Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-11
DIlN'S REVIEW OF TRADE.

NEW YORK, February 1G.-R. G. Dun s.
Co.'S weekly review of trade will say to-
morrow:
| The solid basis for good business has not
been shaken by speculative reaction
Stocks have been slightly lower and the
| market is all the safer because much I'M
soundness and unreason have been shaken
out. Speculation in wheat which for a
time depressed prices, has also taken a
turn and with heavy exports, the market
tends upward again. The cotton move
meEt is not essentially speculative, but
based on reported injuries and holds its
advance. Meanwhile dispatches from all
parts of the country show extraordinary
activity in the chief branches of trade
and a business much larger than a year
ago in nearly all. The heavy excess of
exports over imports continues, New York
exports having been in five weeks 16 per
cent larger than last year, while imports
were 8 per cent. larger
In wheat Americans are getting profits
even though prices are lower than they
were some months ago. After some yield
ing, the price rose to I9.85 cents and the
May option rose Nc during the week, with
Atlantic exports for 1885, 92 bushels. -four
included, against 317492l last year. and
total exports, including the Pacific, 4 Gt7,-
- bushels, against 29G5.5l5 last year.
Western receipts have leen 3{55, AS BUSH
els, against 2,9J7,7 for the week last
year, while corn exports for the week
were also 9,iG2,6o9 bushels against 1885,.
SIS last year. AT higher or lower prices
foreigners are constantly taking more
wheat and corn from us than in any
previous year.
The cotton market IS in slightly stronger
position, because fore n buying CONTINUES
beyond precedent while home Indications
now point to a smaller crop than was eX-
pected.
Goods are rapidly rising with the ex
panding demand, but the material has ad-
vanced only an eighth.
What wool IS worth in view of the great
stocks yet urconsumed few are able to
judge, and that fact hinders adjustment of
prices for goods. Sales have been small,
only G475,Gs1 pounds at the three chief
markets for the week, against 5,333, go
last year and 9175.S03 in the same week
in 18,7, but this year and in 1887 the buying
has by no means represented consumption
only. While quarter and half blood wool
and deiaines have been in demand and
firm, the quotations indicate weakness in
Ohio and other fleece. The goods market
is OF similar character strong for chew
lots and serges but not for fine. high
grade or PLAIN goods.
The iron industry is so exploited by con-
solidation and attempts OF that nature
that it is wonderful prices have not re-
flected distrust. Instead there have been
general advances in pig because the de-
mand has been large, for Bessemer at
Pittsburg to $1Ai9 and grey forge to $40 10,
and IN finished products because nearly
all are in demand beyond the capacity or
works for some time to come. The adj
vance of ten cents per keg in wire nails
by the association was not caused by any
especial pressure for supplies but rails
have advanced 81 per ton and bars 81 be-
cause of urgent demand especially
al Philadelphia and Chicago for several
thousand tons, and plate mills are every
where oYercrowded At the same time the
many consultations of interests arrest
trade in some quarters and disturb it in
others, causing unusual irregularity in
prices. The pipe consolidation appears TO
|. -opTeG for the moment by opposition
of one company but the activity is great
er than ever before. About t2sst0a ions of
rails have been sold at New York half for
a Nova Scotia road. In hoops there is no
advance and the Standard Oil Company
has made a contract for $500 tons at
very low figures The demand for black
sheets is beyond the capacity of the mills.
Failures for the week have been III in
the United States against 295 last year,
and So in Canada against 43 last year.