying which they had attracted had left
1t ripe for a reaction. The downward
movement began on Tuesday. Some If
regular recoveries on Wednesday were
mingled with further realizing and sell
ing out OF weak accounts. while on Thurs
day the latter process assumed still l2rg-
er PROPORTIONS and even carried with Il
the steel stocks which had thus far shown
strength in the face of the general de-
which had taken the lead az the be-in-
ming Of the recent upward movement o.
prices were. with some exceptions pas
sive and seemed willing to allow prices
to settle down, while the professional
traders. as was natural under the circum-
stances. generally showed an Inclination
10 work on the bear side. IN fact. some
OF the larger people were also suspected
Of having shifted their forces. with the
object Of making a turn on the short &C
count. The rise on Friday was IN a great
degree due TO the short interest. which
was alarmed by the appearance OF re-
newed support in some Of the manipulated
stocks and specialties. While al he op=n-
ing Of the week there was a further mod
crate amount Of buying by commission
houses. The latter days presented increased
selling in that quarter. IN most cases the
shipments are made Up OF iow-priced
sueciait.es and stocks Ike Ontario and
Western. in which the LoEdon market has
learned there are more or less important
developments pending. The slightly firm
er tone Of the money market and the faci
that many lenders object 70 industrials as
collateral while In practically all cases
asking high rates where such socks form
any considera5 Die part af the security n,
loans. were discussed fore cr less. though
it can not be said that they furnished
ground FOR the liquidating tendency. A
the same time such symptoms are net