The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-07

Trade in this line presents an aspect so
hattering as to admit of comparison with
that of no other season during the last
ten years.
Early in the season prices displayed
strong tendency to emerge from their
former condition, the most sluggish phase
of which had been reached at the close OF
last season, and after gradual decline
for eight years; and during the entire sea-
ner ruled by no criterion.
Everything in The hardware line has
gone up from 20 per cent. 10 80 per cent.
since Jan. l. and more than 100 per cent.
may be accredited to pig iron and bar
iron since February.
The tin plate and metal market has been
sympathettc. moving simultaneously in
60 per cent. advance since Jan. I. The sole
exception to the rule in marked advances
is in iron building material. This ma
teriai while not wholly unaffected by the
increased demand, has advanced more
gradually in order to compete with wood.
The unparalleled advance in prices is due
TO increased and pressing demands from
home trade, the trusts. and the enormous
volume of export business done this year
Under the head of the former are the de
mands in consequence of the termination
of the war with Spain. This manifests
Itself more materially in the construction
of war vessels and the unprecedented de
mand for structural steel; while under the
latter Russia alone has placed an order
aggTegating 10000 tons of steel rail.
With the demands upon the American
manufacturer TO say nothing of the eX-
traordinarily heavy consumption of lesser
articles, such as nails, hinges and tools
and implements OF every description. It
is little wonder that the total supply now
on hand in manufacturing establishments
cannot supply their demand for even one
week.
The present state of affairs may also be
attributable to the increased prices of
wheat and corn. these products alone re-
fiecting a wave of prosperity such as
would inspire public with assurance in
the contemplation of an undertaking.
AS has been intimated, tin, copper and
zinc have undergone a similar boom, as
has also almost every other article hand
died in this line. The total output of the
copper and zinc mines is inadequate TO the
pressing demands for those metals This
is attributable to their heavy consumption
as building material. The outlook for the
latter half of the present year bears an as
pect as bright as has the first, with
room for like prediction for the ensuing
year, and there is disposition to look for
ward to even a better margin for the job
Der than has already been attained Or
ders are now In from some jobbers, to be
flied in March, while orders that were
filed in February for immediate attention
remain untitled, with a tendency on the
part of the manufacturer to overlook them
entirely.
Such has been the complaint recently re-
lated by home jobbers. There has been
some intimation of foul play as character
izing an occasional jobber throughout the
country, but investigation has found this
comparatively groundless. and has shown
that incidentally here and there a tobber
had closed out at a figure a fraction lower
than the market price, but in so doing he
had only manifested a fear that a sudden
slump might momentarily result from
market so uncertain in appearance. These
jobbers almost invariably proved to be
beginners, and easily affected by a sud
den turn in the market.
In view of the present gratifying outlook.
with the total exhaustion of the annual
output. the increasing demands, and with
the heads of the manufacturers turned to-
ward home consumption, suspending for
the time being, foreign shipments and the
expectation of their products, It is safe TO
predict that until these wants are supplied,
the demands decrease, or the factories
grow more numerous or more prolific,
prices will at least not decline, and a fairly
plausa bic assumption would predict an adj
vance far into the ensuing year.
Shipments OF pig iron in tons to the fol-
lowing ports from September, 1898. to Aug.
81 1899, and for the same time the previous
year,
Tons Tons.
1878 1889
To New York ,.......,.,.......3507 4 1891