Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-07-29
BUSINESS IS HEAVY. DESPITE MID
SUMMER DULLNEss.
ENORMOUS, GRAIN MOVEMENT
CORN EXPORTS NEARLY DOUBLE
WHAT THEY WE'RE IN 1895.
Prices In General Maintain Their Old
Firmness, With Some Increases
j.. activity in Iron Trade
= Continues - Failures
Z. - Are Light.

NEW YORK. July 2S.--R. G. Dun & Co.,
sn their Weekly Review of Trade, will say:
There is certainly room for some de-
crease when the volume of payments
through the clearing house is 47.2 per cen;
larger than last year, and 59.6 per cent
larger than IN 1882, the best of all previous
years. So great an advance would warrant
expectation of some setback under ordi-
nary circumstances. This year. the un-
usual freedom from labor troubles about
July is followed by some signs of ten
dency to strike because great works are
committed far ahead and cannot halt with
out loss. But interruption of business by
labor troubles of all sorts has been less
than in any July for years.
Nor is the movement of products ham,
pered. Western receipts in July have been
Is.SsS,s26 bushels, against 1909 1888 bushels
last year to date, and of corn, 20,iS525l
bushels. against 9173,S55 bushels last year,
even the latest week showing large gains
over last year. Exports of wheat from
both coasts were e.939.2SO bushels, flour in
cluded, against S,SS3, 1872 bushels last year.
Corn exports ALA continue surprising, L.
Gs4,5g bushels for the month thus far,
against 6,767.963 bushels last year.
I'm spite of large foreign buying, cotton
declined to 6.12 cents. Official returns make
The iron output for the first half of 1889
only 6.2s9.167 tons, with decline in known
stocks outside the great steel companies
OF 2Ss,140 tons, and net exports were prob
ably over 10000 tons. While the increase
OF steel companies stocks would probably
make actual consumption less than has
been estimated. it is much larger than
a. Iac- t,.a,, ta
production in June. while the production
has much Increased this month. Mean
while, no advance in prices is significant
and a slackenins of demand in some i'm
portant branches. The heavy rise in prices
naturally cuts off much buying for an ad-
vance and retards buying for consumption.
All records are broken in the Gonnellsville
output of 1so,7o0 tons of coke for the week,
with 1854 ovens yielding and only 634 idle.
Copper is strong at 1SIa cents for lake, with
spot scarce. and lead weak at S.55, but
tin is quoted at SS155. London leading, as
usual. III
Manufacturers have been buying much
wool, it is stated. but less the past week,
although many are taking sample bales.
Goods are in fair demand, but no further
change in prices is mentioned. Sales In
four weeks have been 46. 49, 600 pounds, Of
1897, with new tariff coming. speculation
took 4s.lc9. 200 pounds. normal consumption
being about half that quantity.
Cotton goods are stronger for bleached
and the general tone Is good in spite of
cheap cotton. Shipments of boots and
shoes from the East IN four. weeks have
been 1884, .379 cases, against $50 539 cases last
year, and in 1885. the nearest previous year.
35l, ,359 cases. Leather continues strong and
scarce with combination of packers lift
ing Prices of hides at Chicago, so that
many of the tanners are quitting; that mar
ket.
Railroad business for July shows the
largest increase in any month this year,
16.l per cent larger than last year, and 10.4
per cent larger than in 1892.
Failures for the week have been Isl in
the United States, against 225 last year, and
twenty in Canada, against twenty-six last
year"
Bradstreet's tomorrow will say:
Weather conditions exercise their nat
ural effect upon the volume of current busi-
ness which is, however, larger than a
year ago, and restricts speculation, there
fore limiting the volume of bank elearings
without, however, exercising any particular
influence on prices, which display nearly all
their old firmness and, in fact, show still
statistics of pig iron production for the
first half of 1898 point to the largest pro-
duction on record, having been insufficient
TO offset current demand, and stocks at the
close of the half year are far below what
they were at the opening, or at this time
one year ago. Special activity in the iron
and steel industry is reported at Chicago.
where heavy advances have been made in
finished products, and numerous shipments
are reported. not only to Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania, but as far East as Boston.
Every blast furnace in the Birmingham
district is expected to be in operation by
the advent of autumn, but the production
for the latter part of the year 1899, which
promises to be enormous, has all been
booked. The glass. trade is reported par
ttcularly active and conditions in that in
dustry are said TO be the best for years
THE cereal markets note little change
in price, but trade opinion seems to favor
steady demand and few fluctuations, In
by foreigners. Liberal rains at the South,
particularly In the Atlantic coast states,
have improved cotton prospects and a
slight shading in price is TO be noted for
Among the metals, tin has displayed
exceptional strength, largely in sympathy
with heavy advances abroad, claimed to
have a legitimate basis in heavily in
creased consumption without correspond
ing output Of the raw material. Smaller ar
rivals and heavily reduced stocks of raw
sugar, added to large sales OF refined, have
resulted in an advance in the former prod
uct. Lumber is strong in price and some
building operations are reported interfer-
cd with. Northwestern shipments of white
pine are reported very heavy for this sea-
son. Tobacco is firm and cigar leaf scarce,
pointing to good prices being realized by
holders. Among the textiles, cotton goods
retain all their old strength. Fau demand
for dry goods is increasing. but complaints
of slow delivery are more frequent. Manu-
facturers of woolen goods are purchasing
more freely fine domestic grades and prices
tend upward, although there is less specu-
lative buying reported at leading markets.
Business failures for the week number
110, against ia last week, 1S9 In this week
a year ago. $50 in 1897. zsi in 1896, and 22l
in 1895. Canadian failures for the week
number 1S against 10 last week, "a in this
week a year ago, % in 1897. 81 in 1896 and "a
IN 1885,"
International Order of Twelve.