The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-09
THE STATE OF TRADE.
n. G. Dun 4 co... review.

NEW YORK. Doc s.--R. q. Dun & Co.'S weekly
review Of trade tomorrow will say:
The approach OF new year usually brings 80
much OF hesitancy in business that the small shrink
age this year is surprising Probably never before
largely covered by contracts at this date. insur-
ing employment and profit far into the coming year.
This results not from any speculative excitement,
but from actual demands for consumption, running
Tar beyond tho producing capacity hereafter ana
pushing Il 70 remarkable expansion; Inc increase
with the increase Of twentyfour thousand millions
In payment through clearing houses. For the
week the payments have been 2o3 per cent. larger
than last year and ISL per cent larger than In lse2
Prices OF pig iron are strongly maintained through
extraordinary efforts aud promise increase OF over
quarter in producing capacity within . year, be-
cause the entire output OF most OF the furnaces
year has been sold already. Sheet bars are shade
lower owing to the closing Of many tin plate works
Demand for cars and other railway equipment
ocean. Tin Is weak at ST. 80. and copper declined
to sis7s, but lead aud spel,or are stronger.
ceipts Of cattle at the four chief Western markets
in eleven months have been per cent larger than
ton in manufacture has evidently increased much
more. Thus Western productions of boots and
shoes has gained %Sre Than Eastern yet shipments
more than last year and es1. 900 cases. Ts moro
than in 1892 when cattle receipts wers rs per cent
Wool has advanced further, with much speculative
buying. though most manufacturers have supplied
wants for the present and less disposed TO pur
chase at prices now averaging higher than at any
time since June IS, 1891 Higher prices demanded
dcnee in spite Of the fac. TINT goods have advanced
from the lowest point this year only ls2 per cent
Wheat has risen Sc and corn. a. fraction. with
decline In Western receipts OF both. Atlantic ex-
ports Of this week. -four included. only 33ts.667
bushels. against ss36.7s7 last year, and Pacific
year.
Failures for the week have been eal in the United
States against 24s last year, and IS in Canada.
Bradstrcet.s Review
Bradstrcet's tomorrow will say:
The last month OF the year has opened auspi-
employed demand treadipS Close close upon and sven
passing supply. labor troubles averted, in In
stances by widespread advances in wages Of small
Importance except in one or two cases, and with
the general level OF values of staples at the high
est point reached for eight years past Holiday de-
mand has opened we'll aud collections from retail
trade, therefore. show some improvement.
The strength OF ceteals, notably wheat, this week.
Is reflection largely Of decreased receipts at the
not as large, either In this country or abroad,
they were year ago. and TO this extent the out
look is less bearish and, owing to the smaller
worlds production this year. hopes Of well main
tanned prices have not been abandoned,
After year Of unprecedented activity and adj
vancing prices, iron and steel are quiet with few
significant changes. partly because the of
owing to the fact that the producers are yery gen.
orally sold up 20 the middle of next yeaer. Prices
show no marked change, plates and sheets being
relatively weaker among the finished products while
bars strong. Copper shows little change, but
tin is lower again smaller consumptive demand
Activity in hardware is largely confined to holiday
specialties. which experiencing an active move
ment at most markets. The feature of the coal trade
has 'becn the increasing capacity Of bituminous
grades, East and West some markets being reported
practically bare Of supplies
The strength Of wool is apparently unimpaired.
though demand IL Quieter. London prices have
again moved higher, and the small available supply
of fine grades supports the belief that prices still
vance at nearly all the large cotton mills through
out New England. on the basis, OF census
power being secured by nearly 100 per cent
The coffee trade OF the country but particularly
Of New York, has been nsitated and speculative
out of the unsettled situation of the auarantined
cargoes from Santos. More scasouable weather con-
dtions have further stimulated the demand for
boots and shoes at numerous points, and hides
and leather retain all the strength gained result
of last months rise Notwithstanding tho advanced
stage Of the season. lumber hard wood particularly
continues in active demand at most markets.
Wheat, including -four. shipments for the week,
aggregate 5l3333 bushels, against $685. 400 bushels
last week, sses92 bushels in the corresponding week
of 1898, 6266 l5s bushels in 1887 i22,7i bushels in
season. the exports of wheat aggregate 9i3ol.2H
bushels. against 1o3.i76ssi bushels last year. and
ia 2oi,7 9S bushels in 1879
business failures in the United States this week
number 40 compared with 1T last week. 2J7 in this
week 2s2 In 1897. aSl in 1896. and 3l3 in
Business failures in the Dominion of Canada for
the week number 81 as compared with Is last week.
% in this week year ago, % in 1897, 40 in 1896,
and 50 in 1895.
Bradstreet's Financial Review.
Bradstreet's financial review tomorrow will say:
Speculation has narrowed perceptiby this week.
and the fluctuations in the stock list were again,
to very large extent, due TO professional trading.
The disposition of the public. as the end Of the
year approaches seems to be TO reduce Its out
standing speculative contracts, and to wait until
the January disbursements are completed and the
money market, as 1t is hoped, has returned TO
NAL condition. The fact that supplies of funds in
the cali loan market were apparently smaller this
week. and that the bulk of the borrowing was at
per cent. or better, tended to support this view,
and to render the street at large cautious. If not
bearish. The fact that no important return flow Of
money from the interior can be detected. but that.
on the contrary, the South and other sections
tinue to draw funds from New York, and that the
sales OF government bonds TO the treasury under
secretary Cages offer are practically suspended are
not without their effect sentiment Moreover,
it is appreciated In banking circles and by large
speculative interests that the critical point in the
foreign financial situation Is approaching The
Bank of England. it is true, did not advance its
rate this week. while the Bank Of France marked
movement q gold from Paris to London, foreshad.
owed by rise in sterling exchange at the former
city Bankers here are disposed to believe that the
Bank OF France will not oppose the transfer of a
limited amount Of gold to London, and in
meuting on the strength Of sterling exchange in
New York, proclaimed tho belief that no gold will
be shipped from the foreign monetary position, com
plicated as 1t is by the war in South Africa; and
the slow and doubtful progress of the British forces
updoubtedIy acts as a check on the markets here
and increases the disposition to restrict transactions
such elements OF uncertainty are apparent
Bank Clearings.
The following table. compiled by Bradstreet shows
the bank clearanees Mt all principal cities for the
week ended December s. with the percentage Of in
crease and decrease, compared with the CORE
spending week last year:
Inc. Dec.
New York .................S1 200, 73s,so3 1879 80.
Boston ......... ............ las. S00192 22.3 ..,
Chicago ...-....... 15I,547s9t 26.6 ..,,
Philadelphia ....... .......- l0l. 2s3s07 li.2 go
st. Louis .............-.... 35,67l2o3 IT So.
Pittsburg .......... ......... 32,3S0,070 $50 49,
Baltimore ........ .......... 23,7s2275 49,. "a
San Francisco 2i,2355ol 52.2 .
siuain